In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Prince William has opened up about his deep passion for football, his lifelong support for Aston Villa, and whether his three children – George, Charlotte, and Louis – will follow in his footsteps as Villa fans.
Prince William is a die-hard Aston Villa fan. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
The Prince of Wales admits that he developed his love for Villa relatively late, despite having no direct connection to the Midlands. His interest in the club began when family friends, who were devoted Villa supporters, took him to his first match against Bolton. He fondly recalls donning his Villa beanie and watching Paul Merson play, captivated by the electric atmosphere and camaraderie among the fans.
While he initially followed the club from a distance, it was Aston Villa’s relegation to the Championship in 2016 that solidified his loyalty. ‘A few years earlier, we’d finished sixth under Martin O’Neill, and now we weren’t even in the Premier League’ he reflected. With the rise of smartphones and increased access to football coverage, he found himself engaging more deeply with the club and its journey.
Congratulations Aston Villa on achieving promotion back to the Premier League! #UTV https://t.co/SO8p5ZIITu
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 27, 2019
William expressed immense pride in the club’s resurgence and hailed the impact of current manager Unai Emery. He believes Emery’s meticulous attention to detail and strong leadership have played a crucial role in the team’s success. ‘Unai is a step up in terms of his formations and the length of detail he goes into with his videos’ he noted. ‘He spends hours debriefing matches and preparing for the next one. He lives, eats, breathes, and sleeps football, and that dedication rubs off on the players’.
Last season’s push to qualify for the Champions League was a defining moment for the club, and William made it a point to be present for crucial games. ‘When I came up here to see the team, the atmosphere was electric’ he said, highlighting the collective pride among Villa supporters.
Though an ardent Villa fan, William insists he is not pressuring his children to support the same team. ‘I’m kind of hoping they’ll all find their own teams in time. They don’t all have to be Villa fans’ he explained. However, he acknowledges that his passion for the club has influenced them, as they often watch matches with him and own Villa shirts. ‘They have other shirts too, and there’s been a bit of courting going on by other managers’,
William also expressed his frustration with the 3pm Saturday blackout rule in England, which prevents Premier League games from being televised domestically. ‘Getting up to Villa Park isn’t the easiest thing for me, but I like to watch as many games as possible’ he said. When asked if he resorts to illegal streaming methods, he laughed, ‘Haha, no comment on that one. I’m a paid-up member of Villa TV, though, so I keep up to date through that.’
Prince William met Aston Villa fans at a pub in Birmingham. (Royal Rota)
The Prince enjoys immersing himself in the Villa community, even stopping by a Birmingham Wetherspoons pub to share a pre-match beer with supporters. He cherishes the club’s inclusive nature, stating, ‘It’s a family within a family, and I do feel part of the Villa family. The morals, the vision, and the general atmosphere of the club really matter.’
When it comes to legendary players, William names Paul McGrath as the greatest Villa player of all time, while also holding Norwegian striker John Carew in high regard.
Surprisingly, the future king actively participates in fan forums – albeit anonymously – where he shares and reads opinions on Villa’s performance. ‘I like going on the forums, I can be on there for ages’ he admitted. However, he humbly acknowledges that he would never presume to advise Unai Emery on tactics. ‘I’m fascinated by what Unai is doing. I’d love to know more about how he tweaks his system and sees those little details no one else does’.
