Aston Villa last European starting XI: where are Martin O’Neill’s team now? - gallery
Aston Villa will face AZ Alkmaar, Legia Warszawa and Zrinjski in the Europa Conference League group stage
Back in those days the Villa Park faithful were treated to plenty of excitement as the West Midland’s side recorded three consecutive sixth place finishes in the Premier League, whilst also competing in the final of the League Cup at Wembley Stadium.
Aston Villa progressed from the group stage in their last European campaign in a competitive group which featured the likes of Hamburg, Ajax, Zilina and Slavia Prague.
But their dreams of European silverware came to an end when they were beaten by Russian outfit CSKA Moscow in the round of 32.
O’Neill’s side entered the game level after a 1-1 draw at Villa Park, but were unable to match the hosts in the reverse fixture in Moscow as they fell to a 2-0 defeat.
The result came as little surprise at the time and the Villain’s opted to rest eight first team regulars for the match as O’Neill priorised Villa’s push for Champions League football over their UEFA Cup campaign.
But who featured in Aston Villa’s last European outing and where are the players from that team now?
Here’s all you need to know.
1. Brad Guzan
Brad Guzan was Aston Villa’s back up goalkeeper for the first four years of his eight-year stint at the club, but he was handed a chance to shine in the UEFA Cup ahead of Brad Friedel. Guzan was a member of the Villa team that battled relegation under Alex McLeish and Tim Sherwood. But his time at Villa Park ended after the club’s relegation in 2016. The USA goalkeeper is still playing at the age of 39 and he is a regular starter for Atlanta United in the MLS. (Getty Images)
2. Right back: Luke Young
Seven-time England international Luke Young was an ever-present for Aston Villa in his debut campaign and he was used throughout their European journey. Young’s first season at Villa Park would prove to be his most productive season and he later dropped down the pecking order behind Carlos Cuellar. He left Aston Villa in 2011 to join QPR but his career in London was blighted by injuries and he retired in 2014.
3. Centre back: Curtis Davies
Curtis Davies enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Aston Villa during the 2007/08 season which prompted O’Neill to sign the player on a permanent basis. The defender was an ever present in his first season at the club as Villa finished sixth, but he struggled to sustain a place in the first team in his next two seasons due to injuries. Davies left Aston Villa to join arch-rivals Birmingham in 2010 and went on to have long-term spells at both Hull City and Derby County. The 38-year-old is currently playing for League One outfit Cheltenham Town. (Getty Images)
4. Centre back: Zat Knight
Zat Knight partnered Davies in defence for their UEFA Cup clash with 2008/09 in a rare start that season. Knight’s two year stay at Aston Villa came to an end later that year when he signed for Bolton Wanderers. He played for the Lancashire based outfit for five seasons before enjoying brief spells at Colorado Rapids and Reading.He retired from football in 2015. (Getty Images)