2010–11 Aston Villa F.C. season


The 2010–11 Aston Villa F.C. season was Aston Villa's 136th professional season; their 100th season in the top-flight; and their 23rd consecutive season in the top flight of English football, the Premier League. It was also the first season under French manager Gérard Houllier, who was appointed after previous boss Martin O'Neill resigned on 9 August 2010. Despite a generally disappointing season in both the league and cup competitions, a late surge allowed the club to finish in 9th position in the Premier League.
Aston Villa once again competed in the UEFA Europa League, marking their 2nd consecutive season in the tournament and 3rd consecutive season in European competition overall. However, after drawing the away fixture, Aston Villa were eliminated for the second consecutive year in the play-off round, and again at the hands of Rapid Vienna.
This season marked the first time that four West Midlands county clubs performed in the Premier League. Aston Villa once again contested the Second City derby with Birmingham City, who remain in the league, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers, who also avoided relegation. West Bromwich Albion also join them in the league, meaning that Villa will contest a total of six local derbies throughout the duration of the Premier League season. An additional derby game at Birmingham City took place on 1 December 2010 in the Football League Cup.

Kits

Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: FxPro

Kit information

The home kit for 2010–11 season featured claret socks, but the most conspicuous feature was the checkerboard patterns on the side of the shirts. This was repeated on away kit, which was just a plain black shirt with sky blue trimmings. The three goalkeeper kits were yellow, jade and grey and was based on Nike's zigzag template designed exclusively for big club goalkeepers.

Players

, the captain of Aston Villa for 2010–11.
is the club's vice-captain for this season.

Premier League squad

Players under 21 do not need to be named and can still be used.
;Under-21 Players
;UEFA Europa League Players
These players were not part of Aston Villa's Premier League squad, but were given squad numbers and selected to play for the club in the UEFA Europa League.

Squad numbers

Villa's squad numbers for this season were announced on 12 August 2010. The only major changes from the previous year saw defender Stephen Warnock wearing the number 3 shirt which had last belonged to Wilfred Bouma, and Stephen Ireland take over Marlon Harewood's number 9.
Villa's squad numbers were revised ahead of the Premier League fixture at home to Bolton Wanderers on 19 September 2010. Many of the club's young players had their numbers reduced below 30, with the exception of goalkeeper Elliot Parish, who remained at number 43. Andy Marshall retained the number 33 shirt on his return to the club.
Robert Pires took the number 8 shirt on his arrival at the club, which was previously worn by James Milner. Loan signing Kyle Walker received the number 36 shirt, while incoming striker Darren Bent acquired number 39. Newly signed midfielder Jean Makoun took over the number 17 shirt from teammate Moustapha Salifou, who remained without a replacement squad number. Michael Bradley took over the vacant number 13 shirt upon his arrival to Villa on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Managerial changes

Aston Villa completed their pre-season preparations under former boss Martin O'Neill. However, he resigned from his position as manager on 9 August 2010, just five days before Villa's opening Premier League tie at home to West Ham United. Reserve team coach Kevin MacDonald was appointed as caretaker manager with immediate effect.
MacDonald managed Villa until 8 September 2010, when former Liverpool and Olympique Lyonnais manager Gérard Houllier was officially announced as O'Neill's successor. MacDonald had previously announced his intentions to apply for the position on a full-time basis, however the club opted to sign Houllier instead. MacDonald did however take charge of Villa's next two games, before Houllier officially took the reins on 22 September after fulfilling his duties with the France national team.
On 22 April 2011, Gérard Houllier was taken to hospital with chest pains with the doctors fearing another heart attack. It was later ruled out with the Frenchman ordered to bed rest and medicine. Assistant manager Gary McAllister took charge of Houllier's managerial duties on 23 April for the Premier League match with Stoke City at Villa Park, and it was later revealed that Houllier would not be able to return to the touchline until after the end of the season.
DateOutgoing ManagerNew ClubIncoming ManagerPrevious TeamNotes
9 August 2010 Martin O'Neill Unattached Kevin MacDonald Aston Villa Reserves
8 September 2010 Kevin MacDonald Aston Villa Reserves Gérard Houllier LyonHoullier officially took charge on 22 September 2010.

Transfers

In

Summer
DatePositionPlayer namePrevious clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes
18 August 2010MF Stephen Ireland Manchester City Premier League£8 millionPart exchanged for James Milner
3 September 2010GK Andy Marshall Aston Villa Premier LeagueFree transferPlayer initially released, but rejoined the club on 3 September 2010.

Winter
DatePositionPlayer namePrevious clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes
18 November 2010MF Robert Pires Villarreal Primera DivisiónFree transferPlayer unattached following release from Villarreal
15 January 2011MF Jean Makoun Lyon Ligue 1Undisclosed feeFee believed to be in region of £6 million
18 January 2011FW Darren Bent Sunderland Premier League£18 millionClub record transfer fee, with add-ons potentially rising to £24 million.

Loans in

Winter
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn
6 January 2011DF Kyle Walker Tottenham Hotspur Premier League5 monthsEnd of season
31 January 2011MF Michael Bradley Borussia Mönchengladbach Bundesliga5 monthsEnd of season

Trialists

Out

Summer
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueTransfer feeNotes
1 July 2010DF Wilfred Bouma PSV Eindhoven EredivisieFree
1 July 2010FW Marlon Harewood Blackpool Premier LeagueFree
1 July 2010GK Andy Marshall Aston Villa Premier LeagueReleasedPlayer initially released, but rejoined the club on 3 September 2010.
1 July 2010DF Stephen O'Halloran Coventry City ChampionshipFree
13 July 2010GK David Bevan Walsall League OneFreeYouth player
23 July 2010MF Jack Dyer Burton Albion League TwoFreeYouth player
9 August 2010DF Nicky Shorey West Bromwich Albion Premier LeagueUndisclosed
18 August 2010MF James Milner Manchester City Premier League£26 millionClub record. Stephen Ireland accepted in part exchange

Winter
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueTransfer fee
7 January 2011FW James Collins Jr Shrewsbury Town League TwoUndisclosed
7 January 2011MF Steve Sidwell Fulham Premier LeagueUndisclosed
28 January 2011DF Curtis Davies Birmingham City Premier LeagueUndisclosed

Loans out

Summer
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn
26 August 2010FW Harry Forrester Kilmarnock Scottish Premier League5 monthsJanuary 2011

Winter
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn
15 October 2010DF Curtis Davies Leicester City Championship1 monthNovember 2010
15 October 2010FW James Collins Jr Burton Albion League Two1 monthNovember 2010
10 November 2010DF Curtis Davies Leicester City Championship2 monthsJanuary 2011
1 January 2011GK Brad Guzan Hull City Championship2 monthsFebruary 2011
13 January 2011DF Shane Lowry Sheffield United Championship5 monthsEnd of season
19 January 2011FW Andreas Weimann Watford Championship5 monthsEnd of season
21 January 2011FW John Carew Stoke City Premier League5 monthsEnd of season
25 January 2011MF Jonathan Hogg Portsmouth Championship5 MonthsEnd of season
29 January 2011DF Arsenio Halfhuid Volendam Eerste Divisie5 monthsEnd of season
31 January 2011MF Isaiah Osbourne Sheffield Wednesday League One5 monthsEnd of season
31 January 2011MF Stephen Ireland Newcastle United Premier League5 monthsEnd of season
9 February 2011DF Eric Lichaj Leeds United Championship1 monthMarch 2011
26 February 2011DF Calum Flanagan Kettering Town Conference National5 monthsEnd of season

Spring
DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueDurationReturn
8 March 2011MF Barry Bannan Leeds United Championship1 monthEnd of season
8 March 2011FW Nathan Delfouneso Burnley Championship2 monthsEnd of season
8 March 2011GK Brad Guzan Hull City ChampionshipShort-term emergency loanMay 2011
25 March 2011GK Elliot Parish Lincoln City League TwoEnd of seasonMay 2011

Fixtures and results

Premier League

Villa again competed in the Premier League, after finishing sixth for the third season in a row during 2009–10.
The fixtures were officially announced on 17 June 2010.

Results

Results by matchday

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
14 August 2010West Ham UnitedH36,604Downing 14', Petrov 40', Milner 66'
22 August 2010Newcastle UnitedA43,546
29 August 2010EvertonH34,725L. Young 9'
13 September 2010Stoke CityA25,899Downing 35'
18 September 2010Bolton WanderersH34,655A. Young 13'
26 September 2010Wolverhampton WanderersA27,511Downing, Heskey
2 October 2010Tottenham HotspurA35,871Albrighton
16 October 2010ChelseaH40,122
23 October 2010SunderlandA41,506
31 October 2010Birmingham CityH40,688
6 November 2010FulhamA25,676Albrighton
10 November 2010BlackpoolH34,330Downing, Delfouneso, Collins
13 November 2010Manchester UnitedH40,073A. Young, Albrighton
21 November 2010Blackburn RoversA21,848
27 November 2010ArsenalH38,544Clark
6 December 2010LiverpoolA39,079
11 December 2010West Bromwich AlbionH37,015Downing, Heskey
18 December 2010Wigan AthleticAP-PPOSTPONED
26 December 2010Tottenham HotspurH39,411Albrighton
28 December 2010Manchester CityA46,716
2 January 2011ChelseaA41,222A. Young, Heskey, Clark
5 January 2011SunderlandH32,627
16 January 2011Birmingham CityA22,287Collins
22 January 2011Manchester CityH37,815Bent
25 January 2011Wigan AthleticA16,442Agbonlahor, A.Young
1 February 2011Manchester UnitedA75,256Bent
5 February 2011FulhamH35,899Paintsil, Walker
12 February 2011BlackpoolA16,000Agbonlahor
26 February 2011Blackburn RoversH34,309A. Young, Hanley, Downing
5 March 2011Bolton WanderersA22,533Bent, Albrighton
19 March 2011Wolverhampton WanderersH38,965
2 April 2011EvertonA37,619Bent
10 April 2011Newcastle UnitedH37,090Collins
16 April 2011West Ham UnitedA33,000Bent, Agbonlahor
23 April 2011Stoke CityH35,232Bent
30 April 2011West Bromwich AlbionA25,889Méïté
7 May 2011Wigan AthleticH36,293A.Young
15 May 2011ArsenalA60,023Bent
22 May 2011LiverpoolH42,785Downing

FA Cup

Villa entered the FA Cup at the third round, which is traditionally played in early January.
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
8 January 2011R3 Sheffield UnitedA16,888Walker, Albrighton, Petrov
29 January 2011R4 Blackburn RoversH26,067Clark, Pires, Delfouneso
2 March 2011R5Manchester CityA27,570

League Cup

The club enter the League Cup at the third round as runners-up, after losing in the final of the previous year's tournament to Manchester United.
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
22 September 2010R3Blackburn RoversH18,753Heskey, A. Young
27 October 2010R4BurnleyH34,618Heskey, Downing
1 December 2010QF Birmingham CityA27,679Agbonlahor

UEFA Europa League

Villa will again compete in the UEFA Europa League after finishing sixth in the Premier League of 2009–10. They will enter at the play-off round.

Play-off round

On 6 August 2010, Villa were drawn with Rapid Vienna of Austria in the play-off round, the same team that knocked them out at the same stage the previous season. The first leg of the tie was played away at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium on 19 August, resulting in a 1–1 draw. The teams met again at Villa Park for the return fixture a week later on 26 August, with the Austrian side progressing once again thanks to a 3–2 win.

Friendly matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorerNotes
18 July 2010 Basingstoke TownA Burke"Aston Villa XI" match
19 July 2010Peterborough UnitedA1,500 A. Young, Carew, Lichaj
24 July 2010 BohemiansA Carew
26 July 2010Chasetown600 "Aston Villa XI" match
27 July 2010WalsallA5,735 Weimann
6 August 2010 ValenciaH
24 August 2010Burton AlbionH0 Forrester, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Collins JnrBehind-closed-doors friendly at Villa's Bodymoor Heath Training Ground
28 September 2010Birmingham CityA0Behind-closed-doors friendly at Birmingham City's Wast Hills Training Ground

Guadiana Trophy

Villa played in the Guadiana Trophy in the summer as part of their pre-season preparations. The fixtures of this tournament were announced on 20 May 2010. All games were played at the Complexo Desportivo de Vila Real de Santo António in Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal.
As there were only three teams in this year's edition of the Guadiana Trophy, a penalty shootout was carried out at the end of each fixture to make sure that a clear winner could be selected. A penalty shootout was not played in the fixture against Benfica as their win marked them outright tournament winners.
Villa finished second out of third in the tournament.
DateDay of TournamentOpponentVenueResultScorers Penalty Shootout ResultScorers
31 July 2010Day 2 FeyenoordNAlbrighton, Heskey, Sidwell
1 August 2010Day 3 BenficaNCarew-

Goalscorers

Players with the same number of goals are listed alphabetically

Players highlighted in light grey denote the player had scored for the club before leaving for another club

Players highlighted in light cyan denote the player has scored for the club after arriving at Aston Villa during the season

Players highlighted in Blonde denote the player has scored for the club before leaving the club on loan for part/the rest of the season
PlayerPremier LeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropa LeagueTotal
Darren Bent
9
9
Ashley Young
7
2
9
Stewart Downing
7
1
8
Marc Albrighton
5
1
6
Emile Heskey
3
2
1
6
Gabriel Agbonlahor
3
1
1
5
Ciaran Clark
3
1
4
James Collins
3
3
Nathan Delfouneso
1
1
2
Stiliyan Petrov
1
1
2
Kyle Walker
1
1
2
Barry Bannan
1
1
James Milner
1
1
Robert Pires
1
1
Luke Young
1
1
Own goals
3
3
Total Goals
48
6
6
3
63

End of Season Awards

Sponsorship

In June 2010, it was revealed on Aston Villa's official website that a new sponsorship deal with Cyprus-based company FxPro Financial Services Limited that will run from 2010 until 2013. The deal, described as "the biggest in the club's history", will replace the charity sponsorship that Aston Villa had with Acorns Children's Hospice for the previous two seasons. However, this partnership will still continue as Acorns have been named as the official charity partner of the club. However, in February 2011 it was announced that Aston Villa and FxPro had agreed to terminate the deal at the end of the season by mutual consent.