Historically, Aston Villa have always been one of the biggest clubs in England, boasting a 42, 682 capacity stadium, a 140-year existence, a loyal fanbase and a definitive claret and blue strip.
Not since the 1990s however has the Birmingham outfit’s status and size transitioned into silverware, their last trophy coming in the form of the League Cup 1996, barring a few later triumphs in the not-so-spectacular Intertoto Cup in 2001 and 2008.
Now, the Villians find themselves in an eternal cycle of Premier League survival, shifting between managers, players and owners like the many clubs at the less glamorous end of the English top flight.
But could it have all been so different for Villa? This article lists FIVE world-class stars who almost moved to Villa Park during the last two decades, leaving you to consider what could’ve been if fate had taken a different turn.
Would Villa be one of Europe’s leading institutions right now if a few of these five had signed for them?