Aston Villa Football Club, based in Birmingham, England, was founded in March 1874 by members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in Handsworth, which is now part of Birmingham. The club quickly became one of the most successful in English football, winning their first FA Cup in 1887. Aston Villa was a founding member of the Football League in 1888 and the Premier League in 1992.

In the early 20th century, Villa continued to be a strong force, winning the league six times and the FA Cup five times by the start of World War I. However, the interwar period was less successful, with the club spending most of the 1920s and 1930s in mid-table mediocrity.

After World War II, Villa won the FA Cup for a seventh time in 1957, but were relegated from the top flight in 1967. They returned to the First Division in 1975 and won the league in 1981. The following season, Villa secured their greatest achievement to date by winning the European Cup, now known as the UEFA Champions League.

The club's fortunes declined in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with relegation to the second tier of English football in 2016. However, they returned to the Premier League in 2019 after winning the Championship play-offs. Today, Aston Villa remains one of the oldest and most storied clubs in English football, with a rich history and a loyal fan base.