The Best Players Ever to Wear Each Shirt Number at Aston Villa From 1 to 11

Success-starved ​Aston Villa fans often need a reminder of their former glory. There's not been much to shout about in recent years, mediocrity has wiped the club off its feet and dumped them into an ever-sinking hole. The days of a European odyssey, league titles, and housing most of Ireland's greatest ever players seem like ancient history. 


That's not to say it's been all doom and gloom in the Midlands though. Villa have had some memorable players, some players with pure ability and some players, well, their names will reside in the Holte End forevermore. 


Here are the best players ever to wear each shirt number at Aston Villa from 1 to 11. Strap in. 


#1 - Mark Bosnich

VILLA V EVERTON

A controversial character but a fine, fine goalkeeper. His performances between the sticks made him a solid first choice keeper for seven full seasons and though his personal activities seemed to swing from the laudable to the lamentable, he flourished under the lights of Villa Park. A penalty-saving expert. 


Honourable Mention: Jimmy Rimmer


#2 - John Gregory

John Gregory

Player from 1977-1979, manager from 1998-2002. John Gregory loved it at Villa and the fans loved him. Although he primarily wore #2, Gregory is the only player to play in every outfield position, wearing numbers 2-11 over the course of two seasons. Versatile.

Honourable Mention: Mark Delaney


#3 - Steve Staunton

Steve Staunton

A regular in the Villa defence in the 90s, picking up two League Cups and an Intertoto Cup along the way. The ginger curls poking through the backwards baseball cap in the beaming heat at USA '94 is typically what people remember of Staunton, but let's not forget the steadiness he brought to the Villa back-line in their run to the UEFA Cup quarter finals in 1996-97.

Honourable Mention: Jlloyd Samuel


#4 - Olof Melberg

Olof Melberg

Olof just simply refused to lose, and his Scandi-battling mentality took him a long way in his career. A bona fide modern-day Aston Villa legend, with 232 club appearances spanning seven years. His footballing knowledge, positional awareness and strength solidified his centre-half spot for many years.

Honourable Mention: Gareth Southgate


#5 - Paul McGrath

ASTON VILLA V NEWCASTLE

Sometimes in life, something or someone will come along and deviate from the normality that we all know. Well, say hello to Paul McGrath. Widely considered one of Ireland's greatest ever players despite chronic injuries and a non-existent training schedule. 

McGrath turned defending into a work of art all while playing 46 games a season in his thirties at Villa. Some effort that.

Honourable Mention: Ugo Ehiogu


#6 - Gareth Barry

Gareth Barry

It seems like the Premier League would implode in on itself if Gareth Barry ever retires doesn't it? Just the 441 Villa games for Barry - that's A LOT of football - so it would be wrong not to include him at #6.

Honourable Mention: Dennis Mortimer


#7 - Gordon Cowans

Gordan Cowans of Aston Villa

Consistently rated as one of their three best ever players by Villa fans, Cowans was the exceptional with both feet and, had tough tackling and spectacular assists in his locker. During his three separate spells at Villa Park, Cowans picked up a First Division title, a League Cup, a European Cup and a European Super Cup. His mantlepiece must be cluttered. 


Honourable Mention: Ashley Young


#8 - David Platt

The strong-running, free-scoring midfielder will be remember at Villa for his goals with 64 goals in 148 appearances, and winning PFA Players' Player of the Year in 1989/90. Platt has been somewhat airbrushed from the pub discussions of the best English midfielders of modern times but his trademark late runs are something we should all cherish. 

Honourable Mention: Brian Little


#9 - Andy Gray

Best known for commentary and punditry for the young ones amongst us, Gray was a sublime striker in his day. In the 1976/77 season, he netted 29 times to carry Villa to fourth in the League and also to glory in the League Cup.

Honourable Mention: Peter Withe


#10 - Dwight Yorke

Dwight Yorke of Aston Villa in action

By anybody's standards, Dwight Yorke enjoyed a magnificent career. He's famed for his antics at Old Trafford but it all started in the Midlands after Yorke was discovered by the late Graham Taylor on a tour of the West Indies in 1989. Plucked from the beaches of his beloved Trinidad & Tobago and catapulted to the big stage at Aston Villa.

Honourable Mention: John Carew


#11 - Gabby Agbonlahor 

Gabriel Agbonlahor

Between the years of 2006-10, Agbonlahor was different class, and being the local lad rising through the youth ranks to not only break into the first team but make himself a fan favourite? Every kid's dream. Definitely not appreciated enough retrospectively.

Honourable Mention: Stiliyan Petrov



Source : 90min