Thousands of Aston Villa fans fill streets to celebrate Europa League victory

Supporters adorned in the team's signature claret and blue waved banners and ignited flares as they crowded the streets of Birmingham, celebrating their heroes' trophy parade.

Cheers and chants filled the air while the players, draped in medals, journeyed on an open-top bus from Villa Park to Centenary Square, where around 23,000 fans had assembled.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic, it means the world," shared one supporter with the BBC, while another hailed Wednesday's triumph as "the greatest night ever".

Unai Emery's squad broke their trophy dry spell with a commanding 3-0 victory over Freiburg in Istanbul, courtesy of strikes from Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia, and Morgan Rogers.

This marks Villa's first silverware since the 1996 League Cup and their maiden European trophy in over four decades.

"After enduring years of heartache and setbacks, this squad has brought immense joy recently," proclaimed skipper John McGinn through a microphone to the cheering crowd.

Emery symbolically offered the cup to the club's faithful followers.

"Our passion is yours, your passion is ours. We stand united – go Villa," declared the Spanish tactician.