Almost 10-years to the day the Super John McGinn lifted the Scottish Cup with Hibs, the Aston Villa captain picked up the UEFA Europa League courtesy of an impressive 3-0 victory over Freiburg.
By doing so he became only the second Villa captain to lift a major European trophy, following in the footsteps of Dennis Mortimer who lifted the European Cup 44-years ago.
McGinn, surrounded by his jubilant team-mates, each with winners’ medals around their necks, lifted the 15kg silver trophy above his head as the clock passed midnight local time in Istanbul to ignite claret and blue celebrations.
Hibernian congratulated the former player tweeting: “A born winner, congratulations John”
“I can’t believe it, to be honest,” he said, speaking post-match.
“What we’ve been through as a club. This club was close to being in a right bad way seven years ago.
“Nassef (Sawiris) and Wes (Edens) bought the club over and they had one remit – to get the club back to the Premier League and then try and get it to compete to the levels it had before.
“Tonight was just everything we have built coming together.
“And the pride I felt at 3-0 with 10 minutes to go, thinking we’re European champions, was something I can’t even describe.”
Sublime strikes from Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendía in the space of just seven second-half minutes handed Villa a 2-0 half-time lead.
Morgan Rogers then added a third after the break to put the seal on a memorable night at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul.
McGinn, alongside Tyrone Mings and Tammy Abraham, become the first players in history to win the Championship play-off final and Europa League with the same club
And the Scotland international spoke of the honour of getting his hands on the European silverware.
“It means a lot,” he added.
“As a kid growing up, I can remember, it wasn’t a great night for Celtic, but that night in Seville in 2003, I thought ‘wow, that’s special’.
“I was lucky enough to go to the 2007 UEFA Cup final at Hampden, so to be here in 2026 as captain of Aston Villa is incredible.
“It’s the proudest moment and night of my career so far.
“I’m going to try and enjoy it. I like to party sometimes but tonight I’ll try and take it easy, soak it all in.
“I think, for me, being 31, my first European final, I watched my mates win trophies, Andy Robertson and Jack Grealish, so it’s my turn tonight. Maybe not the big one they’ve won.
“But, to me, it’s so, so special and I’ll cherish every minute.”
