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Aston Villa’s player of the season: Matty Cash
Aston Villa's Matty Cash
Michael Regan/Getty Images
Jacob Tanswell
By Jacob Tanswell
June 5, 2026 5:20 am GMT+1
Matty Cash was once the lightning rod at Aston Villa.
Routinely subjected to ridicule after defeats, largely unfairly, Cash’s continued presence in the team under Unai Emery frustrated a section of the fanbase. The club had been revolutionised under the Spaniard’s management — albeit not so much in terms of playing personnel — but his detractors always felt Cash was merely clinging on. Yes, he gave his all. But whether that was enough was the broader concern.
In essence, they wanted a new, shiny right-back; a player who was adventurous and forward-thinking. Villa had tried to add another body in that position, and will attempt to do so again this summer. But, as yet, no one has come close to replacing Cash.
The 28-year-old’s specific remit under Emery was never supposed to be glamorous. That arguably increased the ire directed at him. Loud groans would go up when he passed backwards or took a few extra touches on the ball — all traits Emery demands in search of controlled possession. He was no longer the gallivanting full-back they had signed from Nottingham Forest, attack-minded and occasionally even utilised on the right wing.
Instead, Cash was a responsible, maturing right-back, with his job, in possession specifically, to stay close to his right central defender, forming a back three in possession as the opposite full-back pushed on. This, naturally, limited Cash’s attacking output.
Even if the criticism would sometimes rankle, Cash continued to do what his manager asked of him. He stuck to his task, listened to coaches when refining his one-vs-one defending and attacking deliveries, and was considered among a core group of highly professional players Villa knew they could trust.
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Affable off the pitch, Cash is actually regarded as one of the most important cogs in Emery’s system and, over time, the doubters have been silenced.
Cash’s 2025-26 campaign was his best yet. As an indication of the faith Emery has placed in him — and of the full-back’s development — the player signed a new contract midway through the campaign as reward for his efforts.
It was telling that, once the announcement had been made, Emery spoke of Cash’s response to the criticism that had been levelled at him. It takes strength of character to prove a weight of opinion wrong.
“Cash is a very sensitive player and usually shows his emotions deeply or clearly,” Emery told reporters. “He is a very good guy, as a player and a fantastic man. He is progressing a lot. His commitment is huge here at Aston Villa.
“He’s playing more mature, he’s controlling his emotions. He’s made one very clear step forward.”
The Poland international is eking out every single ounce of talent he has and, in the rare moments he has not played — nominal deputy Andres Garcia played just 83 minutes during the season — Villa felt it keenly.
As an example, look at the final-day trip to to Manchester City. Like many of his team-mates, Cash was still nursing a hangover after several days of Europa League celebrations and began on the bench. Garcia made his one and only league start, but was toiling so much that he was hooked at half-time with Villa trailing 1-0. Cash had to come on and, irrespective of his preparations, City’s propensity to drive to the byline through Savinho suddenly evaporated thereafter.
Villa went on to win 2-1.
Second-half substitute Matty Cash battles with Rayan Ait-Nouri at the Etihad Stadium
Second-half substitute Matty Cash battles with Rayan Ait-Nouri at the Etihad StadiumCarl Recine/Getty Images
Cash is a Europa League winner and is part of the same nucleus that has now reached the Champions League for a second time.
Team-mates may have scaled higher peaks in certain games, catching the eye with more glamorous contributions, but no player has offered a layer of consistency and reliability more than Cash.
He is aggressive and confident in his defending, watchful at the back post and proactive in applying pressure in one-vs-one situations. Cash will invariably work with Villa’s backroom team on pre-match individual analysis, scrutinising the opposition winger and what he can do to win that duel. He has repeatedly prevailed. He has made the most interceptions of any Villa player and the second most tackles.
Three and a half years under this coaching staff means he is supremely well-versed in when to invert into a back three in possession and when, as has been increasingly prevalent this season, to take up high and wide positions. He can cross from the byline, when afforded attacking licence, or chop inside and stand up a centre to the back post with his left foot. No Villa player has delivered more crosses into the box.
Cash has developed his ball-striking this season, too. It is testament to the dedication he has put into that craft, and the trust in which Emery and set-piece coach Austin MacPhee have placed in him, that he has started taking several of Villa’s dead-ball routines.
He is neat with the ball and press-resistant, despite Villa’s build-up in deeper areas often resulting in Cash, as the outlet, being put under enormous pressure on the touchline when he receives. Aside from the odd match, Villa’s right-sided defensive combination of Cash and Ezri Konsa have been dominant.
A grounded Matty Cash smiles and applauds the Villa supporters
Matty Cash has been consistently excellent all seasonDarren Staples/AFP via Getty Images
Interestingly, and it may have been forgotten, Cash could have left last summer. Forest were very interested in re-signing him. He was among several players who did not know, for a brief period anyway, where his future lay.
In a season where Villa have creaked and the squad was short of depth, he stepped up to prove a guiding presence. Neither was he perturbed by the inconsistency of the right-winger ahead of him down the flank in a season when three of the five players used there — Evann Guessand, Jadon Sancho and Leon Bailey — have struggled badly at times.
Cash is one of three Villa players to have racked up over 3,000 league minutes. Ideally, the would not be so reliant on him and the right-back would be rotated more, given his history of muscle injuries from physical overload. Yet with Garcia out of Emery’s plans and the next in line being central midfielder Lamare Bogarde, Cash has had to keep on playing.
Morgan Rogers and John McGinn, the two other players to have played ahead of him on the right flank, have strong arguments to be Villa’s player of the season. As do Konsa, Emiliano Buendia and, latterly, Ollie Watkins. Frankly, however, when it comes to overarching consistency, none has been as continually assured, or available, as Cash.
If you want a player to symbolise how Emery’s relentless pursuit for progression and to maximise a player’s talent year-on-year, you cannot look beyond Cash. He is Villa’s player of the season.
