Even AI does better. According to Gemini:
Here are 20 of the greatest Aston Villa players of all time, spanning over a century of club history—from the European Cup winners of 1982 to early-era pioneers and modern stars:
| # | Player | Position | Era | Notable Achievements & Legacy |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **1** | **Paul McGrath** | Defender | 1989–1996 | Revered as "God" by Villa fans; PFA Player of the Year in 1992–93 and two-time League Cup winner. |
| **2** | **Gordon Cowans** | Midfielder | 1976–85, 88–91 | Masterful playmaker across three spells; key figure in the 1981 First Division title and 1982 European Cup win. |
| **3** | **Billy Walker** | Forward | 1919–1933 | Villa’s all-time joint-record goalscorer with **244 goals** in 531 appearances. |
| **4** | **Dennis Mortimer** | Midfielder | 1975–1985 | Iconic captain who lifted both the First Division trophy (1981) and the European Cup (1982). |
| **5** | **Peter Withe** | Striker | 1980–1985 | Scored the legendary winning goal in the 1982 European Cup Final against Bayern Munich. |
| **6** | **Charlie Aitken** | Left-Back | 1959–1976 | Villa's all-time record appearance maker with **657 matches** for the club. |
| **7** | **Harry Hampton** | Forward | 1904–1920 | Co-record scorer with 242 goals; led Villa to First Division titles and FA Cup glory. |
| **8** | **Emi Martínez** | Goalkeeper | 2020–present | World Cup winner and Yachine Trophy recipient; catalyst for Villa's modern Champions League return. |
| **9** | **Jack Grealish** | Midfielder | 2014–2021 | Boyhood fan who captained Villa back to the Premier League and established them as a top-flight force. |
| **10** | **Gareth Barry** | Midfielder | 1997–2009 | Made 423 appearances; anchor of Villa's team for over a decade and long-serving club captain. |
| **11** | **Ollie Watkins** | Striker | 2020–present | Over 100 club goals; broken multiple modern Villa Premier League scoring records. |
| **12** | **Allan Evans** | Defender | 1977–1989 | Rock-solid central defender with 466 appearances; vital to the 1981 league title and 1982 European Cup. |
| **13** | **Johnny Dixon** | Forward | 1945–1961 | Captained Villa to their historic 1957 FA Cup triumph; scored 144 goals in 430 games. |
| **14** | **Brian Little** | Forward | 1970–1980 | Star forward in the 1970s League Cup-winning sides; later managed Villa to the 1996 League Cup. |
| **15** | **Dwight Yorke** | Striker | 1989–1998 | Dynamic forward who scored 97 goals for Villa and led them to the 1996 League Cup trophy. |
| **16** | **Tony Morley** | Winger | 1979–1983 | Pacey winger who set up Peter Withe's iconic winner in the 1982 European Cup Final. |
| **17** | **Tom "Pongo" Waring** | Striker | 1928–1935 | Holds the record for most Villa goals in a single season (**49 goals** in 1930–31). |
| **18** | **John McGinn** | Midfielder | 2018–present | Modern club captain; driving force in midfield through promotion, European runs, and top-4 finishes. |
| **19** | **Peter McParland** | Winger | 1952–1962 | Scored both goals in the 1957 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United; scored 120 total goals. |
| **20** | **Archie Hunter** | Forward | 1878–1890 | Villa’s first true superstar; captained the club to its very first FA Cup victory in 1887. |
