Editing Aston Villa F.C. (section)

===24 years in the Premier League (1992–2016)===
Villa were one of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992, one of just three clubs to have been founding members of both the Football League in 1888 and the Premier League, along with [[Blackburn Rovers]] and [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]. Villa finished runners-up to Manchester United in the inaugural season under manager [[Ron Atkinson]]. His side lifted the League Cup in 1994, beating Manchester United 3–1 in the final, with goals from [[Dalian Atkinson]] and [[Dean Saunders]], but the team struggled for form in the league and Atkinson was replaced by former Villa striker [[Brian Little]] in November 1994. Little assembled a young side which included players as [[Gareth Southgate]], [[Steve Staunton]], [[Ian Taylor (footballer, born 1968)|Ian Taylor]] and [[Dwight Yorke]], leading the club to a fifth League Cup triumph in 1996, beating [[Leeds United]] 3–0 at Wembley. Villa finished fourth in the league that season, and fifth the season after.

Following a dip in form, Doug Ellis sacked Little and replaced him with another former Villa player [[John Gregory (footballer)|John Gregory]] in February 1998. One of his first matches in charge was the [[Uefa Cup|UEFA Cup]] quarter-final against [[Atlético Madrid]], which Villa lost on away goals over two-legs. In the summer of 1998, Yorke was transferred to Manchester United for £12.6 million. Gregory managed four top-eight finishes in the league and took the club to an FA Cup final in 2000 with a side that included [[David James (footballer, born 1970)|David James]], [[Dion Dublin]], [[Paul Merson]] and [[Gareth Barry]] but was unable to assemble a team capable of challenging for Champions League places. At the end of the season Villa's captain [[Gareth Southgate]] handed in a transfer request, claiming that "if I am to achieve in my career, it is time to move on".<ref>{{cite news |title=Southgate wants to quit Villa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/teams/england/782259.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=8 June 2000 |access-date=26 February 2008 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612152708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/teams/england/782259.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Gregory's frustration at the lack of investment in the team led to him publicly accusing Ellis of being "stuck a time warp"; their relationship remained strained until Gregory resigned in January 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fchd.info/ASTONVIL.HTM |title=Aston Villa |work=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229080020/http://www.fchd.info/ASTONVIL.HTM |archive-date=29 December 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea claim FA Cup glory |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/756784.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=20 May 2000 |access-date=21 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010152703/http://www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk/ASTONVIL.HTM |archive-date=10 October 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

Ellis appointed [[Graham Taylor]] for a second spell in February 2002, but a 16th-place finish in the league led to his replacement with [[David O'Leary]] in June 2003. After a sixth-place finish in his first season, Villa the finished 10th and 16th, leading to O'Leary leaving in the summer of 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5196872.stm |title=O'Leary parts company with Villa |work=BBC Sport |access-date=15 September 2008 |date=19 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011091056/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/5196872.stm |archive-date=11 October 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref> 
[[File:Gareth Barry Aston Villa-FH 414.jpg|thumb|right|Gareth Barry is Villa's record appearance holder in the Premier League.]]

After 23 years as chairman and single biggest shareholder (approximately 38%), Ellis sold his stake in Aston Villa due to ill-health at the age of 82. American businessman [[Randy Lerner]], owner of [[National Football League|NFL]] franchise the [[Cleveland Browns]], completed his takeover in September 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5356730.stm |title=Lerner set to complete Villa deal |work=BBC Sport |date=27 September 2006 |access-date=15 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330043727/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5356730.stm |archive-date=30 March 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The arrival of a new owner in Lerner and of manager [[Martin O'Neill]] marked the start of a new period of optimism at Villa Park and sweeping changes occurred throughout the club including a new badge, investment in state-of-the-art facilities at the [[Bodymoor Heath Training Ground]] and significant investment in the squad in the summer of 2007.<ref name="new badge" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=407236&cc=5739|title=Villa secure new kit deal with Nike|publisher=ESPNsoccernet|date=7 February 2007|access-date=15 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108032246/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=407236|archive-date=8 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first Cup final of the Lerner era came in 2010 when Villa were beaten 2–1 in the [[2010 Football League Cup Final|League Cup Final]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8531179.stm |title=Aston Villa 1–2 Man Utd |date=28 February 2010 |access-date=28 February 2010 |work=BBC Sport |first=Phil |last=McNulty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416102805/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/8531179.stm |archive-date=16 April 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

Just five days before the opening day of the [[2010–11 in English football|2010–11 season]], O'Neill resigned as manager, despite three consecutive 6th-place finishes, due to frustration in the lack of investment in the squad, following the sale of star players [[Gareth Barry]], [[James Milner]] and [[Ashley Young]].<ref name="ONeill Leaves">{{cite web |url=http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2116569,00.html |title=Club Statement: Martin O'Neill |publisher=Aston Villa F.C |date=9 August 2010 |access-date=9 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817021101/http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10265~2116569%2C00.html |archive-date=17 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His replacement [[Gérard Houllier]] stepped down due to ill-health in September 2011, to be replaced by [[Birmingham City]] manager [[Alex McLeish]], despite fan protests against his appointment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13770519.stm|title= Aston Villa appoint Alex McLeish as manager|work=BBC Sport |date= 17 June 2011|access-date=18 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110617111600/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13770519.stm| archive-date= 17 June 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> McLeish's contract was terminated at the end of the 2011–12 season after Villa finished in 16th place,<ref>{{cite news |title=Alex McLeish sacked as Aston Villa manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18056282 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=14 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514124024/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18056282 |archive-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and he was replaced by [[Paul Lambert]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Aston Villa appoint Paul Lambert as new manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18307066 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=2 July 2012 |access-date=29 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016211304/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18307066 |archive-date=16 October 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

In February 2012, the club announced a financial loss of £53.9&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17197269 |title=Aston Villa announce £53.9m loss for 2010–11 financial year |work=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2012 |access-date=19 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310231557/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17197269 |archive-date=10 March 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and Lerner put the club up for sale three months later.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27372342 |title=Aston Villa: Owner Randy Lerner puts club up for sale |work=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=24 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601065726/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27372342 |archive-date=1 June 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> With Lerner still on board, but unwilling to spend following the stock market crash of 2008, the club was uncompetitive for several seasons, culminating in the [[2014–15 Aston Villa F.C. season|2014–15 season]], when Lambert was sacked in February 2015 after the team managed just 12 goals in the first 25 league games, the lowest in Premier League history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31431649 |title=Aston Villa: Paul Lambert sacked as manager |work=BBC Sport |date=11 February 2015 |access-date=11 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213030347/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31431649 |archive-date=13 February 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> [[Tim Sherwood]] succeeded him,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31470606 |title=Tim Sherwood appointed new Aston Villa boss |work=BBC Sport |date=14 February 2015 |access-date=11 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102000906/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31470606 |archive-date=2 January 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and steered the club away from relegation while also leading them to the [[2015 FA Cup Final]]. However, the club sold two of its star players [[Christian Benteke]] and captain [[Fabian Delph]] in the summer transfer window and did not adequately replace them. Villa struggled in the 2015–16 season, and Sherwood was sacked following six consecutive defeats.<ref>{{cite news|title = Tim Sherwood sacked as Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner runs out of patience with {{sic|bele|agured|nolink=y}} manager|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11953572/Tim-Sherwood-sacked-as-Aston-Villa-owner-Randy-Lerner-runs-out-of-patience-with-beleagured-manager.html|website = Telegraph.co.uk|access-date = 29 October 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151028133304/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11953572/Tim-Sherwood-sacked-as-Aston-Villa-owner-Randy-Lerner-runs-out-of-patience-with-beleagured-manager.html|archive-date = 28 October 2015|url-status = live|df = dmy-all|date = 25 October 2015|last1 = Percy|first1 = John}}</ref> He was replaced by [[Rémi Garde]], who left after just five months with Villa lying bottom of the table; his reign included a club-record 19 game winless run. The club was relegated at the end of the season, ending their 29-year stay in the top flight.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jennings|first1=Patrick|title=Manchester United 1 – 0 Aston Villa|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36003831|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=16 April 2016|access-date=17 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417000703/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36003831|archive-date=17 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>