Athens, Malta and Bodymoor Heath, 19 September 2024 — Aston Villa FC has embarked on its first ever Champions League journey with a 3-0 victory over BSC Young Boys in Bern’s Stadion Wankdorf this past Tuesday.
A few days earlier Aston Villa and their principal and front of shirt partner Betano, Kaizen Gaming’s premium online sports betting and gaming brand, celebrated the Villans’ historic first ever Champions League campaign with a special event hosted at Aston Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground.
The event brought together legendary members of the 1982 European Cup winners, Nigel Spink and Kenny Swain, former player and Aston Villa ambassador, Ahmed Elmohamady and current stars, captain John McGinn, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and of course coach Unai Emery.
Attendees had the opportunity to meet and hear directly from their favorite stars, while also participating in different activities, including an exclusive tour of Aston Villa’s training facilities and a behind the scenes look of the team’s training session. The club’s third kit was also unveiled for the first time ever during the event.
The kit proved to be a lucky one as it was worn in a game for the first time in the Champions League match in Switzerland. For this match Betano donated its front-of-shirt space to Aston Villa, which in turn offered it to Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Julio Iglesias Hernando, Chief Commercial Officer at Kaizen Gaming, commented: “We are very honoured as Aston Villa’s official main shirt sponsor to stand alongside them in this next exciting chapter of their illustrious 150-year history. This is truly an exciting time to be a fan of Aston Villa, as we all share the club’s passion and determination to improve every day, to compete with the very best and to claim their place among the elite.”
Chris Heck, President of Business Operations at Aston Villa, added: “We are proud to have Betano join us as we embark on a new era for Aston Villa. They are a global brand engaging with millions of football fans across Europe and Latin America which matches our vision to globalise our club. Their passion for football and commitment to responsible gaming and giving back to society aligns perfectly with our own club values. The return to the top of European club football is an exciting moment for our fans, partners, and everyone involved at the club. ”