Andreas Weimann
**Aston Villa’s Peace Cup Adventure: A Retrospective**
Aston Villa’s 2009 pre-season journey was anything but ordinary. Representing the Premier League in a 12-club tournament alongside giants like Real Madrid, Juventus, and Porto, Villa’s expedition to the Peace Cup was intriguing both on and off the pitch. Despite losing their opening game, Martin O’Neill’s men went on to claim the trophy, marking their final tangible success until recent triumphs in 2019.
**The Chaotic Start**
The tournament began with minor embarrassments: a typo in the programme renamed O’Neill as Martin O’Leary, newly-departed Gareth Barry still appeared in Villa’s player profiles, and a mix-up almost left director Paul Faulkner outside Malaga’s La Rosaleda Stadium. Emile Heskey’s early concussion setback paved the way for a young Marc Albrighton to shine, earning the bronze ball award for the third-best player. Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo scored at the Bernabeu, but Villa fans were more concerned with cheap flights home after their initial loss to Malaga.
Marc Albrighton recalls his breakthrough during the tournament: “Yeah, the Peace Cup was the first trip I went on and it was incredible. We had a really young squad. For me, to go in and play, I wasn’t expecting it. I did well in the first game and the manager just stuck with me. I ended up having a really good tournament. On the pitch was incredible, but off the pitch I just learned so much about the squad.”
**The Villa Warriors**
Villa found themselves in a group with Malaga and Atlante. Stiliyan Petrov’s injury and O’Neill’s touchline drama contrasted with the squad’s youthful dynamism — featuring youngsters like Eric Lichaj, Barry Bannan, and Andi Weimann, leading them past Porto to a semi-final victory. Villa fans relished the extended holiday in “sunny” Andalucia, enjoying the surprisingly cool aid of the Peace Cup.
Curtis Davies humorously described the off-field escapades: “When someone mentions the Peace Cup, I have a huge smirk on my face because it was the best stag do I’ve ever been on! Carew might have topped 10 but it was because we were allowed to enjoy ourselves in Marbella. Puerto Banus, the scene of Aston Villa’s Peace Cup partying. Curtis Davies and Co would sneak out for cheeky drinking sessions. The beers turned into five or six, then you train, you play, you win and you think you’ve cracked it!”
**The Unexpected Victory**
The semi-final against Porto was a spectacle with goals from Heskey and Sidwell. Despite some dissonance with the ‘Peace’ theme caused by dismissals and clashes, Villa progressed to face Juventus in Seville. In an enthralling encounter, Villa held their own and, after a grueling set of penalties, emerged victorious, sparking jubilant celebrations among the young squad and fans.
Andi Weimann reflected, “I was in my second year when we went to the Peace Cup… I’ll always remember us playing Juventus in the final. I started and we won on penalties in the end. That was a great day for me personally. I was only 17.”
The triumph led to unconventional paths. Paul Faulkner downplayed the “Victory” narrative, stating: “The Peace Cup was funded by the Reverend Moon of the Moonies. It’s this huge 60,000 seat stadium and there’s a few thousand fans there. It was just bizarre and we actually got to meet Reverend Moon.”
**Conclusion**
The Peace Cup was a rich tapestry woven with youthful vigor, fan fervor, and memorable mischief—both professional and personal for players and fans alike. Looking back, despite a series of chaotic events and humorous mishaps, the tournament underscored Aston Villa’s resilience and potential, showcasing the club’s last major success before a new chapter began with the 2019 playoff victory.
