John McGinn Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s captain, John McGinn, has extended his stay at the club by signing a new contract, more than seven years after joining from Hibernian for £2.75 million. McGinn has been pivotal in Villa’s journey from the Championship to securing a spot in the Champions League last season. The arrival of manager Unai Emery three years ago has significantly influenced McGinn’s development as both a player and a leader, despite initial uncertainties about his role in the team.
John McGinn said: “I’ll never forget my first meeting with him. It was probably the most fascinating half an hour I’ve had in my career. The night before we played Manchester United, I hadn’t really spoken to him much then. He told me I was maybe going to start, maybe not, so he kind of put me on edge right away. He said: ‘I’ve watched your last 10 matches in detail and not so good.’ But then he said: ‘Luckily for you, I’ve watched the 10 before and the 10 before that, so I believe you can be an asset to us, but as for tomorrow, I’m not sure whether you’re going to play or not.’ So I didn’t play, came on, and thankfully I just managed to train away, build his trust and belief, and managed to get a bit of rhythm and stayed pretty much in his thoughts ever since. I’ve got massive, massive respect for him.”
“There was a lot of pressure at the time, and probably from within certain areas of the club and definitely outside that, the club had moved beyond me. But what I’ll give him enormous amounts of credit for is he wanted to judge with his own eyes, take everything away and any noise, and he judged with his eyes and he thought that I was worthy of staying around. Not only that, he kept me as captain and kept me as an important member of the squad. So what he’s given me in my career has been incredible, and hopefully over the next few years I can repay that.”
“Each year I’ll have the same challenge. I’ll have someone younger or sexier, with a longer name, or someone who has signed for £50m, but it just makes me that wee bit more determined to prove my worth. There will be a time at some point where I’ll have to hold my hands up: ‘All right, this player’s actually better than me,’ or maybe the level does exceed me, but at this moment in time I don’t think that’s anywhere close, and I’m determined to prove that.”
“I think the perception from outside Aston Villa, outside the supporters – I think there’ll always be a kind of lazy image that I’m a grafter and all I do is tackle and run about and work for the team. That’ll always be there.”
McGinn’s reflections highlight the transformative impact Emery has had on his career. Initially uncertain about his position in the team, McGinn has since become a key figure under Emery’s guidance. The manager’s decision to retain McGinn as captain and an integral part of the squad speaks volumes about his faith in the player’s abilities. McGinn’s determination to prove his worth against newer, high-profile signings underscores his commitment to Aston Villa.
This new contract signifies a continued partnership between McGinn and Aston Villa, with both parties aiming to build on their recent successes. As McGinn prepares for future challenges, his focus remains on maintaining his place in the team and contributing to Villa’s ambitions.
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