BIRMINGHAM — Aston Villa defeated Freiburg 3-0 at Istanbul's Besiktas Park on Wednesday to win the Europa League final, the club's first major European trophy since 1982. An open-top bus victory procession will travel through the streets of Birmingham on Thursday following the team's return from Turkey.

Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, and Morgan Rogers scored the goals in the final. Aston Villa confirmed the parade would take place on Thursday shortly after the victory, explaining it could not be held over the weekend or on Bank Holiday Monday. The club is covering all costs associated with the event.

The parade will begin on Branston Street in the Jewellery Quarter at 16:30 BST, traveling through Sand Pits, Broad Street, and Centenary Square, the city council said. It is expected to last between 60 and 90 minutes, with a trophy lift as the centerpiece. Three open-top buses will be used: a lead bus in blue carrying media, a claret bus with the players, and a third blue bus carrying staff. Aston Villa said fans would not need to travel to specific locations along the parade route because screens would be positioned throughout the city.

Birmingham City Council implemented temporary parking suspensions and road closures across several streets in the city center. The roads closed from 10:00 to 22:00 BST, with parking bays suspended, were Branston Street, Hall Street, Warstone Lane, Frederick Street, Albion Street, Powell Street, Summer Hill Road, Sand Pits, Clement Street, St Vincent Street, Sheepcote Street, Grosvenor Street West, Ryland Street, Broad Street, and Centenary Square.

Hundreds of supporters lined the streets of Birmingham, with some arriving hours in advance to secure a vantage point. The parade began in the Jewellery Quarter shortly before 17:00 BST, winding via Broad Street to Centenary Square. Claret and blue smoke billowed from flares as supporters flew flags. More than 20,000 supporters were estimated to have been in Centenary Square to see the players lift the trophy, and confetti rained down as it was held aloft.

Employees from Krypton Jewellers gathered on Hall Street to watch the parade after their boss allowed them the afternoon off. Among the supporters was Andy, who said he has followed Aston Villa since about 1980 and attended the club's parade when it won the European Cup in 1982. "Brilliant, absolutely amazing. I was 17 years old, I think, and it was fantastic," Andy said.