"Glory Days"

3 June 2026

77s

V for Villa.

Adidas rolls back the years to promote Aston Villa's 2026-2027 home kit. Inspired by Pathé News at its most tickety-boo, director Toby Leary's spot takes place at sunny Bodymoor Heath, where a dapper Unai Emery "watches on with a hawk's eye" and coaches with clipboards provide old-school structure for male and female players alike.

What's not old-school is the kit itself. Manufacturers love to make a big deal about breathable fabrics this and the latest in ventilation technology that, but it's still possible to inject personality into the pitch. An old-timey voiceover who sounds like he's seen the claret and blue future helps no end.

John McGinn also puts in a captain's performance when asked what he makes of the team's new look. The Scot's pithy delivery is superb, and it kicks any hint of self-seriousness on the part of Aston Villa or Adidas into touch. That's not what the Europa League glory days are about, after all.

UK

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