Minnesota United will host England's Aston Villa for a friendly at Allianz Field on July 17, the club announced Tuesday. Loons head coach Adrian Heath played for Villa in1989-90.
Aston Villa are currently in the Championship, England's second tier, but have a rich history, with seven league titles, seven FA Cup triumphs and a Champions League trophy.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming a club with a history as rich as Villa’s to Allianz Field,” MNUFC CEO Chris Wright said in a club statement. “From our head coach to our play-by-play commentator, we have some members of our team with ties to the club, and I’m personally excited to be bringing English football to our new home in Saint Paul. This event will only serve to deepen the connections between our clubs and, indeed, our connection to the game of soccer the world over.”
Aston Villa are working for promotion back to the Premier League, currently in 5th place with four league games remaining. If they stay in the top six, they'll earn a place in a four-team playoff to earn the final promotion place to the Premier League. The top two clubs automatically earn promotion.
The club played Columbus Crew SC in 2010 for a friendly on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
