Pepe Reina has revealed that helping Aston Villa stay in the Premier League during his brief time at Villa Park remains one of the standout achievements of his illustrious career. The former goalkeeper, who has won numerous titles with top clubs like Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Napoli, and earned international glory with Spain, expressed deep pride in his contribution to Villa’s survival.
Now playing for Como under Cesc Fabregas at 42, Reina joined Villa on loan in January 2020 after first-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton was sidelined with a long-term injury. His 12 appearances during the second half of the 2019-2020 season played a crucial role in ensuring Villa stayed up, with Reina even featuring in their EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester City just before the pandemic halted football.
Reflecting on his time at Villa, Reina admitted that the experience of fighting to retain Premier League status had a special place in his heart. “I’ve won a lot in my career, but staying up with Aston Villa was one of my greatest satisfactions,” he said in an interview with La Provincia di Como, via Sport Witness. “Competing to stay in the top divisions, whether in Serie A or the Premier League, strengthens the sense of belonging. We are all focused on improving and pushing the team higher.”
Reina’s career includes stints at major clubs like Lazio, Barcelona, and AC Milan, and his trophy cabinet includes the World Cup and European Championships with Spain, as well as multiple domestic titles. Despite this, his time at Villa and the dramatic survival battle under Dean Smith will remain one of the most memorable chapters in his career.
