Aston Villa play-off hero relishing FA Cup return
Play-off hero Anwar El Ghazi is relishing an emotional return to Villa - just months after he feared his career was over.
El Ghazi will be back at Villa Park as a player for the first time since leaving in 2022 when he lines up for Cardiff against his old club in Friday’s FA Cup fifth round tie.
The Dutch winger will forever hold a special place in Villa folklore after scoring the opening goal in the 2019 Championship play-off final win over Derby which secured promotion back to the Premier League.
He then went on to be part of the team which established the club back in the top flight, scoring 26 goals in 119 total appearances after first joining on loan from Lille in 2018.
El Ghazi is now rebuilding his career with Cardiff after last year winning a court case for wrongful dismissal against former club Mainz, who terminated his contract after he made a series of social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
After not playing since October 2023, he joined Cardiff last July and told the 1874: The Aston Villa Channel: “Last season I really thought it was over my career. I will always be grateful to Cardiff.
“To now play again at Villa Park, to meet the fans for maybe one last time, is really amazing.
El Ghazi will walk out with his two young sons, one of whom was born during his time at Villa.
He said: “Villa Park is a special place for me. We had a great year in the Championship, getting promoted was one of the best days of my life.
“Then making my Premier League debut it is amazing. And of course, not many people know but my son was born in Birmingham, so I have a Brummie with me now!
“The success they are having today is obviously not because of me but just to be able to help the team, going where they are now, makes it special. I’m proud.”
El Ghazi is not the only former Villa player in the Cardiff ranks with Calum Chambers and Callum Robinson also on the Welsh club’s books.
Villa supporters, meanwhile, will display a banner in tribute to Peter Whittingham, who began his career in the Midlands before going on to make more than 450 appearances for Cardiff.
Whittingham died in 2020 at the age of 35. The 1897 group have raised more than £750 for the banner, which will be displayed in the lower North Stand. Excess money raised will be donated to the Peter Whittingham Foundation.
