Aston Villa’s pitch ranked among world’s best by ex-goalkeeper Brad Friedel (exclusive)

Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel has delivered a glowing assessment of the club, describing its playing surface as one of the finest in world football while backing Unai Emery to help the Premier League side fulfil their considerable potential.

Friedel, who spent three seasons at Villa Park between 2008 and 2011, was particularly impressed by the facilities and the support he received during his time in Birmingham, highlighting the club's continued investment in its stadium and training ground.

His praise comes as Villa undertake a major redevelopment of the North Stand, a project which will take the ground's capacity beyond 50,000 and provide improved facilities for players and supporters. 

Brad Friedel makes huge claim about Aston Villa pitch

Friedel was unequivocal when discussing the quality of the playing surface at Villa Park, placing it among the best pitches in the global game.

“The pitch is the best, or definitely in the top two or three in global football. It's beautiful to play on. The training ground's magnificent. They're building onto that again.”

The former United States international also praised the club's supporters and the way players and their families were treated during his spell at Villa, recalling an environment that made a strong impression on him.

“Villa is a brilliant club. It really is. I knew it was a good club before I signed there, but what an incredible fanbase, great stadium, and they're building onto it now.

“The people that ran the club when I was there, it was magnificent the way they treated families and new players.”

Villa's current stadium project includes an expanded North Stand, with the club targeting its return for the 2027-28 season after accelerating the construction programme to complete the work in one campaign. The redevelopment is expected to take the overall capacity beyond 50,000. 

Friedel backs Aston Villa to realise their potential under Unai Emery

While Friedel's praise extended to the club's facilities, he also reflected on Villa's difficult period following his departure, admitting that their relegation from the Premier League in 2016 came as a surprise.

“I was really shocked when they got relegated and they went through those tough times, because the club is a top-four club. It's a sleeping giant.”

The former goalkeeper acknowledged that supporters would already recognise the scale of their club, but felt Villa had not consistently reached the level their resources, history and fanbase should allow.

“The people of Birmingham and the people that support Aston Villa would probably not think the word ‘sleeping' is in there because they know it's a giant. But for whatever reason, over the years, and I'm talking over the last couple of decades, it didn't quite reach its potential.”

Friedel believes the current ownership and Emery can help change that, pointing to the greater possibilities available to the club under their leadership.

“But the owners now, and Unai Emery, he'll see a greater potential there.”

FGG Says: Villa's ambition is becoming clear

The North Stand redevelopment is an important part of that ambition, with improved facilities and increased capacity intended to support Villa's growth on and off the pitch.

However, the challenge for the club is to ensure that infrastructure investment is matched by sustained progress on the field. Emery has already helped raise expectations, and Friedel's belief that Villa can operate among the leading clubs in England gives supporters another reason to be optimistic.

Brad Friedel was speaking to FGG on behalf of Grosvenor Sport.