A number of players have had spells in both Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, but only a few have thrived better with the former.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest somehow have deep connections, especially among some players. There have been a number of names who had stints in both clubs in their career. However, only a few of them have established themselves better in Villa Park than in City Ground. Here are the best 10 of them.
The current Northampton boss had spells of one season at each club. Yet, it was with the Lions he thrived better. The former centre back was part of the squad when Villa reached the FA Cup final in the 1999/2000 season. He played in 30 games, compared to only eight appearances with The Forest in the 2000/2001 season.
9.Alex Moreno
The current Girona man spent longer time with Villa for one and a half seasons and only a brief loan spell with the Tricky Trees. Despite not being the first choice, he managed to make 48 appearances in all competitions and registered three goals and three assists, whereas in Forest, he was only capped 19 times and contributed one assist only. What’s more, Moreno was part of the squad when Villa reached the semifinal in the Europa Conference League 2023/24.
8.Alan Hutton
The former fullback was part of Villa’s squad from 2011 to 2019 and had a brief stint at Forest in the 2012/13 season. He was part of the squad when Villa became FA Cup runners-up in the 2013/14 season. The Scotsman with 50 international caps played 202 times, scoring three goals and making eight assists, while at Forest, he did not score a single goal and only set one up in seven appearances.
The former defensive midfielder was part of the Villa squad from 1999 to 2002. He helped the Lions reach the FA Cup final in 2000. Boateng made 184 appearances in the Villa shirt, contributing five goals and one assist. In Forest, he only made seven appearances in 2011/12 and scored once.
The current Villa man just had a failed brief loan stint at Forest in the first half of the season. He only made one assist in 14 games. Yet, with Villa, he is the key man, especially in his first spell. The Brazilian has played 218 games with 23 goals and 25 assists.
The former Liverpool forward became the key figure in Aston Villa from 1992 to 1995, including helping them finish second in 1993 and win the League Cup in 1994. The Welsh man bagged 48 goals and set up 12 goals in 142 games.
Saunders’s spell with Forest came after his stint in Turkey with Galatasaray. He only managed to score nine goals and provide one assist in 50 games during the 1996/97 season, when they were relegated to the second tier.
The current Villa key figure is certainly in the making of history this season, as he contributed to their second continental semi-final in three years. Cash has made 222 appearances so far with 13 goals and 16 assists in his contribution to the Birmingham side since 2020.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest is his first professional club. Cash was part of their squad from 2016 to 2020 when they were still in the Championship. The 28-year-old wingback registered 13 goals and 14 assists in 141 games.
The former Juventus man was definitely the key figure in the late 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s. He registered 60 goals and four assists in 138 games for the Lions as he helped Villa return to the top flight in his first season, 1987/88. Meanwhile, his stint in Forest was at the later stage of his playing career. He only played seven times and scored once from 1999 to 2001.
The former left-back was part of the Villa team between 1995 and 2003. He helped them win their last silverware in 1996 and made 328 appearances with five goals and 28 assists in all competitions. Wright’s tenure with Nottingham Forest was in 2007, when he was only able to play 11 times.
Last but not least, there was Peter Withe. The legendary striker was part of both teams in different eras. He was playing under Brian Clough from 1976 to 1978 and helped them win the league and league cup in 1978 but was not part of them when they ruled Europe consecutively. He scored 25 goals and made 13 assists in 71 games.
Yet, in Aston Villa, he finally had his moment as he led the team not only to win the league in 1981 but also to lift the European Cup in 1982 as he himself bagged the winning goal. Withe stayed for five years, from 1980 to 1985, with 231 appearances. He netted 92 goals and set up 29 times.
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