Over the past two decades Prince William has shown his love for football through support and participation in projects around the sport.
The British Royal Family has always been involved with sports in some capacity, but Prince William has held a special place in his heart for the beautiful game. He said he connected with the atmosphere and camaraderie of football.
The future king has been president of the Football Association for 18 years after he took over from the Duke of York in 2006.
The Sporting News looks at where Prince William's love for football began, and how he contributes to it with his role at the Football Association.
Which team does Prince William support?
Although members of the British Royal Family support London clubs like Arsenal, Prince William has always been open about his support for Birmingham-based Aston Villa.
He has been to Villa Park on several occasions over the years to show his support for the club, despite his father King Charles III following Burnley and brother Prince Harry reportedly choosing to support Arsenal.
Villa are currently enjoying a revival under Unai Emery, and Prince William was there to witness a famous Champions League night as Jhon Duran scored to beat Bayern Munich at Villa Park on October 2.
🟣 Winners: Prince William was in the stands to watch Aston Villa's historic win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League pic.twitter.com/4ZWQTEzjed
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 2, 2024
MORE: Aston Villa in Europe: Last time Villans qualified for UEFA competitions
Why does Prince William support Aston Villa?
In an interview with the BBC in 2015 before Villa's FA Cup final against Arsenal, the Prince of Wales explained why he supported the club.
"A long time ago at school I got into football big time. All my friends were Chelsea or Manchester United fans and I didn't really want to follow the run-of-the-mill team," he said.
"I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments. Aston Villa has always had a great history."
He certainly got what he wanted as Villa have given their fans many highs and lows in recent seasons. Unfortunately for him, the Villans lost the 2015 cup final 4-0 against the Gunners.
Prince William at football matches
Prince William was spotted at Villa Park during the Champions League clash with German giants Bayern. He has previously attended Premier League games, including with his son, Prince George.
The Prince of Wales is also regularly seen at FA Cup finals due to his role as the president of the FA. He shakes hands with the players before the match before handing over the trophy to the winning captain. He has only missed one final since 2006, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also opened St George's Park, the training center for the England national teams, and is active in trying to help grassroots football.
