Aston Villa honours Ozzy Osbourne with huge tifo display ahead of Celtic match

Aston Villa Football Club honoured legendary supporter Ozzy Osbourne with a gargantuan tifo display ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Celtic on Wednesday night (29th January).

Shortly before kick-off in Aston Villa’s final League Stage game, the impressive Ozzy Osbourne tifo was unfurled at the Holte End of Villa Park as the capacity crowd chanted “Allez, Allez, Allez.”

Ozzy grew up in the Aston area of Birmingham and he’s a lifelong supporter of the club alongside staunch Villa aficionado, Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler.

Last night’s tifo display featured a 2010 Mick Hutson photograph of Ozzy alongside the words ‘Up the Villa.’ The border of the tifo also featured the phrases ‘Every week we follow…’, ‘Villa Till I Die’ and ‘Claret & Blue Army.’

Explaining why they honoured Ozzy, Aston Villa said: ‘A celebration of the club's heritage with global appeal and a local heartbeat, the Prince of Darkness embodies Villa's Aston origins, bridging the worlds of rock metal and football.

‘A living legend who, like Villa fans, carries his claret and blue pride across borders.

‘Together, we celebrate our roots, our passion and our relentless pursuit of glory.’

Originating in Italy, tifos are a choreographed display in which fans raise a large banner together or simultaneously hold up signs that together form a large image.

The Ozzy Osbourne tifo proved to be a good omen for Aston Villa as they thumped Celtic 4-2 and progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Back in October, Aston Villa wore Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath kits for their Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martínez also wore a custom version of the Predator 24 boot called Prince of Darkness, which was hand-painted by artist Jordan Dawson.

In July 2024, Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler landed starring roles in an advert for Aston Villa’s new home kit.

Sharon Osbourne revealed during her spoken word show Cut The Crap in January 2024 that Ozzy was hoping to play a farewell concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park as a “goodbye” to fans.

The planned gig, which was expected to feature a Black Sabbath reunion, hasn’t yet come into fruition.

Sharon also said earlier this week that Ozzy was "desperate" to return home to the UK and visit his beloved home city. He's set to be granted the Freedom of the City of Birmingham alongside his Black Sabbath band mates Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward.

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• Ozzy Osbourne
• Black Sabbath
• Geezer Butler