Conor Hourihane: The greatest left foot to grace Aston Villa Football Club
If the phrase “a wand of a left foot” was ever applicable to just one footballer, then it is undoubtedly ex-Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane.
The midfield maestro was well known for his moments of magic from dead-ball situations, and very rarely would you come across a player who could flip a match with a solitary wave of his left boot.
You could make a strong case to say that Aston Villa wouldn’t be mounting a charge on the top half of the Premier League without the Republic of Ireland international, with Hourihane a mainstay and key pillar in the class of 2019.
After signing from Barnsley for £3.15 million in the January transfer window of 2017, Hourihane quickly won the hearts of the Claret and Blue faithful with his aggressive but equally beautiful style of football.
He clocked up over 10,000 minutes on the pitch at the west midlands club, scoring 23 goals, and proving himself a key member of the dressing room alongside Mile Jedinak and James Chester, as Villa looked to start a fresh chapter following relegation.
He came agonisingly close to securing his dream of playing football when Villa lost a play-off final to Fulham in the 2017/18 campaign, in which he netted 11 goals, before new owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens stepped in and put the club’s promotion plans into action.
After Steve Bruce lost his job following ‘cabbage gate’, the Irish international formed a formidable partner to John McGinn in the heart of Villa’s midfield.
His role in Dean Smith’s successful promotion charge following Bruce’s sacking was crucial, and as became custom, his left foot was to thank.
Facing close rivals West Brom in the play-off semi-final, the midfielder was left out of the starting XI but still made a seismic impact.
It was vintage Hourihane. Receiving the ball on the edge of the area, he struck the ball with perfect timing and sent the ball away from Sam Johnstone’s clutches from outside the box.
This goal would prove a massive part of Aston Villa’s return to the Premier League and highlights what an important player he was for the club.
Yes, he wasn’t the greatest player to grace the Villa Park pitch, but he was a technician of the highest quality and, on his day, a proven match-winner.
Later in life he will surely enjoy looking back over some of the blockbuster goals he scored for the club, with his highlights reel likely to give Olivier Giroud a run for his money.
From magnificent goals against close rivals Birmingham City and West Brom, to a hattrick against Norwich and many more beauties along the way, Conor Hourihane – or more specifically, his left boot – won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
In other Aston Villa news, the January transfer window becomes increasingly vital according to Aston Villa women experts after last weekend’s 5-0 loss at ‘Theatre of Dreams’.