Former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is confident he left the club in a better place after departing in 2021.
Smith took over from Steve Bruce in 2018 and managed 138 games. He guided his boyhood club to Premier League promotion as Villa secured 10 straight Championship wins in the process before going up via the play-offs.
In his last season in charge, he took Villa to an 11th place finish in the top flight and left B6 still highly regarded by supporters. Speaking on Sky Sports upon his return to Villa Park ahead of Villa’s clash with West Ham, he said: “I’ve been back once before to the Crystal Palace game last year and the reception I got was fantastic.
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“But it’s a little bit weird driving here after driving here for so many years as the manager but looking forward to it and looking forward to a game where Aston Villa have been brilliant at home this season.
“It was a privilege [to manage his boyhood club]. As I said when I left here, we’re all just a part of a journey and my job was to leave [the club] in a better place.
“I feel I did that and fondly remember it, all my family, friends and Villa fans as well. It was great.”
