Top 10 Aston Villa Cult Heroes of the 21st Century

Following another two goals from the hugely impressive Christian Benteke at the weekend—a man who Villa boss Paul Lambert says has already become a "cult hero"—we take a look at Villa's top 10 most popular cult heroes of the 21st century.

Villa Park has been home to a number of players that will go down as fan favourites, but the players in this list are the ones that will live long in the memory of Villa fans young and old. These are players that have contributed more to the club than most others, players that will be remembered for more than just their footballing ability.

Juan Pablo Angel

Juan Pablo Angel is one of the all-time favourite Villa cult heroes.

The Colombian's Villa career got off to a poor start, following a record £9.5 million move from River Plate, with injuries and family problems hindering his first couple of months in Birmingham.

Angel's first goal for Villa came on the final day of the 2000/01 season against Midlands rivals Coventry City. That goal contributed towards the Sky Blues' relegation, of which Angel was forever remembered for.

From there on in, with injury worries and family issues a distant memory, Villa's No. 9 soon took to the Premier League with his key attributes—strength, pace and a solid header of the ball—helping him on his way to an impressive 16 league goals during the 2003/04 season—23 in all competitions.

Angel hit double figures again the following season but failed to reach the heights of his most notorious '03/04 campaign. Despite that, wonderful solo efforts against Chelsea in the League Cup as well as goals against Birmingham City ensured that Juan Pablo Angel will live long in the memory of Villa fans.

John Carew

The much-travelled John Carew spent just four years at Aston Villa—although that was the longest time he'd spent with any club in his career.

Impressive performances in the Champions League with Rosenborg and Valencia meant that Carew had gained a reputation as a top European striker, and with two La Liga trophies as well as a Champions League runner-up medal under his belt, the Norwegian had established quite a career.

He joined Villa in 2007 and became an instant hit with the fans.

Tall, incredibly strong on the ball and with good feet, Carew possessed all the attributes a Premier League striker required. His work ethic was occasionally brought into question, so much so that an official from one of Carew's former employers stated that Villa had signed a "lazy" player, as Sky Sports reported. 

Regardless of that, Carew's name continued to be sung throughout Villa Park, with one particular variation referring to a time when he was caught after hours in a Gentleman's Club.

Wilfred Bouma

Wilfred Bouma is a cult hero both in England and in the Netherlands. The Dutch defender only ever played for two permanent clubs: PSV Eindhoven and Aston Villa.

"Freddie" started his career with the Eredivisie side in 1994 and made over 200 appearances for his boyhood club before signing for Villa in 2005.

The 5'10” Dutchman struggled to establish himself in David O'Leary's team during the 2005/06 season due to injuries. But after recovering from a sustained hamstring injury, and with new manager Martin O'Neill at the helm, Bouma began to flourish.

The Villa left-back, who would occasionally deputise at centre-half when required, would give it his all in every single appearance. Hard as nails, Freddie never shirked a challenge and would throw his body in the way of anything to make an all-important block.

Bouma suffered a horrific ankle dislocation during UEFA Cup qualification in July 2008 which kept him out until the following January.

Bouma attempted a comeback with the reserves but suffered a further setback with his ankle injury. In January 2010 it was announced that Bouma had finally returned to full training following 18 months of absence. However, while the defender played a full 90 minutes for the Aston Villa reserves in February 2010, he never made a return to the first team.

Bouma said an emotional goodbye during Villa's final home game against Blackburn after he announced that he'd secured a move back to PSV.

Thomas Hitzlsperger

Thomas "Der Hammer" Hitzlspeger will be remembered for one thing: his rocket of a shot.

The German international scored a number of crackers in his time with Aston Villa—goals against West Brom, Birmingham City, Portsmouth and Bolton are ones that spring to mind.

Hitzlsperger joined Villa as an 18-year-old and spent five years at the club. As a youngster, it took a while for the midfielder to adapt to life in the Premier League, with his Villa boss David O'Leary telling him that he "shot too much and didn't pass enough."

Heeding the Irish manager's words, Hitzlsperger soon established himself in the heart of the Villa midfield as well as the hearts of the Villa faithful.

Soon enough "Der Hammer" was finding the back of the net in epic fashion, unleashing his piledrivers past helpless Premier League goalkeepers.

Hitzlsperger later moved back to Germany with the aim of making the national side's World Cup squad—a dream which he achieved—but has since stated that his time in the Midlands was one of the highlights of his career.

In an interview with Aston Villa's Paul Brown, "Der Hammer" said:

"

Once I got into the first team, life in claret and blue was just fantastic. I have such fond memories of the people there - the players and the staff - and the fans. It was special.

The fans coined that phrase 'Der Hammer'. So many people still call me 'Der Hammer' now. The fans and the players at Villa used to call me it and it just stuck. It's great.

It all started at Villa. I don't know who came up with it - the person who first used it - but I'd like to thank him or her now.

The fans were just great. The support was incredible. It makes a huge difference in football when the fans like you. I always had the impression that the supporters liked me.

They were so friendly and welcoming when I came on to the pitch and when I played. I felt that support. It was very, very good.

That was one of the big reasons why I look back so fondly - the fans.

"

Martin Laursen

Martin Laursen signed for Villa from AC Milan in 2004 for £3 million. The Dane had suffered with knee problems throughout his career but had been given the green light to resume playing football regularly.

Laursen made fewer than 30 appearances during his first three years at Villa with his knees continuing to inhibit his career from progressing.

However, Laursen seemed to overcome his niggling knee injuries and performed superbly during the 2007/08 season. The defender was a rock in the heart of the Villa defence and was a threat from set-pieces in the opposition penalty area due to his unrivalled aerial ability.

The Dane was named supporters' Player of the Year at the end of the season following an outstanding campaign and was subsequently named captain for the following term.

Laursen was to have one more battle with injury before the end of his career, one of the few battles that he never won. The centre-half was forced into retirement in 2009 but scored a vital goal in Villa's UEFA Cup win against Dutch giants Ajax.

Olof Mellberg

Olof Mellberg joined Villa from Spanish Side Racing Santander in 2001 and became an instant fan-favourite, partly because of his thick and hearty beard.

The Swedish defender was tenacious at the back, using his strength, vision and wonderful aerial technique to become one of the most feared defenders in the Premier League.

Although he still struts his stuff playing for FC Copenhagen, Mellberg will always be remembered, more than anything else, for one thing: his dislike of Villa's rivals Birmingham City.

In an interview with the Guardian, Mellberg was quoted as saying:

"

I don't particularly like Birmingham City after the four games we have played against them in the Premiership. I can't say the atmosphere between us has been brilliant. Not that we have to like each other.

"

Mellberg left Villa for Juventus in the summer of 2008, but as a way of showing his appreciation to the fans the Swede gave each and every travelling fan for Villa's final game of the season at West Ham a shirt that read: Thanks 4 Your Support.

Stiliyan Petrov

Stiliyan "Stan" Petrov signed for Villa in 2006 following seven very successful years playing for Celtic under Martin O'Neill.

Subsequently, Petrov became O'Neill's first signing when he took over the reins at Villa Park and instantly gelled with his teammates, playing a very similar role to the one enjoyed for so many years with the Scottish champions.

The Bulgarian midfielder scored many crackers in his time with the club, with long-range efforts against Sunderland and Everton the pick of the bunch—not forgetting his left-footed screamer against Derby from the edge of the centre circle.

Stan was a loyal servant to the claret-and-blues and would have always been remembered for his loyalty and love for the club, regardless how his career had ended.

It just so happens that the Bulgarian was diagnosed with acute Leukaemia in March 2012—an illness, although successfully battled, that ended his playing career.

Throughout the year that Stan battled his Leukaemia, Villa fans—along with many other fans around the country—would stand and applaud their Villa captain throughout the 19^th minute of every game in accordance with his squad number.

To this day, Petrov works alongside Gordan Cowans as a youth development coach.

Dion Dublin

Dion Dublin accomplished many things throughout his long playing career. Starting his journey in football as a centre-back, Dublin soon established himself as a goalscoring centre forward playing for Cambridge. Moves to Manchester United and then Coventry soon followed before "Dion" joined Villa in 2008.

The 6'2” striker was a tower of power in the air and was rarely beaten to the ball, notching the majority of his goals throughout his Villa career courtesy of his head.

Dublin turned out for Villa over 150 times in a six-year spell and as he neared the latter stages of career, after losing a yard of pace, reverted back to centre-back where he flourished for another season.

But let's not kid anybody. As good as Dion Dublin was on the field, he will always be remembered for one thing. One thing that will go down in folklore.

A consummate professional, Dublin let his emotions get the better of him during a second City derby as he headbutted Birmingham City's most infamous wind-up merchant Robbie Savage.

Gabriel Agbonlahor

Gabby started his career with Villa as a schoolboy and, if he gets his own way, will finish his career with the club that he holds so dearly to his heart.

Although not the most talented striker Villa have had at their disposal, Gabby is Villa through and through and recently surpassed Dwight Yorke—who notched 60 league goals—as Villa's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.

Throughout his Villa career, Gabby has scored a number of high-profile goals, including winners against arch rivals Birmingham City as well as a winner during Villa's only win at Old Trafford in the recent years.

As long as he's playing regularly for the club he loves and has a manager who believes in his ability, it's hard to believe Gabby will ever leave. And that is exactly why he will go down as one of Villa's all-time greatest cult heroes.

Christian Benteke

Christian Benteke has been at Aston Villa for just over 12 months. Not enough time to be a cult hero, you say?

Usually, you'd be right, but Benteke was one of the few shining lights in an otherwise dismal 2012/13 campaign.

And not to forget, if it wasn't for Benteke's 19 Premier League goals Villa would more than likely be playing in England's second tier for the first time since before the inaugural season back in 1992.

With a contract extension recently signed that will keep "Chris" at the club until 2017, the Belgian forward will most certainly become one of the more popular cult heroes at Villa Park.