Aston Villa appoint Unai Emery as manager

DavidDeSchmikes

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Aston Villa is delighted to announce the appointment of Unai Emery as the club’s new Head Coach.
Unai joins from Villarreal, whom he led to Europa League success by beating Manchester United in the final in 2021 as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.

A highly experienced top level coach who has managed over 900 games, Unai has also previously managed in the Premier League during a spell with Arsenal, leading the Gunners to a Europa League final.

He has also enjoyed notable success at Sevilla and at Paris Saint Germain. In Seville, he won three successive Europa League titles between 2013 and 2016 before going on to lift a Ligue 1 championship in France as well as two French Cups, two French League Cups and two Trophée des Champions.

Unai will take over from November 1st after his work permit formalities are completed.
 

Cee90

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Strange move for both parties I think.
 

Solius

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Just in time to get a new manager bounce against us.
 

FootballHQ

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Strange move for both parties I think.
I'm pretty happy. We need an experienced european coach who can actually improve players, give youth a chance and has won stuff and he ticks all three boxes.

Arsenal fans might be scratching their head at all that but think they were only serious club he's never won a major trophy. Even then in the first season after Wenger left they finished 5th and reached europa league final so not too bad considering they then finished 8th in next two seasons. He also gave Saka and Martinelli their first games aswell.

At Villareal he started Pino in europa league final who was 18 at time and youngest Spanish player to play in major final.

His contract had only six months to run, Villareal have peaked with their european runs and we're obviously giving him a nice pay rise. And he probably feels he has unfinished business in premier league.

Remember 12 months back he was going to be the Newcastle head coach until he changed his mind at very last mind so ironic they'll be his first game for us.
 

hobbers

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Going from Amorim rumours to this must be pretty heartbreaking for Villa fans.
 

roonster09

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Very good move by Villa, also they have ambitious owners so not a bad move by Emery.
 

stu_1992

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Surprised Villa could get him, and that he took it. I guess they promised him a lot.
 

Samid

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Just in time to get a new manager bounce against us.
Classic. We play the twats twice in succession.

Arsenal, City and Chelsea get to play a Sacky G in free fall while we get Unai fecking Emery :lol:
 

FootballHQ

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Going from Amorim rumours to this must be pretty heartbreaking for Villa fans.
Not really.

Emery is easily our best appointment since O'Neill when you look at list of names we've had as manager since he walked out in 2010.

The brief for Emery will be to get us in contention for europa league within 18 months and try to do something in the cups and his record at many different clubs indicates he can do this no problem so need a bit of luck with the actual draws now.
 

CM

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I would've thought he could've held out for a bigger job than Villa. Not sure how this will work out. Probably going to take points off us in the league though, the bastard.
 

KiD MoYeS

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Just when it looked like we'd be getting rid of Wolves and their negative football for two games every season we get this guy in the Premier League. Villa will now be a guaranteed two crap games for every other fan to endure.

Interesting he turned down Newcastle last season only to go to Villa. Obviously a man of certain morales. His football is beyond shite though.
 

Semper Fudge

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Not really.

Emery is easily our best appointment since O'Neill when you look at list of names we've had as manager since he walked out in 2010.

The brief for Emery will be to get us in contention for europa league within 18 months and try to do something in the cups and his record at many different clubs indicates he can do this no problem so need a bit of luck with the actual draws now.
You've got a very optimistic outlook on things!
 

GlasgowCeltic

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i can't help associating him with the 1-6 at PSG, shame because he seems a gent, didn't deserved to be mocked by Arsenal fans like he was either (may've just been the AFTV lot)
 

Solius

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Classic. We play the twats twice in succession.

Arsenal, City and Chelsea get to play a Sacky G in free fall while we get Unai fecking Emery :lol:
Been that way the whole season so far. We’ll inevitably finally play Leeds once Marsch has gone. Wolves have shat the bed against everyone but will likely have a new manager by the time we play.
 

Deery

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Not sure what to make of it, on one hand he’s a decent manager but on the other quite boring and failed at Arsenal…

Pity they couldn’t have gotten the Sporting manager that could have been fun with the players Villa have..
 

Lay

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Good manager. Good appointment.
 

Bepi

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Wow! Emery is a top coach, just behind the two or three supertops. His demeanour and his Partridge figure led to him becoming a meme at Arsenal in the end, but he will come better this time in Birmingham.
 

Buckie

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I think he will do well at Aston Villa. He has a good resume of success and is a good manager. I think it was going to be tough for almost anyone to succeed at Arsenal as the first manager after Wenger.
 

Revaulx

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Going from Amorim rumours to this must be pretty heartbreaking for Villa fans.
Why?

He wasn’t great at Arsenal but he had to contend with turf wars between rival factions behind the scenes and some distinctly dodgy dealings by recruitment staff. He won’t have to contend with any of that at Villa.

Edit: his touchline demeanour is extremely irritating, but hardly heartbreaking.
 

Marauder1

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Well didn't see that one coming. I can see why Villa would want him, wonder what they told him to get him on board. Turns down the Newcastle millions but goes to Villa.