Unai Emery will try to bring another football club to the top. The Spanish manager, winner of four editions of the Europa League, has been appointed manager of Aston Villa after breaking his contract with Villarreal, the two clubs announced on Monday.
“Aston Villa are pleased to announce the appointment of Unai Emery as the club’s new manager,” said the English club, which plays in the Premier League. “Emery will take office on November 1, after completing the formalities related to his work permit. »
A departure the day after a victory
In a separate press release, the Spanish club specifies that “Unai Emery has informed Villarreal CF of his unilateral decision to terminate his contract”. Emery, who passed through PSG, joined Villarreal in the 2020-21 season. His departure comes the day after Villarreal’s victory, seventh in the Spanish championship, against Almeria (2-1) on the 11th day.
At Aston Villa, he will succeed the Englishman Steven Gerrard, dismissed after a defeat at Fulham (3-0) Thursday during the 12th day of the championship. In difficulty since the start of the season, the Birmingham-based club is only 14th in the Premier League.
Ligue 1 in the pocket in 2018
The former Paris Saint-Germain coach (2016 to 2018) won the 2020-2021 edition of the Europa League with Villarreal, the first in the history of the “yellow submarine”. Last season, he managed to lead Villarreal to the semi-finals of the Champions League, beaten by Liverpool. At 50, Emery will discover the ninth club of his career, having notably coached PSG, with which he won Ligue 1 in 2018, two Coupes de la Ligue (2017 and 2018) and two Coupes de France (2017 and 2018), and Arsenal from 2018 to 2019.