Ex-Arsenal boss Emery appointed as Villa's Gerrard replacement

FT Desk

Updated: 24 Oct 2022 20:49 BST
3 min read

Unai Emery managing Arsenal — © ProShots

Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery is heading back to the Premier League at Aston Villa.

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The Birmingham side relieved Steven Gerrard of his duties on Thursday following a bruising 3-0 defeat away to newly promoted Fulham.

Gerrard had been appointment in 2021 to replace Dean Smith and managed to drag Villa away from a relegation fight, but endured a disastrous start to the current season and left with the club once more hovering around the drop zone with just two wins from their opening 11 Premier League fixtures.

Emery last coached in England at the Gunners, where he was dismissed in 2019 after just over a year in charge having succeeded club legend Arsene Wenger.

He will now hope for better fortunes in his second stint in the Premier League after impressing during his subsequent spell at Villarreal.

Aston Villa is delighted to announce the appointment of Unai Emery as the club's new Head Coach. 🟣
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 24, 2022

"Aston Villa is delighted to announce the appointment of Unai Emery as the club’s new Head Coach," Villa signalled in a statement released on the club's official website on Monday.

"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."

Emery's story so far

Emery brings a raft of experience to the job, having taken the reins at the likes of Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal in his native Spain while also spending two seasons at the Paris Saint-Germain helm prior to arriving at Arsenal.

He enjoyed great success at Sevilla, whom he coached to three consecutive Europa League victories, while also winning that same trophy with the Yellow Submarine.

The Spaniard also led PSG to a domestic treble in 2017-18 with victory in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue, though he left the club at the end of that season after another disappointing Champions League performance prompted the club to turn to Thomas Tuchel on the bench.