Unai Emery will take over as head coach at Aston Villa in lieu of the recently fired Steven Gerrard, the club has officially announced. According to the reports, Thomas Tuchel and Unai Emery were both contacted by Aston Villa, but Tuchel declined the position.
After the coach enjoyed a successful run at the Spanish team Villareal, Emery’s return to the Premier League came as a complete surprise.
According to reports, the contract was for an estimated 7 million euros annually, and Villa also paid the elite coach’s release clause, which was claimed to have cost 6 million euros.
Unai Emery won’t take over the team until the first of November 2022, when his work permit has been approved, according to Aston Villa.
According to the official statement:
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.
