OFFICIAL: Emery Replaces Gerard As Aston Villa Manager

Aston Villa have appointed Spanish coach Unai Emery as manager following the sacking of Steven Gerrard.

Villa made the announcement on their website on Monday.

Former Arsenal boss Emery, who had been in charge of LALIGA outfit Villarreal, will take over at Villa on 1 November.

Villa have paid a £5.2m buyout fee to Villarreal for the 50-year-old.

Caretaker Aaron Danks will again take charge at Newcastle this weekend, after Gerrard was dismissed last week following a 3-0 Premier League defeat by Fulham.

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The club stated that Emery, who would have been out of contract at Villarreal next summer, will begin work next week after his work permit formalities are completed.

Tje statement from Villa read: “Aston Villa is delighted to announce the appointment of Unai Emery as the club’s new head coach.

“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 St-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 Trophee des Champions.”

Emery joined Villarreal in 2020 and led them to Europa League success in the 2020-21 season, beating Manchester United on penalties in the final.

The Spanish club also reached last year’s Champions League semi-finals under Emery, losing 5-2 to Liverpool on aggregate.

Emery’s Villarreal appointment followed his sacking after just 18 months as Arsenal manager in November 2019, after failing to win in seven games – the Gunners’ worst run at the time since February 1992.

During his time in north London he took Arsenal to the Europa League final, losing 4-1 to Chelsea in 2019.