Aston Villa announced on Tuesday that manager Unai Emery has extended his contract with the club until 2027. Emery’s tenure has seen a remarkable transformation for the Premier League side, who were facing relegation when he took charge last season.
Under the leadership of the Spanish coach, Aston Villa has surged to fourth place in England’s top flight, putting them in contention for Champions League qualification. Emery has also guided the team to the semifinals of the Europa Conference League.
In a summer marked by managerial changes at top clubs like Liverpool, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, Emery’s decision to prolong his stay at Villa Park underscores the stability and progress he has brought since joining the club in October 2022.
“We are enjoying our journey together with Villa fans, the club owners, management, and this great group of players that we are proud of,” Emery expressed. “Me and the football management… we share the vision of the owners.”
Emery succeeded Steven Gerrard, who was dismissed after a challenging run of results. Villa was teetering above the relegation zone on goal difference when Emery arrived. Since then, he has guided Villa to a seventh-place finish and secured European qualification for the first time since 2010.
“We must maintain the hard-working spirit, make clever decisions, and coordinate with the ownership that we have found during this time,” Emery emphasized. “Ambition already is, and must always be, the motto of this project.”
With an impressive resume that includes four Europa League trophies—three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal—and a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain, Emery brings a wealth of experience to Villa. He previously managed in England with Arsenal from 2018-2019.
Villa’s resurgence under Emery has sparked speculation about his future, but chairman Nassef Sawiris expressed confidence in the manager and the club’s trajectory.
“We are thrilled and are building a sporting operation around Unai to support him with a view of returning Aston Villa… to its historic levels of greatness,” Sawiris stated.
As Emery commits to Villa for the long term, the club looks poised to continue its upward trajectory under his guidance.