Aston Villa

Aston Villa

Premier League • England

Expert explains why ‘tremendous’ Unai Emery rejected Newcastle but opted for Aston Villa switch

Unai Emery

A European football analyst has given his verdict on why Unai Emery rejected Newcastle United last year but decided to join Aston Villa this season.

Newcastle approached Emery in November 2021, shortly after the sacking of Steve Bruce. Emery was flattered by the proposal but rejected the Magpies and pledged his allegiance to Villarreal.

Newcastle eventually brought in Eddie Howe and now sit fourth in the Premier League, having finished 11th in the table last season.

Villarreal, meanwhile, managed to finish seventh in La Liga under Emery’s guidance last term. And they even reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before losing to Liverpool.

Emery has returned to the Premier League by becoming the new head coach of Aston Villa. He will replace Steven Gerrard following the Englishman’s sacking on Thursday.

A club statement read: ‘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.

Unai Emery hoping to continue ‘notable success’ at Aston Villa

‘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.’

Reports are already claiming Emery could help Villa pull off two impressive transfers from Spain.

Sky Sports European football expert Kevin Hatchard has now spoken about the 50-year-old’s move. He thinks Emery has ‘unfinished business’ in the Prem, though he ‘wasn’t ready’ to swap Villarreal for Newcastle last year.

“You look at Emery’s situation with Villarreal and what he did last season. He was able to get them to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Before that, he won the Europa League,” Hatchard told Sky Sports.

“I don’t think he was ready to go last season when he was linked with Newcastle, but I think now there’s a feeling that he’s taken Villarreal as far as he can and he has unfinished business in the Premier League.

“He’s a great coach and if you look at his experience, his CV is tremendous.”

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has also weighed in on the Villa appointment. “Villa paid Emery’s €6m release clause and have agreed a salary of €7m a year,” Romano said during an interview with CaughtOffside.

Emery appointment labelled ‘excellent move’

“I think it’s an excellent move for Aston Villa. Emery is a great coach and appointing him in October was really difficult… long-term project and future investments convinced Unai.

“This is different kind of job in comparison to Arsenal. I’m sure he will have more time, less pressure and great support.

“Of course it wasn’t easy for him at Arsenal, but I’m intrigued to see him back in the Premier League again – he’s shown time and time again what he can achieve with the right club and the right project.”

Fans from all across the Prem will be keeping tabs on how Emery does. Villa have big ambitions of breaking into the top six but Gerrard wasn’t able to take them up the league.

Emery has previous experience in England, having worked at Arsenal before. And his Champions League knowledge should prove vital to Villa.

The West Midlands outfit will also back him with plenty of money. This could make them a problem for the ‘Big Six’.

However, that is what was said about Gerrard when he joined Villa. Emery now needs to make them hard to beat so they can escape the relegation zone and head towards the top 10.

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s Transfer Gossip claims Man Utd want to replace Cristiano Ronaldo with a Bundesliga striker.