Unai Emery, head coach of Aston Villa, signed a five-year contract extension on May 27, 2024, keeping him at the club until 2029.
Joining Aston Villa in October 2022, Emery has had a remarkable impact. In his two years, he’s overseen a dramatic rise for Villa. He steered them away from relegation in the 2022/23 season, followed by a phenomenal fourth-place finish in the current season, securing their first-ever Champions League qualification.
“I am very happy to take this step and the responsibility of leading this club,” Emery stated on the club’s official website. “Since arriving at Villa, I’ve found the best environment and structure, alongside Wes [Edens] and Nassef [Sawiris], to develop a highly ambitious project.”
“We share the same vision and goals with the entire football structure, including Monchi, Damian, and the owners. There’s a fantastic chemistry at Aston Villa, and the incredible fan support makes it feel like home. We’re truly excited to continue this journey, with no limits to our aspirations.”
Emery’s Arrival Sparks Aston Villa Renaissance
Aston Villa’s decision to part ways with Steven Gerrard on October 21, 2022, proved pivotal. The team sat precariously in 17th place after 11 matches, with only nine points, clinging to safety on goal difference alone.
Unai Emery’s appointment on October 24th offered a glimmer of hope. Though still hovering just outside the relegation zone before his debut on November 6th (a resounding 3-1 victory over Manchester United), a new era was dawning.
Emery instilled a sense of consistency, with Villa losing just six of their remaining 24 matches that season. This season has seen even greater heights under his leadership. A 1-0 home win against Manchester City stands out.
They stifled the champions, restricting them to just two shots on target (both in the opening 15 minutes) while generating a staggering 22 attempts themselves – the most City had conceded in a Premier League match under Pep Guardiola at the time.
Villa also secured a league double over their closest rivals, Arsenal, with a 1-0 home victory and a 2-0 triumph at the Emirates Stadium.
Perhaps Emery’s most impressive feat was overseeing a remarkable 15-match winning streak at home, starting with a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace on March 4th, 2023. This run tied for the fourth-longest winning sequence in Premier League history.
Aston Villa fans have every reason to celebrate. They’ve secured the services of a top-tier manager for an extended period, a testament to the exciting future Emery has built at Villa Park.