UNAI EMERY has returned to the Premier League as Aston Villa manager.
Villa appointed the ex-Arsenal boss last night to replace the sacked Steven Gerrard after triggering Emery’s £5.2million release clause at Villarreal.
The Spaniard, who is understood to have agreed a three-year contract, will miss Saturday’s trip to Newcastle and officially start at Villa Park on November 1 once he receives his work permit.
Caretaker boss Aaron Danks will remain in charge for the visit to St James’ Park.
His first two games in charge will be at home to Manchester United on November 6 and a Carabao Cup third round tie at Old Trafford four days later.
Emery, who turned down Newcastle last year, beat United in the 2021 Europa League final – one of four times he has won the competition.
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The 50-year-old was sacked by Arsenal in November 2019 after 18 months in charge at the Emirates but has continued to take English lessons despite his return to Spain.
And ambitious owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens made a swift move for Emery, who has unfinished business with the Prem.
Emery joined Villarreal in 2020 and led the club to their first European title after triumphing in the Europa League in his first season.
Villarreal beat Arsenal in the semi-final before defeating United on penalties in the Gdansk final.
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After turning down the chance to manage Saudi-rich Newcastle, Emery continued to lead the Yellow Submarine to the Champions League semi-finals before being knocked out by Liverpool.
Emery famously won three consecutive Europa League titles with Sevilla between 2014-16 while also winning Ligue 1 and two French Cups while Paris-Saint Germain manager.
Villarreal are 11th in the La Liga table after winning five and drawing three of their 11 games.
They face Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
Emery has got most of his success from deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation, which the Villa board feel best suits their current squad.
The club wanted to hold talks with Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim but baulked at his £20million release clause and had second thoughts over his 3-4-3 system.
The ex-Portugal midfielder, 37, is one of Europe’s most promising young bosses and has previously interested Chelsea and United after ending Sporting’s 19-year wait to become Portuguese champions.
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Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel were also on the club’s list of candidates but the former Tottenham and Chelsea bosses are holding out for a Champions League job.
Villa started life without Gerrard by thrashing Brentford 4-0 as interim boss Danks ripped up the former Liverpool midfielder’s tactics by dropping skipper John McGinn and changing to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
