Aston Villa Announces The Extension Of Unai Emery’s Contract Until 2027.
Aston Villa has officially announced the extension of head coach Unai Emery’s contract with the club until the summer of 2027. Initially set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season, Emery has agreed to a one-year extension amidst the Lions’ unexpected surge for Champions League qualification.
Villa currently stands fourth in the Premier League table with 66 points, holding a six-point advantage over Tottenham Hotspur, albeit having played two more games. Additionally, Emery’s team boasts a superior goal difference to Spurs and achieved a remarkable feat in 2023 with a record-breaking 15-match winning streak at home in the Premier League, including consecutive victories over Manchester City and Arsenal.
The four-time Europa League champion has demonstrated his wealth of continental experience effectively this season as well. Villa secured a spot in the Europa Conference League semi-finals after defeating Lille on penalties in the quarter-finals, setting up a clash against Olympiacos in the last four.
Emery’s Appreciation for Aston Villa’s Journey Emery’s achievements at Villa Park were reportedly catching the eye of German powerhouse Bayern Munich, who are in search of a new manager following Thomas Tuchel’s departure at the season’s end.
There were also rumors linking him to the vacancy at Liverpool, succeeding Jurgen Klopp. However, earlier reports on Tuesday suggested that Emery had turned down external interest to pledge his future to Aston Villa.
Now, Villa has officially confirmed that the former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain boss has extended his contract, and he expressed optimism about the club’s ambitions in an interview with avfc.co.uk.
“We are thoroughly enjoying our journey together with Villa fans, the club owners, management, and this exceptional group of players whom we are immensely proud of,” the 52-year-old remarked.
“Myself and the football management team align closely with the vision of the owners. Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens provide tremendous support and respect, and we have a conducive environment and the proper structure in place to progress this football club.”
Aston Villa are thrilled to announce head coach Unai Emery has agreed to a contract extension until 2027. ✍️
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 23, 2024
“We must uphold the ethos of hard work, wise decision-making, and collaboration with the ownership that has characterized our journey thus far. Our aim is continuous improvement, and we will hold each other accountable to this standard. Ambition is, and always must be, the driving force behind this endeavor.”
Chairman Nassef Sawiris expressed delight at Emery’s contract renewal, underscoring the hierarchy’s commitment to restoring Aston Villa to its former “greatness”. He stated, “We are thrilled and are constructing a sports operation around Unai to provide him with the necessary support as we endeavor to elevate Aston Villa, a founding member of the English Football League, back to its historic pinnacle.”
Under Emery’s guidance since replacing Steven Gerrard in 2022, Aston Villa has accumulated 44 wins, 14 draws, and 19 losses in 74 matches. This tenure follows Emery’s fourth Europa League triumph with Villarreal in 2021.
Emery holds the record for the most Europa League triumphs by a manager, having won three consecutive titles with Sevilla from 2014 to 2016 and leading Arsenal to the 2018-19 final, where they were defeated by Chelsea.
Aston Villa returns to Premier League action at home against Chelsea on Saturday night, followed by the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos on May 2.
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