Unai Emery

Unai Emery: biography

Unai Emery is a Spanish football coach who has managed several top football clubs in Europe. Currently Unai works as a coach for Aston Villa Premier League club.

Childhood and youth

Unai Emery was born on November 3, 1971, in Hondarribia, a small town in the Basque Country of Spain. He grew up in a middle-class family and was the youngest of six siblings.

As a child, Emery was passionate about football and spent much of his time playing with friends in the streets and fields of his hometown. He was a talented player from a young age and joined the youth academy of Real Sociedad at the age of 14.

Unai Emery had a modest playing career as a midfielder, which began at Real Sociedad's youth academy. Despite being a talented player, Emery struggled to break into the first team at Real Sociedad and eventually moved on to several smaller clubs in Spain to gain more playing time.

Emery played for clubs such as Lorca Deportiva, Toledo, and Leganes before retiring as a player in 2004. He then began his coaching career with Lorca Deportiva in the Spanish third division.

Coaching career

Unai Emery has had a successful coaching career, spanning over 15 years, which began with Lorca Deportiva in the Spanish third division. He quickly caught the attention of Almeria, who appointed him as their head coach in 2006.

In his first season in charge of Almeria, Emery led the team to promotion to La Liga for the first time in their history. The following season, he helped them avoid relegation, which led to interest from bigger clubs.

Emery was then appointed as the head coach of Valencia, where he had his most successful period as a coach. He led Valencia to three consecutive third-place finishes in La Liga and helped them reach the knockout stages of the Champions League twice.

In 2013, Emery was appointed as the head coach of Sevilla, and he immediately had an impact, winning the Europa League in his first season in charge. He then went on to win the Europa League two more times, making him the most successful coach in the competition's history.

Emery's success at Sevilla earned him the opportunity to coach Paris Saint-Germain in 2016. He led PSG to the French Ligue 1 title in his first season in charge but was unable to deliver the Champions League trophy, which was the club's main objective.

Emery was then appointed as the head coach of Arsenal in 2018. He inherited a squad that had struggled under his predecessor, Arsene Wenger, and faced the difficult task of rebuilding the team. Emery had a mixed spell at Arsenal, leading the team to the Europa League final in his first season but ultimately failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Despite the disappointment at Arsenal, Emery's reputation as a top-class coach remains intact. He is known for his tactical flexibility, attention to detail, and ability to get the best out of his players. Emery is a hardworking coach who is always looking for ways to improve his coaching and his teams.

In 2021, Emery returned to Spain to coach Villarreal, where he has continued to showcase his tactical abilities, leading the team to their first major European final, the UEFA Europa League final, in the 2020-21 season.

Emery became the head coach of Aston Villa on October 24, 2022, following the payment of a buyout fee of approximately €6 million (£5.2 million) by the Premier League team to Villarreal.

Personal life

Unai Emery is known for being a private individual, and he tends to keep his personal life out of the public eye. He has been married to his wife, Luisa Fernandez, since 1998 and the couple has a daughter together who was born in 2003.

Emery is a family-oriented person, and he often credits his family for their support throughout his coaching career. He has been known to bring his family to his coaching appointments and to celebrate his successes with them.

In his free time, Emery enjoys reading and watching films. He is also a keen follower of other sports, including basketball and tennis.

Emery is also a philanthropist and has been involved in several charitable organizations throughout his career. He has worked with organizations that support children's education and sports development, and he has also been involved in campaigns that promote social justice and equality.

Achievements and accomplishments

Club Honours:

Sevilla

• UEFA Europa League: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2017–18
• Coupe de France: 2016–17, 2017–18
• Coupe de la Ligue: 2016–17, 2017–18
• Trophée des Champions: 2016, 2017

Arsenal

• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2018–19

Villarreal

• UEFA Europa League: 2020–21

Individual Awards:

• Miguel Muñoz Trophy (Segunda División): 2005–06, 2006–07
• La Liga Manager of the Month: March 2014, January 2015
• European Coach of the Season: 2013–14
• UNFP Manager of the Year: 2017–18
• Globe Soccer Awards Coach Career Award: 2022