Unai Emery
Age
54
Trophies
5
Annual Salary
£8M
Net Worth
$20M
Clubs Managed
8
How does Unai Emery compare to other managers?
Compare Managers →Unai Emery Management Style
Emery is one of the most meticulous and analytically rigorous coaches in world football. He builds compact, well-organised sides that press intelligently and are devastatingly effective in cup competitions. His tactical preparation is legendary — he studies opponents exhaustively and prepares specific game plans for each fixture. In knockout football he is without peer, mastering the art of the two-legged tie and finding ways to win finals when others could not.
Biography
Early Life
Unai Emery Etxegoien was born on 3 November 1971 in Hondarribia in the Basque Country. He had a modest playing career as a winger in the lower tiers of Spanish football — spending time at Real Sociedad B, Lorca, Toledo and Leganés — without ever breaking into the top flight. His playing days were unremarkable by elite standards, but the education he received within Spanish football's tactical environment laid the foundation for one of the most successful managerial careers in European football history.
Managerial Career
Emery moved into management at Lorca in 2004, earning his first significant attention at Almería where he won promotion to La Liga. A spell at Valencia followed before he made the career-defining move to Sevilla in 2013. What came next was extraordinary — three consecutive Europa League titles in 2014, 2015 and 2016, establishing Emery as the competition's undisputed master. He joined PSG but despite winning domestic trophies could not replicate that European success in the Champions League. A difficult spell at Arsenal followed before he revived his career spectacularly at Villarreal, winning a fourth Europa League title in 2021 by defeating Manchester United on penalties. He joined Aston Villa in November 2022, immediately transforming them from mid-table strugglers into Champions League qualifiers. The 2025-26 season brought Emery's greatest achievement at Villa — winning the Europa League for a record fifth time, defeating Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul. The victory ended Aston Villa's 30-year wait for a major trophy and cemented Emery's status as the greatest manager in the competition's history. Villa also secured fourth place in the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League for the second time under his management.
Philosophy
Emery's philosophy is built on obsessive preparation and tactical adaptability. He is renowned for producing detailed dossiers on every opponent, analysing tendencies and weaknesses with forensic precision. He builds teams that are hard to break down, efficient in transitions and ice-cold in the biggest moments. His Europa League record — five finals, five wins — is the most remarkable achievement in the history of the competition, built on his ability to peak for knockout football.
Personal Life
Emery is a private individual who rarely discusses personal matters in public. He is from the Basque Country and carries a quiet but intense pride in his roots. Within football he is known as deeply professional — a coach whose entire life revolves around preparing his team for the next match. His transformation at Aston Villa from a low-key appointment to one of the most celebrated figures in the club's history reflects both his ability and his relentless focus.
Unai Emery Career Timeline
Began his managerial career at Lorca in the Spanish third tier, earning his first coaching experience
Took charge of Almería and achieved promotion to La Liga for the first time in the club's history
Appointed Valencia manager and guided them to three consecutive La Liga top-three finishes
Joined Sevilla and began the most extraordinary run in Europa League history
Won his first Europa League title, defeating Benfica on penalties in the final in Turin
Won a second consecutive Europa League, defeating Dnipro 3-2 in the final in Warsaw
Won a historic third consecutive Europa League, defeating Liverpool 3-1 in the final in Basel, then joined PSG
Appointed PSG manager and won the Ligue 1 title and domestic cup treble in his debut season
Appointed Arsenal manager, reaching the Europa League final in 2019 before being dismissed in November 2019
Joined Villarreal and built one of Europe's most cohesive cup teams
Won his fourth Europa League title, defeating Manchester United on penalties in the final in Gdansk
Appointed Aston Villa manager in November 2022 and immediately transformed the club's ambitions
Led Aston Villa to fourth place in the Premier League and Champions League qualification for the first time in 41 years
Won his fifth Europa League title — a world record — beating Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul with goals from Tielemans, Buendia and Morgan Rogers. Villa also finished fourth in the Premier League securing Champions League football for the second time in three years.
Unai Emery Clubs Managed
Fun Facts
Emery has won the Europa League five times — three with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016), once with Villarreal (2021) and once with Aston Villa (2026) — a world record for any manager in a single competition.
Every club Emery has won the Europa League with contains the word 'villa' in its name — Sevilla, Villarreal and Aston Villa.
His Sevilla side won three consecutive Europa League titles between 2014 and 2016 — a feat that has never been matched by any club in the competition's history.
Emery was dismissed by Arsenal in November 2019 — yet went on to win two more Europa Leagues after leaving the club.
When Emery joined Aston Villa in November 2022, they were 14th in the Premier League. Within 18 months he had them in the Champions League.
Data last verified: May 2026
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