As many will know, the topic of Spain features regularly in English Premier League discussions given the many talented players who ply their trade in the broadcast saturated top-flight market that they beam around the world. Andoni Iraola is certainly making headlines having taken on the Liverpool job and many in the Atletico Bilbao fanbase will be watching his progression with interest at Anfield.
Another gaffer in England is continuing to quietly go about his own business, and although the 54 year old former Real Sociedad youth graduate may not have pulled up many trees during his professional playing days, his pivot to the world of coaching and management has been nothing short of remarkable.
Unai Emery is a known quantity and a serial winner. His European pedigree is unmatched among current Premier League managers — for fans looking to follow the continental action, platforms listing all UK online casinos often carry odds and coverage for Europa League and Champions League fixtures alongside the domestic game, specialising in the major European tournaments that the leagues across the continent share and battle in. His latest title win came just last season as he took Aston Villa to a first success since 1982 as they lifted the Europa League trophy. He is bizarrely looked down upon in England following his spell with Arsenal, a spell that was deemed poor despite returning a Europa League runners up finish, European qualification in the league, and the heavy lifting in reshaping the squad that Mikel Arteta then benefited from. He may have only been there for just over 12 months, but he held a 55.1 percent win record.
The quintessential Basque characteristics as they apply to methodical thinking, responsibility and a notoriously relentless work ethic have more than come to the fore during his time in the Midlands. Joining in November 2022 with the side heading for relegation back to the Championship second tier, the turnaround was as remarkable as it was instant and with the very same starting players. The reported 6 million Euro fee paid to Valencia as compensation may be the greatest piece of business investment they have ever made.
Starting in 16th place just one point above the dropzone, his first win came against Manchester United – a first home win against the side since 1995. 15 wins out of 25 games (49 points from 75) that remained saw them finish with a higher points tally across those games than everyone but Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, it was a sign of things to come, and a complete turning of a corner. The Premier League record for longest consecutive win streak for a new manager fell and was re-set, and a 7th place finish that year secured European football for the first time in over a decade (Emery’s 16th straight European qualification).
Champions League qualification followed, as did dabbling with second place and records last set in the 1930’s being crushed, and all on a net transfer spend of around half of Liverpool’s published matchday revenue for the 2024/25 campaign. Following the closure of the 2026/27 summer window, Emery has Villa sat in 18th place in some spending tables. Despite the need for them to spend heavily this summer to replace the nigh on six key first team players who were cherry picked and moved on at the start of the season.
Heading towards the month of November, Villa are sat in 16th place in the division as Emery teaches his new recruits his favoured and demanded structure, and some of their signings have barely left the substitutes bench yet. This week a few more of them did for the CL clash at Villa Park against Fenerbahce – the fans went home happy with a 6-0 win.
It is starting to come together for the patient Emery once again…where will he have them, and what will they be challenging for this year when we look to the end of the season?
Will Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Emi Martinez, Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Leon Bailey regret it?