Unai Emery

Unai Emery
Aleksandr Osipov · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Unai Emery
Fullname	Unai Emery Etxegoien
Birth date	3 November 1971
Birth place	Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain
Height	1.80 m
Position	Midfielder
Youthclubs	Real Sociedad
Years1	1989–1993
Clubs1	Real Sociedad B
Years2	1993–1996
Clubs2	Real Sociedad
Years3	1996–1997
Clubs3	Toledo
Years4	1997–1999
Clubs4	Racing Ferrol
Years5	1999–2002
Clubs5	Leganés
Years6	2002–2004
Clubs6	Lorca Deportiva
Nationalyears1	1990–1991
Nationalteam1	Spain U21
Manageryears1	2004–2005
Managerclubs1	Lorca Deportiva
Manageryears2	2005–2006
Managerclubs2	Almería
Manageryears3	2006–2008
Managerclubs3	Valencia (assistant)
Manageryears4	2008–2012
Managerclubs4	Valencia
Manageryears5	2012–2013
Managerclubs5	Spartak Moscow
Manageryears6	2013–2016
Managerclubs6	Sevilla
Manageryears7	2016–2019
Managerclubs7	Paris Saint-Germain
Manageryears8	2020–2022
Managerclubs8	Arsenal
Manageryears9	2022–
Managerclubs9	Aston Villa

Unai Emery Unai Emery Etxegoien (born 3 November 1971) is a Spanish professional football manager and former midfielder. He has managed clubs across Spain, Russia, France, and England, known for multiple UEFA Europa League successes and tactical adaptability. Emery rose from Segunda División playing and coaching to lead top-tier teams such as Valencia CF, Sevilla FC, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal FC, and Aston Villa.

Early life and playing career

Emery was born in Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, and progressed through the Real Sociedad academy alongside contemporaries who emerged from Basque academies such as Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna. He featured for Real Sociedad B and made senior appearances for Real Sociedad in La Liga before spells with CD Toledo, Racing de Ferrol, CD Leganés, and Lorca Deportiva CF in Segunda División and Segunda División B. As a central midfielder he experienced promotion campaigns and relegation battles reminiscent of other Spanish professionals who transitioned from provincial clubs to coaching, an arc shared by figures linked to La Liga and Segunda División circuits. Emery retired as a player in 2004 and immediately moved into management at Lorca Deportiva CF, following a pathway similar to managers who began tactical education while still active at clubs such as Real Oviedo or RCD Mallorca.

Managerial career

Emery began managing Lorca Deportiva CF in 2004, earning attention with performances in Segunda División that attracted UD Almería, where he achieved promotion to La Liga in 2006. He joined Valencia CF initially as an assistant before taking the head coach role in 2008, leading Valencia to UEFA Champions League qualification and domestic cup finals while competing against giants like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. In 2012 he had a brief tenure at FC Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League, then returned to Spain to manage Sevilla FC from 2013, where he won consecutive UEFA Europa League titles, defeating opponents including SL Benfica and Liverpool F.C. in European finals. His success at Sevilla led to a move to Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in 2016, winning multiple domestic trophies such as Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue amidst competition from clubs like AS Monaco FC and Olympique de Marseille. Emery joined Arsenal F.C. in 2018, guiding the club into UEFA Europa League finals and securing top-four Premier League finishes before being dismissed in 2019. After a period away from management, he became head coach of Aston Villa F.C. in 2022, competing in the Premier League and continental qualification battles against clubs including Manchester City F.C. and Chelsea F.C..

Managerial style and tactics

Emery is noted for meticulous preparation, opponent-specific plans, and iterative tactical adjustments similar to contemporaries linked to high-detail coaching such as José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, while maintaining a pragmatic emphasis on transitions and pressing. His teams often deploy structured defensive organization, zonal pressing, and fluid attacking patterns with inverted full-backs and dynamic midfield rotation, echoing tactical elements observable in matches between Sevilla FC and Manchester United F.C. in UEFA competition. Emery places importance on set-piece routines, video analysis, and squad rotation, utilizing sports science departments like those at Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and Arsenal F.C. to manage player workload. He has adapted formations from 4–2–3–1 to 4–3–3 and 3–4–2–1 depending on personnel such as forwards and midfielders similar to how managers at FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich vary tactics to exploit opponent weaknesses.

Achievements and honours

Emery's most notable honours include multiple UEFA Europa League titles with Sevilla FC, domestic league titles with Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in Ligue 1, and cup victories including Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue. He achieved promotion to La Liga with UD Almería as manager and guided Valencia CF to consecutive UEFA Champions League qualifications, finishing high in La Liga standings against rivals like Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid. Individually, Emery has received managerial awards from organizations such as La Liga and UEFA for tactical accomplishments in European competitions. His teams have also claimed domestic super cups and reached major finals, competing on stages including UEFA Europa League finals and domestic cup finals against opponents such as Sevilla FC (as opponent), Olympique Lyonnais, and AC Milan in friendly and competitive fixtures.

Personal life and public image

Emery is married and has children; his family life has been referenced in media coverage alongside managerial milestones at clubs like Sevilla FC and Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. Fluent in Spanish and Basque, he is part of a Basque footballing tradition that includes figures from Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao academies. Public perception of Emery combines praise for his European record with criticism when domestic league objectives at clubs like Arsenal F.C. proved elusive; he has been widely profiled by outlets covering La Liga, the Premier League, and UEFA competitions. Emery's reputation among players and pundits places him among contemporary Spanish managers who have influenced coaching methods across Europe, alongside names associated with tactical evolution at FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Category:Spanish football managers Category:1971 births Category:Living people