April 24 – Aston Villa have triggered the one-year option in Unai Emery’s contract to extend the Spaniard’s stay until 2027.
Emery is on course to lead Aston Villa to a top-four finish and a ticket to the Champions League.
He could also lead Villa to the final of the Conference League and a first European trophy since 1966. His work has reportedly prompted interest from both FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich and the club moved to ensure the Basque is not prised away by extending his contract until 2027.
In a statement, Emery said: “We are enjoying our way together with Villa fans, the club owners, management and this great group of players that we are proud of. We must maintain the hard-working spirit, clever decisions and coordination with the ownership that we have found during this time. We will work to get better and better. And we will demand from each other. Ambition already is, and must always be, the motto of this project.”
Emery had previously expressed his 100% commitment to the club. Villa are fourth, six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, but the London club has two games in hand.
Aston Villa chairman Nassef Sawiris said: “We are thrilled and are building a sporting operation around Unai to support him with a view of returning Aston Villa, a co-founder of the English Football League as we prepare to celebrate our 150th anniversary, to its historic levels of greatness.”
Before he arrived at Villa Park, Emery managed among others Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
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