Aston Villa have appointed Villarreal boss Unai Emery as their new head coach. /CFP
Unai Emery's dismissal from his role as Arsenal manager in 2019 was as unmourned as it was inexorable.
The Spanishi tactician, who previously led Paris St-Germain to the French Ligue 1 title and won three Europa Leagues with Sevilla, had been tasked with restoring Arsenal to their former glory. However, his appointment as Arsene Wenger's successor proved to be a spectacular failure.
Despite spending more than 130 million pounds ($147 million) in the summer transfer window after signing a host of big names, Emery presided over a run of seven games without a win. It was their longest winless streak since February 1992.
Unai Emery during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium in London, England, August 12, 2018. /CFP
It is understood that several Arsenal players had made no secret of their antipathy to Emery, who was considered a lousy communicator with an inadequate mastery of English and poor management skills.
No wonder eyebrows were raised when Aston Villa named Emery as their new head coach after the struggling Premier League club paid 6 million euros ($8.4 million) buyout fee to Villarreal.
According to Villa statement released on Monday night, Emery will start his new job next week "after his work permit formalities are completed."
Unai Emery celebrates with the Europa League Trophy following Villarreal's victory against Manchester United at Gdansk Arena in Gdansk, Poland, May 26, 2021. /CFP
"A highly experienced top level coach who has managed over 900 games, Unai has also previously managed in the Premier League during a spell with Arsenal, leading the Gunners to a Europa League final," Villa added.
"He has also enjoyed notable success at Sevilla and at Paris St-Germain. In Seville, he won three successive Europa League titles between 2013 and 2016 before going on to lift a Ligue 1 championship in France as well as two French Cups, two French League Cups and two Trophees des Champions."
To be fair, Emery repaired his damaged reputation somewhat after he joined Villarreal in July 2020, nine months after he was shown the door by Arsenal. He managed to knock the Gunners out of that season's Europa League at the semifinal stage before outclassing another Premier League giants Manchester United in the final.
Unai Emery is thrown in the air by the players after Villarreal's victory against Manchester United in the Europa League final at Gdansk Arena in Gdansk, Poland, May 26, 2021. /CFP
But Emery did not see the achievement as a personal triumph or a revenge. "I try to enjoy every moment, winning and losing. I try to create new circumstances, so everywhere I have been, even in England at Arsenal, I have learned a lot, met many people, other cultures and football," he said at that time.
Last season, Villarreal enjoyed a brilliant run in the Champions League, with Emery guiding them to the semifinals by outsmarting European powerhouses Juventus and Bayern Munich. The Spanish side are reluctant to lose Emery mid-season, but there is nothing they could do after Arsenal paid the Spaniard's release clause.
Villarreal wished Emery well in the future and listed his achievements in an emotional statement. "Emery has gone down in Villarreal history for becoming the first coach to win a title with the club, the Europa League, as well as the historic achievement of reaching the Champions League semi-finals last year and helping the team qualify team for European competitions for two consecutive seasons."
A rather forlorn looking Steven Gerrard after Villa's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage, London, England, October 20, 2022. /CFP
While Emery's time at Arsenal has been painted as a failure, Villa appreciated the 50-year-old's tactical acumen and pedigree in Europe.
"It didn't go quite so well with him at Arsenal but if you look what he did at Villarreal – Europa League winners and you look at how far they pushed Liverpool in the Champions League. He was brilliant at Valencia, always getting them into the Champions League places," Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports.
"I don't think he's the type of manager for Barcelona and Real Madrid – and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way – but for a Valencia and an Aston Villa and for clubs who are trying to compete against teams who have more money, he gets his teams really organized and he's a super coach."
"Maybe not for the biggest names in the planet but, for Aston Villa right now, I think he'd be a great appointment."
Aston Villa players celebrate during their Premier League clash with Brentford at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, October 23, 2022. /CFP
Since acquiring the club in 2018, the billionaire owners of Villa have spent over 400 million pounds on the squad, but Steven Gerrard has been unable to make the most of the rich resources at his disposal and was sacked after winning just 13 of his 40 matches in charge.
Aaron Danks was then named the interim coach and inspired a rare reverse in fortunes last weekend, when Villa produced their best performance of the season to rout Brentford 4-0.
Emery's first game in charge will be a mouthwatering showdown with Manchester United on November 6.