Villa job was too good for Unai to turn down
UNAI Emery has been explaining for the first time why he decided to leave Villarreal and take the Aston Villa job.
The former Arsenal boss will officially start work at Villa Park on November 1, once a work permit has been finalised, after agreeing to make the return to England.
He had spent two years with the Yellow Submarine, winning the Europa League in 2021, but believes Villa are too good a chance to turn down.
He told a final press conference in Spain: “Here I have felt something of heart again, but the profession is within me. This one, I have considered that I had to take it, as a sports challenge, as a different project.
“It is a personal and professional decision. I left home at the age of 24 and opened myself up to the professional world of football with all the consequences.”
Emery joins Villa with the club 15th in the Premier League after they sacked manager Steven Gerrard last week.
Caretaker boss Aaron Danks guided the side to a 4-0 win over Brentford on Sunday and is due to be in charge again for Saturday’s trip to Newcastle United. Emery rejected a move to St James’ Park last year as he wanted to continue Villarreal’s Champions League journey. However, his contract at the Spanish club was due to expire next summer, and Villa were willing to pay the buy-out fee, said to be around £5 million.
The 50-year-old has also posted a message on Instagram following news of his move to Villa on Monday evening.
He wrote: “Villarreal has been my home for the last two years. My home, not my club, because I have felt integrated, identified and passionate about Villarreal CF. I have lived in first person the excellence of the project driven by the Roig family and our beloved Jose Manuel Llaneza.
“Everything has been perfect. I have enjoyed this path to the fullest. However, part of every path is its end.
“For the last few days I’ve been thinking carefully and feeling what my decision should be. Farewell is hard and difficult, but my feeling and my reflection I just have to start a new project.
“On July 27, 2020, in my presentation, I said that my dream it was to win a title with Villarreal CF. Today, after having fulfilled, I can tell you the fans, the Club and my players that what I would have never dreamed is that I was going to be so happy as I have been with you.”