Aston Villa has named Unai Emery as manager to succeed Steven Gerrard, the Premier League club said on Monday as the Spaniard returns to the English top flight for a second stint.
Emery, who had a spell as Arsenal manager from 2018 to 2019, replaces Steven Gerrard, who was sacked last week.
Villa sacked Gerrard last Thursday after the Midlands club collected just nine points from 11 games this season. Aaron Danks was appointed caretaker boss and Villa beat Brentford 4-0 over the weekend in his first game in charge.
The 50-year-old will begin his new role on November 1 after his work permit formalities are completed, meaning his first match in charge will be at home to Manchester United on Sunday, November 6.
The Spaniard will hold a farewell press conference with Villarreal on Tuesday.
At the end of his first season, he led the team to victory in the Europa League at United’s expense. He joined the club in the summer of 2020.
Villarreal reached the Champions League semifinals for just the second time in their history under Emery’s leadership in his second season, continuing his impressive play.
Emery’s previous managerial spell as a Premier League manager came to an end when he was sacked by Arsenal three years ago.
He turned down a return to England last year when he was approached by Newcastle.
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Gerrard’s exit came 11 months after he moved to Villa Park from Rangers, where he led the side to their first Scottish league title in 10 years.
But the former England captain was unable to replicate that success south of the border, winning just 13 of his 40 matches in charge before being sacked immediately after Villa’s 3-0 defeat at Fulham last week.
