Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa’s fortunes since taking over as Manager in October 2022.
A remarkable turnaround in the months following his appointment led to a seventh-place finish and European football before his first full season saw a top-four berth and a place in the Champions League secured.
It’s been an incredible journey for fans, players and staff alike since the Spaniard joined Villa, and here we look back on five great moments with Emery at the helm…
A grand introduction
A huge roar from all four stands at Villa Park greeted Emery as he emerged from the tunnel to take charge of his first game as Villa manager in November 2022.
A shift in the team’s tactical approach was noticeable from the off as the home side set about Manchester United from the first whistle.
Leon Bailey scored after just seven minutes and Lucas Digne curled in a free-kick shortly after as the Red Devils were overwhelmed.
A Jacob Ramsey own goal failed to deter the hosts, and with Emery prowling the touchline they put the game to bed when Ramsey netted at the right end.
The wave of optimism that greeted Emery’s appointment continued to surge as the club’s new Manager took the applause of a packed stadium at the full-time whistle.
Masterminding a European return
When he was introduced to the media as Villa Manager for the first time, Emery set out his intentions to take the club back into Europe.
However, with the club 17th in the Premier League table at the time of his arrival, even the most optimistic of fans would have doubted whether it would happen in the months that remained of the 2022/23 season.
A remarkable run of form saw the team rocket up to seventh by the start of the final game of the campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park, with a win needed to book Villa’s place in the Europa Conference League.
And they duly achieved victory thanks to a 2-1 success, sparking wild scenes in B6.
Emery hailed the power of the collective in his post-match interview: “I’m very proud of our work, our supporters, the club, everybody that works here.
“It’s important because we’re going to be one step ahead in our objective to be in Europe. To play in the Conference League is very important.”
A statement win against the champions
In the build-up to Villa’s game against reigning champions Manchester City in December last year, Emery was quizzed by reporters about the fact he’d never beaten a side managed by Pep Guardiola.
But that all changed on the back of a stirring performance from his side that brought about a statement victory at Villa Park.
Leon Bailey’s goal was all that separated the sides on the scoresheet, but in reality, there was a chasm between the sides on the pitch as the home side bossed all aspects of the match.
City were dominated in a way rarely seen in the Guardiola era, with the win also equalling a club-record 14 successive home league wins in style.
Emery’s team went onto set a new record when win No15 arrived against fellow title contenders Arsenal three days later.
Away day delight in north London
Despite Villa maintaining their top-four challenge throughout the season, few pundits gave the team much hope of toppling Arsenal at The Emirates in April.
Mikel Arteta’s team were fighting hard for the title, but for the second time in the 2023/24 season, they came unstuck against their former manager Emery.
Two goals in three second-half minutes left the Gunners on the canvas as a stunned stadium was lit up by the jubilant away support.
It was the latest in a long line of wonderful wins for Emery and it brought the prospect of Champions League football tantalisingly close.
A return to Europe’s top table
Emery, his staff and his players were at the club’s End of Season Awards evening when their fourth-place finish in the Premier League was confirmed.
The closing minutes of Tottenham Hotspur’s loss to Manchester City were shown on the big screen, with an eruption of elation inside the Lower Grounds greeting the final whistle.
Emery embraced those around him, and it was clear to see how much Villa’s return to the top table of European football meant to him.
In keeping with the Spaniard’s demanding nature, he was soon eyeing future achievements, saying: “Everything we are doing here is progressively getting better.
“If last year we got Conference League and we were very excited, the next step could be to get Europa League. But if we can get more than that, the Champions League is better.
“Always my idea is to try today to be better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today.”
