Unai Emery has reached the Europa League semifinals in seven of the eight editions he has contested as a manager, further cementing his reputation as a reliable force in European competition.
The semifinal stage across various European tournaments carries a distinct Spanish flavor. In the Champions League, Luis Enrique (PSG) and Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) meet for the second consecutive season. Iñigo Pérez has made history with Rayo Vallecano, Carlos Vicens has caused a stir with Braga, and Unai Emery is on the verge of restoring continental glory to Aston Villa, a club still proud of its 1982 European Cup triumph.
“Unai Emery: “My dream is to win a trophy with Aston Villa. It’s my personal challenge. And my second dream, my goal, would be to play with Aston Villa in Europe,” he projected during his presentation after leaving Villarreal. He had guided the Spanish side to the Champions League semifinals before taking over at Aston Villa mid-season, when the team was four points above the Championship relegation zone. The challenge was ambitious, but despite the disadvantage, he led the Villans to European competition (the Conference League) for the first time since their UEFA Cup round of 32 exit to CSKA Moscow in the 2008-09 season.
His Aston Villa, in fact, became the fifth-best team in the Premier League from his arrival, behind only Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool.
Emery’s Europa League track record:
– Valencia (09-10): Quarterfinals
– Valencia (11-12): Semifinals
– Sevilla (13-14): Champion
– Sevilla (14-15): Champion
– Sevilla (15-16): Champion
– Arsenal (18-19): Runner-up
– Villarreal (20-21): Champion
– Aston Villa (25-26): Semifinals*
“Today was our moment. We have an ambitious goal, and we are trying to build a strong structure. We have time to work more next season, and we have another competition to play and win a title. That’s what I want. I’ve played in Europe for 15 years, and it’s fantastic,” Emery celebrated back then. He likely didn’t expect such a rapid rise.
There’s no doubt his presence has transformed Aston Villa’s dimension, turning it into one of the most stable projects in the Premier League. He guided them to the Conference League semifinals, Champions League quarterfinals last season, and now has them among the top four in the Europa League. It’s a stage where he feels at home, having reached the semifinals in seven of the eight editions he has contested. Only in his first participation, in 09-10 with Valencia, did he fall in the quarterfinals—to an Atlético Madrid side that went on to win the title. Since then, he made the semifinals with Valencia in 11-12, won a historic treble with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016), led Arsenal to the final against Chelsea in 18-19, won again with Villarreal in 20-21, and now, five years later, has returned to the semifinals with Aston Villa.
“It’s fantastic… but there is still work to do,” he stressed after sweeping Bolonia aside 7-1 on aggregate. “How we enjoyed it today with our fans. The atmosphere they created was fantastic,” thanked Emery, who now has 105 Europa League matches under his belt with a win rate close to 66%. In this edition, he has won every match except for the slip-up against GA Eagles in the league phase. Thus, he has elevated the club’s European stature once again.