Unai Emery Biography and Timeline

Birth in Hondarribia

Unai Emery Etxegoien is born in Hondarribia in the Basque Country; his family's football background precedes his own playing and coaching careers.

Real Sociedad Reserve Football

Emery begins appearing for Real Sociedad B, gaining senior competitive experience in the club's reserve side before a career in the Spanish lower divisions.

Real Sociedad First Division Appearances

Emery makes a handful of Spanish top-flight appearances with Real Sociedad, a brief spell at the highest level of his playing career.

Toledo Midfield Spell Begins

Emery joins Toledo and becomes part of the squad competing in Spain's second division, developing an understanding of the demands of professional league football.

Racing Ferrol Move

Emery moves to Racing Ferrol after his spell with Toledo and continues playing as a midfielder in the Spanish professional divisions.

Leganés Playing Season

Emery represents Leganés in Spain's second division, adding another club to the playing career that precedes his work from the touchline.

Lorca Managerial Transition

A knee injury brings Emery's playing days at Lorca Deportiva to an end, and he takes charge as the club's coach in December.

Lorca Wins Promotion to Segunda División

Emery guides Lorca Deportiva out of Spain's third tier in his first campaign as manager, quickly establishing a reputation for detailed preparation.

Almería Takes on Rising Coach

Almería appoints Emery after Lorca's promotion challenge, entrusting him with a team seeking to move into the Spanish top flight.

Almería Secures First La Liga Promotion

Emery's Almería earn promotion to La Liga for the first time in club history after a successful campaign in the Segunda División.

Valencia Appointment

Becomes Valencia manager after successful work with Almeria.

Role range: 2008-2012

Valencia Head Coach

Leads the club through repeated qualification for European competition.

Role range: 2008-2012

Valencia Reaches Europa League Places

Emery guides Valencia through his first season in charge and secures European qualification despite significant financial constraints at the club.

Valencia Takes Third Place

Valencia finish third in La Liga under Emery and return to the Champions League, combining disciplined organisation with an attacking midfield.

Valencia Repeats Third Place

Emery steers Valencia to another third-place league finish while managing the departures of several leading players from the squad.

Spartak Moscow Appointment

Emery takes over Spartak Moscow for his first coaching assignment outside Spain, entering the Russian Premier League during a challenging transition.

Sevilla Coaching Rebuild

Emery begins reshaping Sevilla after joining in January, giving young attackers clear roles while reorganising the side for the following campaign.

Europa League Victory

Guides Sevilla past Benfica in the Europa League final.

Role range: 2013-2016

Sevilla European Trophy

Wins his first UEFA club trophy as a manager.

Role range: 2013-2016

Eurpopa League Winner

Directed Sevilla through a goalless final and a successful penalty shootout.

Second Europa League Victory

Leads Sevilla to victory over Dnipro in Warsaw.

Role range: 2013-2016

Sevilla Retains European Title

Becomes a consecutive Europa League winner with the Spanish club.

Role range: 2013-2016

Eurpopa League Winner

Led Sevilla to consecutive Europa League titles through a hard-fought final.

Sevilla European Hat-Trick

Establishes an unprecedented sequence of three straight tournament victories.

Role range: 2013-2016

Third Europa League Victory

Guides Sevilla to a third consecutive Europa League title.

Role range: 2013-2016

Eurpopa League Winner

Guided Sevilla to a third consecutive Europa League title with a second-half tactical turnaround.

PSG Retains French Cup

Emery guides Paris Saint-Germain to a 1–0 Coupe de France final victory over Angers, keeping the trophy in the capital.

Arsenal Reaches First Tenure Season

Emery succeeds Arsène Wenger at Arsenal and begins introducing a more structured approach to playing out from defence.

Arsenal Finishes European Runner-Up

Emery's Arsenal reach the Europa League final but lose 4–1 to Chelsea in Baku, ending his first season without a major trophy.

Villarreal Recruits European Specialist

Villarreal appoint Emery as head coach, seeking consistent European progress after his departure from Arsenal.

First Villarreal Major Trophy

Wins the first major trophy in Villarreal's history.

Role range: 2020-2022

Villarreal Europa League Victory

Leads Villarreal past Manchester United in a penalty shootout.

Role range: 2020-2022

Eurpopa League Winner

Coached Villarreal to its first major European title after an extraordinary shootout.

Managerial Appointment

Aston Villa appoints Emery as head coach after his departure from Villarreal.

European Qualification

Villa finishes seventh and qualifies for the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Aston Villa Champions League Return

Secures the club's return to Europe's leading competition.

Role range: 2022-

Premier League Fourth Place

Guides Aston Villa to fourth place in the Premier League.

Role range: 2022-

Champions League Quarter-Final

Guides Aston Villa past Club Brugge to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.