Football can’t just help itself with very shocking results and surprises at every level. What just happened today? Villarreal knocked out Bayern Munich from the UEFA Champions League. Read that again. Adding this huge achievement to the long list, Unai Emery is the most underrated coach ever in the history of football. Before you disagree, let me take you down the memory lane.
Unai Emery led Almeria to the club’s first La Liga promotion. He later took Valencia and built them into a force, claiming third spots in Spain after Barcelona and Real Madrid. His days at Sevilla brought him into the football limelight. We saw him monopolize the UEFA Europa league. Hence, Sevilla’s record three consecutive Europa titles.
The Spaniard went to France in 2016 as the manager for Paris Saint Germain. Aside the disappointing results in the Champions League, he won all domestic trophies. In 2018, he moved to England to manage a struggling Arsenal. Surprisingly, he sent them to the Europa finals in his first season. Chelsea snatched the trophy, but his handiwork was one that deserves appreciation.
Emery took over Villarreal just last season. It seems it doesn’t take long before his impact on a team becomes conspicuous. He took this average side and claimed his birthright trophy, the Europa League title. This happened in the first season. Even better, this season confirms the manager really is good at the job. Despite the fact that Villarreal is not in top form in the La Liga, the team has achieved so much in the ongoing UCL: took out Juventus in the R16 in Juve’s own backyard and finished off Bayern today to book a semifinal spot.
If there’s one manager who doesn’t get his deserved hype in the media, then someone mention Unai Emery Etxegoien.
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