Unai Emery appointed Aston Villa manager

Unai Emery has been appointed Aston Villa manager, and will take over the role left by Steven Gerrard, who was sacked last week. Unai Emery, formerly of Arsenal, PSG and Sevilla, helped lead Villarreal to the Europa League title, the fourth team he had coached to victory in the European showpiece.

Emery has signed a long term contract at Villa Park, and leaves Villarreal despite having almost a year remaining on his current deal with the La Liga side.

A statement on the club's website read:  "Aston Villa is delighted to announce the appointment of Unai Emery as the club's new head coach.

"A highly experienced top level coach who has managed over 900 games, Unai has also previously managed in the Premier League during a spell with Arsenal, leading the Gunners to a Europa League final.

"He has also enjoyed notable success at Sevilla and at Paris St-Germain. In Seville, he won three successive Europa League titles between 2013 and 2016 before going on to lift a Ligue 1 championship in France as well as two French Cups, two French League Cups and two Trophees des Champions."