- Emery signed a four-and-a-half year contract when he joined in October 2022
- The 52-year-old is regarded as one of the premier coaches in European football
- Xabi Alonso is smart and will do what’s best for him. He won’t make an emotional decision about his next managerial job – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Aston Villa believe Unai Emery is at the club for the long haul with Bayern Munich including him on their list of candidates to replace Thomas Tuchel this summer.
Emery is regarded as one of Europe’s premier coaches. He has been admired in Bayern circles ever since his Villarreal team knocked the Bundesliga giants out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage two years ago and has been mentioned among the possible successors for Tuchel, though Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is thought to be first choice at this stage. Tuchel will leave Bayern at the end of the season.
Alonso, who is also being followed by Liverpool, is a former Bayern player and has led Leverkusen to the top of the table this season, eight points clear of Bayern.
Mail Sport understands that at this stage, there has been no contact from Bayern but Villa knew when they hired Emery that sooner or later he would become a target for Europe’s giants.
The 52-year-old has won 11 trophies and worked successfully in Spain, France and England, where he has taken Villa to fourth in the Premier League despite financial resources that are dwarfed by the division’s wealthy elite.
Unai Emery is regarded as one of Europe’s premier coaches and has worked wonders at Aston Villa
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel (right) will be replaced at the end of the season, with Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso (left) the top target
Although Emery was made the highest-paid manager in the club’s history when he signed a four-and-a-half-year deal to replace Steven Gerrard in October 2022, it would be no surprise if Villa opened talks over a new contract in the coming months.
The club has effectively been structured to suit Emery: he has allies in key positions and the ear of co-owner Nassef Sawiris, who made it his personal mission to appoint Emery after Gerrard was dismissed.
Emery’s sole focus at present is on ensuring Villa qualify for Europe for a second consecutive season. They in the Champions League places as things stand, and face Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday. Next month they will resume Europa Conference League action at the last 16 stage, and will learn their opponents on Friday.
Meanwhile, on-loan midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo is unlikely to remain at the club beyond this season. The Italian was borrowed from Galatasaray last summer but has not started a game for more than two months and is poised to return to Serie A on another loan deal.
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