Aston Villa manager Unai Emery wrote himself into the club’s history books with his side’s victory over Fulham on Saturday.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is well-loved in the Midlands due to his success at Villa Park after taking charge in October 2022.
During his opening season at Villa, the former Arsenal boss took the squad he inherited from Steven Gerrard from 15th to 7th to gain access to the UEFA Europe Conference League to round off a magnificent 2022/23 campaign.
The 52-year-old is showing no sign of slowing down at the helm as his side seek a Champions League finish by claiming a spot in the top four.
While the end of the season could provide Emery with even more accolades, the Spaniard has already broken a record that no other manager in the club’s history has been able to achieve.
What Unai Emery did to become one of Aston Villa’s greatest managers
While Emery has a long way to go to repeat the successes of the legendary George Ramsay or Graham Taylor, the four-time Europa League winner became the best-performing Villa manager after 50 league games.
Against Fulham, the boss recorded his 50th Premier League fixture in charge of the claret and blues, setting a new club record for success at that milestone.
Recording 30 wins, eight draws and 12 defeats, Emery has a 60% win percentage which sees him record five more wins and nine more points than any other Villa manager after 50 league games.
Averaging 1.96 points per game, the Spaniard is thriving in the Midlands to the delight of everyone associated with the club.
What is next for Unai Emery at Aston Villa
Based on this season’s injury woes alone, Emery has exceeded expectations this term having seen his squad suffer three ACL injuries on top of a host of absences in the favoured XI.
Prior to the win over Fulham, there was a huge worry over how the rest of the campaign would look for the Villans, particularly after losing Boubacar Kamara to a season-ending injury.
Time after time over the 2023/24 calendar, the boss has showcased his ability to adapt his squad in different competitions amid the squad’s growing injury concerns.
Losing both Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia in the first week of the season weakened the manager’s XI, proving to his critics just how adaptable his tactics are over the host of different formations he has had to field this term.
Only time will tell if the 52-year-old can write his name into Villa’s history by adding some silverware to his name in the Midlands.
