Daniel Feliciano

Tue 1 November 2022 16:22, UK

Unai Emery has signed the longest ever managerial contract in Aston Villa history after taking over from Steven Gerrard, according to The Telegraph‘s John Percy.

Emery was appointed last week after Gerrard was beaten again by Fulham, and the club moved quickly to bring in the four-time Europa League winner and paid £5.2m to bring him from Villarreal.

But it’s now been shared that the ownership have backed up their interest and ambition by handing the Spaniard a deal that runs for at least four-and-a-half years, making it the longest deal handed out in the club’s history to any manager.

It’s believed that the deal is worth upwards of £25m net over the course of the contract, with the club aiming for European football as part of their ambitious plans.

Emery officially took charge on Tuesday (1 November) but couldn’t take training as he was dealing with some VISA issues, but he should take charge of the sessions on Wednesday (2 November).

Sign of faith

If ever you needed to know about how much faith NSWE are putting in Emery and if this is part of a long-term vision, then you don’t need to look any further than this.

Emery is arguably the most decorated manager the club has had in the modern era and if anyone is going to be able to take us out of the rubble we’re currently in and up towards the European places.

He will make this team solid defensively and a threat going forward, and you’d have to assume that he will be given significant funding during the January and summer transfer windows to build a squad in his image.

With four and a half years at least on his contract, this is clearly a long term vision and he will be given every chance to succeed at Villa Park so the fans will have to get behind him and back his decisions.

His coaching staff are set to be in place now, with others leaving, and the game against Manchester United on Sunday will be the start of a new era.

In other Aston Villa news, backroom staff changes confirmed as one leaves