Unai Emery just did something no Aston Villa manager has ever done
Unai Emery wrote himself into Aston Villa history with Sunday’s Premier League Villa Park victory.
Villa beat Burnley 2-1, after Donyell Malen netted a brilliant brace on just his second Premier League start of the season.
Lesley Ugochukwa’s header made the final minutes tense, but the Villans held on for their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions.
Boubacar Kamara impressed for Villa against Burnley, claiming the assist for Malen’s opener.
Emery had been under massive pressure at Villa, but the Spaniard now looks safe in his position ahead of the season’s second international break.
Unai Emery writes Villa history with Burnley win
Emery had a perfect record against Burnley going into this weekend, and the former Arsenal boss has maintained that by making it six wins from six.
And it was a relatively untroubled day for the Villans, that was, until the final 78th minute.
Quilindschy Hartman’s corner found Ugochukwu, who had inexplicably found himself in acres of space in the penalty box.
The midfielder directed his header straight at Emi Martinez, but the ball squirted through the Argentine’s legs and gave Scott Parker’s side a fighting hope.
But the visitors did not really trouble the Villa goal after halving the deficit, with Emi Buendia‘s unfortunate late injury killing any momentum Burnley had built up.
The win puts the Villans into 13th in the Premier League, and earns their manager an incredible piece of history.
According to AVFCStatto, Emery has become the fastest Villa manager in history to win 80 games.
The Spaniard has needed just 150 games to reach the landmark achievement, quicker than previous record holder Ron Saunders, who managed the Villans between 1974 and 1982.
Emery can put himself among the Villa greats
The main thing separating Emery from the greatest managers in Villa history, is the silverware.
To put himself among the likes of George Ramsey and Tony Barton, the Spaniard will need to lead his team to title-lifting glory.
| Aston Villa managers | Games to reach 80 wins |
| Unai Emery | 150 |
| Ron Saunders | 166 |
| Vic Crowe | 166 |
| Joe Mercer | 167 |
| John Gregory | 174 |
| Martin O’Neill | 188 |
Of course, the context is massively different. Emery has led Villa back amongst the heights, and is undoubtedly managing the Villans in what is the most difficult period to ever be a football manager.
And with that in mind, the Europa League looks a worthy target to put the manager well in that conversation.
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