Credit: Imago, Sky Sports Scotland on X

Unai Emery can do something as Aston Villa boss that only Martin O'Neill has done before

Correspondent AUTHORITY NCTJ-qualified football journalist with experience at VAVEL, Hayters TV, SPORTbible, and Centredevils. FOCUS Premier League analysis, tactical deep-dives, and original opinion content across Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, and Celtic. THE INSIGHT Evan utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides specialist tactical and analytical content to ensure fans get beyond the headlines and understand the full picture.

Published on:

31 Oct 2025, 1:30 am

Unai Emery has been nominated for the Premier League's Manager of the Month award for October.

Aston Villa beat Manchester City 1-0 on Sunday, marking a fourth consecutive Premier League victory for Emery's side.

The Villans had started the season woefully, but the last month has seen a resurgence at Villa Park, with victories also coming against Burnley and Tottenham.

Emery had been under huge pressure at Villa, but decision-makers stuck with the Spaniard and have been rewarded massively.

Villa will play Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, and could leapfrog the Premier League champions.

Emery's side enjoyed a superb October (Credit: Imago)

Unai Emery up for Premier League award

It has been a miraculous recovery for Emery's side in the last month, with the latter two of October's wins coming against two of the Premier League's current top five.

Manchester City had looked in unstoppable form after a slow start to the season, winning nine of their last 11 games across all competitions before their trip to Villa Park.

And Pep Guardiola's team were aided by the unbelievable form of Erling Haaland, who has scored a staggering 11 goals in just nine league games.

Manchester City and Haaland were stopped in their tracks by Emery's team, however, with Villa putting in a monstrous defensive shift to earn their clean sheet.

Four managers guiding their sides to unbeaten months 👏

Who gets your vote for @BarclaysFooty Manager of the Month? 👀
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 30, 2025

For his efforts, Emery has been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month award alongside Ruben Amorim, Mikel Arteta, and Andoni Iraola.

Read more: Matty Cash can do something no Aston Villa player has done since 2015

Only Martin O'Neill has won three manager of the month awards with Aston Villa

Emery has already won the Premier League's manager of the month award twice with Villa, in December 2023, and April 2023.

With his third, however, the Spaniard would join an exclusive list of Villa managers to have won it three or more times.

Premier League Manager of the Month winners - Aston Villa	Month(s)
Unai Emery	December 2023, April 2023
Dean Smith	December 2020
Martin O'Neill	April 2010, December 2008, November 2007, April 2007
John Gregory	September 2001, September 1998
Brian Little	January 1995

Martin O'Neill is the only other entrant, winning it in 2010, 2008, and twice in 2007.

Brian Little was the first winner in 1995, with John Gregory and Dean Smith the only other two managers to have ever won the award.

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Unai Emery

Martin O'Neill