Manchester United has been linked with several potential replacements for Erik ten Hag. However, one former Premier League midfielder finds it surprising that Unai Emery’s name hasn’t come up in discussions yet.
There could be a couple of reasons why Emery, with his distinctive slick-haired appearance, has avoided the continuous speculation surrounding other managers like Roberto de Zerbi and Thomas Frank. Firstly, Emery is only halfway through the long-term contract he signed when he replaced Steven Gerrard in 2022. Additionally, enticing him away from the ambitious and financially backed Aston Villa would prove challenging.
Moreover, there’s a perception that Manchester United, given its size and stature, might not be the ideal fit for Emery’s managerial style. His tendency to tightly control football operations and his assertive approach to man-management may not align well with the club’s culture.
While Emery has achieved success at Aston Villa and secured European silverware with Sevilla and Villarreal, he has struggled in high-profile environments such as Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, notably losing to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United in the 2021 Europa League final.
Nevertheless, Don Hutchison believes that Emery’s remarkable transformation of Aston Villa from relegation candidates to Champions League contenders deserves consideration, especially with several Premier League clubs potentially seeking new head coaches this summer.
“One individual who often goes unnoticed… I believe if you’re Manchester United or Liverpool, you should be considering Unai Emery at Aston Villa,” stated the former Everton, West Ham, and Liverpool midfielder during an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.
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