LONDON: Unai Emery has been appointed as Steven Gerrard’s replacement as team manager of Aston Villa.

Gerrard was sacked after Villa’s 3-0 Premier League defeat against Fulham last week.

Villa said the 50-year-old Spaniard, who will join them from Villarreal, will take over from November 1 after work permit formalities are completed.

It will be Emery’s second Premier League stint after managing Arsenal for 18 months before he was dismissed following a seven-match losing run.

Emery was due to be out of contract with Villarreal at the end of this season. It has been reported that Villa will pay a buy-out fee to the LaLiga club of around £5million.

Villa responded to Gerrard’s sacking by beating Brentford 4-0 on Sunday.

A statement from the club read: “Aston Villa is delighted to announce the appointment of Unai Emery as the club’s new Head Coach.

“Unai joins from Villarreal, whom he led to Europa League success by beating Manchester United in the final in 2021 as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.

“A highly experienced top level coach who has managed over 900 games, Unai has also previously managed in the Premier League during a spell with Arsenal, leading the Gunners to a Europa League final.

“He has also enjoyed notable success at Sevilla and at Paris Saint Germain. In Seville, he won three successive Europa League titles between 2013 and 2016 before going on to lift a Ligue 1 championship in France as well as two French Cups, two French League Cups and two Trophée des Champions.

“Unai will take over from November 1st after his work permit formalities are completed.”

Emery’s first game in charge will see Villa welcome Manchester United on Sunday November 6, before they face the same opponents in the League Cup.

####################