Newcastle United: Unai Emery leading contender for vacant manager post

By Alistair MagowanBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Newcastlecomments96

Unai Emery
Unai Emery won the Europa League with Villarreal in May, beating Manchester United on penalties

Newcastle hope to appoint ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery as manager before Saturday's game against Brighton.

The 49-year-old, currently in charge of Spanish side Villarreal, has emerged as the leading candidate as United's new owners look to replace Steve Bruce.

But there is still work to be done on a deal with the Spaniard, whose contract with the La Liga club runs until 2023.

Newcastle have also held talks with former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe and ex-Roma manager Paulo Fonseca.

Emery will lead Villarreal against Young Boys in their Champions League Group F fixture on Tuesday evening, and in Monday's pre-match news conference said he did not know anything about links with Newcastle.

He won the Europa League last season, beating Manchester United on penalties in the final in May.

Emery had an 18-month spell in charge of Arsenal before being sacked in November 2019.

In three years at Sevilla from 2013-16 he won three back-to-back Europa League titles and then joined Paris St-Germain, where he won Ligue 1 and two French Cups.

A Saudi Arabia-backed £305m takeover of Newcastle took place on 7 October and the new owners are keen to make an appointment with the club winless this season, second bottom of the Premier League table and six points from safety.

Former manager Bruce left the club by mutual consent on 20 October, with interim boss Graeme Jones taking charge of the team for the last two matches, a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace and subsequent 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea.

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98 comments

  • Comment posted by theharvvgc, today at 12:31

    Did so well at Arsenal

  • Comment posted by David McManus, today at 12:30

    Rooney from Derby for comedy value please

  • Comment posted by Taxi for Ozil, today at 12:30

    According to Jamie O’Hara on Sky, spurs are now going to win everything! Deluded!

  • Comment posted by Andy Tomlinson, today at 12:30

    If Newcastle want to make an appointment to keep them up this year they should have stuck with Steve Bruce-he’s done it for the last couple of years.

  • Comment posted by Tony, today at 12:29

    We’re just double checking this comment.

  • Comment posted by Its a Funny Old Game, today at 12:29

    Football dim.....meant to be the loyal mackem and straight on here as always, because there is something to do with Newcastle United. Nice to see your a bum too dim, get a job to occupy your mind.

  • Comment posted by Yeahbaby, today at 12:28

    Emery is obviously a very good coach as his record proves. Not a Newcastle fan but i quite like the idea of them upsetting the usual suspects at the top of the PL

  • Comment posted by Force Majeure Cathair, today at 12:27

    BurstABookaDaPlane! “Old TRAFFARD!”

  • Comment posted by MerseyMan, today at 12:27

    Wrong manger - simple as.

    • Reply posted by AllanCFraser, today at 12:29

      AllanCFraser replied:
      We’re just double checking this comment.

  • Comment posted by YorkshireCam, today at 12:27

    why?

  • Comment posted by David, today at 12:26

    the guy does not speak great English , was not great at Arsenal , I don't see how this can be a good appointment for this season , where survival is all that's required. Bring back Chris Hughton !

  • Comment posted by Pantaloons, today at 12:25

    Nuno would be a better fit

  • Comment posted by Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells, today at 12:25

    From a gooner. He's a really good manager, and I was disappointed we didn't give him more time. He'll prevent relegation this season, have Newcastle mid table next season, and top 6 the season after. But to get top 4 will need another manager after that. Three year contract would therefore seem reasonable.

  • Comment posted by hector300, today at 12:24

    Who would want to swap sunny Spain for the cold, bleak winter climate of north east England? They would demand instant success and be on his back straight way if it was not delivered. Plus there are human rights issues re the owners. Stay put, Unai.

  • Comment posted by GrassHopper, today at 12:24

    I reckon Emma Hayes will do a much better job than many of the old male dinosaurs.

    • Reply posted by Roguedfr, today at 12:29

      Roguedfr replied:
      Interesting suggestion. Having heard her as a pundit, she certainly knows her stuff.

      Not sure I could listen to her interviews though, she never stops talking!

  • Comment posted by FXImpactUser, today at 12:24

    Knee jerk appointment for relegation bound barcodes.

    • Reply posted by Common Sense, today at 12:29

      Common Sense replied:
      Is Johnson enjoying getting beaten 5-1 by the likes of Rotherham? Obsessed as usual.

  • Comment posted by Football Jim, today at 12:23

    We’re just double checking this comment.

  • Comment posted by colinlincoln, today at 12:22

    If players do not put a shift in it makes no difference what the manager is or does. A manager needs funds to buy players and time to get the system right. A great manager finds players who gel to a system and develops them to be better. Running a club into the ground by an owner needs more than nice words or a world class manager

  • Comment posted by markyp1965, today at 12:21

    People will need to judge Emery based on what he has done in Spain, not on his spell at Arsenal, where he simply wasn’t the right fit.
    He’s a talented coach, he’s a cup winner and he might well be a good appointment for Newcastle, even if the Geordie fans might not be overjoyed at his arrival.

    • Reply posted by Football Jim, today at 12:24

      Football Jim replied:
      We’re just double checking this comment.

  • Comment posted by gone-for-a-walk-bye, today at 12:21

    So the new Newcastle owners reckon he’s going to do to Newcastle what he couldn’t do it Arsenal ha ha ha😂😂😂😂

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