Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been told by Jamie Carragher that he should be a top contender for the Manchester United head coach role
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been sent a clear Manchester United verdict
Jamie Carragher has given his verdict on Aston Villa boss Unai Emery(Image: (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images))
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Jamie Carragher has argued that Aston Villa manager Unai Emery ought to be leading the race for the Manchester United head coach role. Emery and Co. head to Old Trafford this weekend as they seek to strengthen their grip on a top-five finish.
Michael Carrick will be opposite him in the dugout on Sunday afternoon with the two teams level on 51 points following a good spell for United and a poor run of form for Villa. Emery has been at the club since 2022, guiding them to regular European campaigns, including the Champions League.
Villa are presently amongst the favourites to claim the Europa League trophy, a tournament that Emery has lifted four times during his managerial career, with the chances of that improving after a last-16 first leg victory away at Lille.
Despite his impressive credentials, speculation linking Emery with the United role has been notably subdued compared to other candidates. Ahead of the weekend, Carragher has queried why United aren't prioritising the Spanish manager, whilst also suggesting it would be misguided to assume he wouldn't be interested in the role.
"Unai Emery should be heading to Old Trafford this weekend as the frontrunner to become the next Manchester United manager," he stated in his column for The Telegraph.
"I suspect he does not rank high among the candidates. That is good news for Aston Villa, but it must be frustrating for one of the best, and still most underrated, coaches in Europe.
"For Emery not to be under serious consideration says plenty about modern football. By any metric, he would be the perfect coach to revive United. For me, only Pep Guardiola ranks higher of those currently managing in England.
"Here is a manager who wins trophies, has a clear football vision, a track record of revitalising clubs in need of a mini-revolution to break into the Champions League, and who demands respect whilst leading with authority. Add the fact he is now proven in the Premier League, and such coaches are in short supply."
Carragher went on to offer his reasoning as to why United may not be looking at Emery, which spells good news for Villa.
Aston Villa players speak to Unai Emery
Unai Emery has had a hugely successful few years at Aston Villa(Image: James Marsh/Shutterstock)
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He wrote: "At Villa, it seemed like Emery appointed his own sporting director when Monchi arrived, and when there was a disagreement about transfer policy, the executive left.
"That will carry weight with members of United's board, even though candidates should be judged on their coaching and managing skills, not how their arrival would affect the job security of those above them.
"It has reached a point where if a younger, up-and-coming version of Sir Alex Ferguson was on the market, some sporting directors would probably hesitate to approach him because they would fear for their own relevance.
"The suggestion that United's boardroom would chew Emery up and spit him out like Arsenal and PSG after the first bad spell has merit. If he started a new season as he did at Villa Park last August, Emery would be fire-fighting and it would make it tougher to lead such a spectacular revival as he has.
"Despite this, it is naive to believe Emery would not be attracted by the United job if he felt they really wanted him."
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