Unai Emery was born on November 3, 1971, in Hondarribia, Spain. He is a Spanish football manager and former player, currently serving as the head coach of Aston Villa in the English Premier League.
Emery grew up in Hondarribia, a coastal town in the Basque Country. Coming from a lineage deeply rooted in football, his father and grandfather both played as goalkeepers, while his uncle, Román, played as a midfielder. This footballing heritage laid a strong foundation for Emery’s future in the sport. He later trained with the youth academy of Real Sociedad.
Primarily deployed as a left midfielder, Emery had a modest playing career, spending the majority of his time in Spain's Segunda División. He made 215 league appearances over five seasons, scoring nine goals. At the age of 24, he featured in five La Liga matches for Real Sociedad, including a standout performance in an 8–1 win over Albacete Balompié in which he scored.
Emery spent much of his later playing days with clubs in the lower divisions. He concluded his playing career at Lorca Deportiva CF, retiring at the age of 32 following a season in Segunda División B.
After retiring in 2004 due to a knee injury, Emery was offered the head coaching position at Lorca Deportiva by the club’s president. His quick transition from player to manager proved highly successful. In his debut season, he led the team to promotion to Segunda División for the first time in club history. For his achievement, he was awarded the Miguel Muñoz Trophy, recognizing his outstanding managerial performance.
Emery’s tactical acumen and leadership helped Lorca finish fifth in their first season in the second tier, narrowly missing another promotion. His early coaching success marked the beginning of a promising managerial career.
Following his achievements at Lorca, Emery took charge of UD Almería in 2006. In just one season, he guided the club to its first-ever promotion to La Liga. Almería's overachievement during this period caught national attention and further elevated Emery’s reputation in Spanish football. He remained at Almería until 2008, solidifying his place as one of the most promising young managers in Spain.
| Birth Date: | 3 Nov, 1971 |
| Age: | 48 yrs |
| Occupations: | Association football player Association football manager |
| Citizenship: | Spain |
| Birth Place: | Hondarribia |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Spanish association football player and manager |
