Real Madrid Eye Emery as Successor to Arbeloa After Trophy Drought
With changes expected at Real Madrid, the club has begun identifying potential replacements for Alvaro Arbeloa, whose time in charge looks set to conclude following two seasons without major silverware. Among those under consideration is Unai Emery, currently managing Aston Villa.
Unai Emery joins Real Madrid’s shortlist as Arbeloa’s tenure nears its end, while Jose Mourinho is also linked to a possible return to the Bernabeu.
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According to talkSPORT, Emery has gained strong backing within the Madrid leadership, with Florentino Perez and key decision-makers viewing him as a viable figure to guide the next phase at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Spaniard’s rise in England has played a major role in this interest. Since his appointment in 2022, Emery has elevated Villa into regular contenders near the top of the Premier League standings. His work mirrors earlier achievements in Spain, where he built successful teams with Sevilla and Villarreal, as well as his spell with Arsenal.
Another name attracting attention is Jose Mourinho, who could make a return to Madrid. During his previous tenure from 2010 to 2013, he collected three trophies, including a La Liga title, while competing intensely with Pep Guardiola. Mourinho is now at Benfica, and reports suggest a contractual exit option exists.
On talkSPORT Breakfast, Ally McCoist shared his reaction, admitting he would be disappointed to see Emery leave the Premier League. He praised the manager’s qualities and suggested his exit would significantly impact Villa, though he acknowledged the appeal of seeing him manage talents such as Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
McCoist also pointed out that Emery’s consistent success makes his connection with a club like Madrid understandable. Despite Villa’s recent 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, he stressed that Emery has demonstrated his quality across different levels of the game, even if he expressed a desire for him to remain in England.
Emery’s tenure at Villa has already delivered notable milestones. A seventh-place finish in his first season secured European qualification via the Conference League, ending a lengthy absence from continental competitions. The following year, the club reached the Champions League for the first time since 1983 and advanced to the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain.
In the current campaign, Villa are still competing for a place in the Europa League final. However, they face a 1-0 aggregate deficit against Nottingham Forest heading into the second leg of their semi-final clash.
