Unai Emery reaches milestone of 100 matches in the Europa League
Even before his triumph in the final, Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reached an impressive milestone of 100 matches in the Europa League. The specialist holds the record for the most wins in this tournament.
Unai Emery — 100 matches in the Europa League: the king of the tournament reaches a milestone
Main Event
On January 22, 2026, long before the triumph in the Istanbul final, Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reached an impressive historical milestone. In an away match of the 7th round of the Europa League group stage against Turkish side Fenerbahçe, the Spanish specialist managed his 100th match as head coach in this tournament.
The match at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul ended with a narrow 1-0 victory for the English club, allowing Aston Villa to secure early qualification for the Round of 16. But the main event of that evening took place not on the pitch, but on the bench: Emery became the first coach in history to reach the milestone of 100 matches in the UEFA Europa League.
Four months later, on May 20, 2026, that milestone took on even greater significance — Emery led Aston Villa to a 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the final, winning his fifth trophy in this tournament.
Details and Statistics
Distribution of the 100 matches
Throughout his Europa League career, Unai Emery has managed five different clubs. The distribution of matches by team is as follows:
| Club | Number of Matches |
|------|-------------------|
| Sevilla | 39 |
| Valencia | 20 |
| Arsenal | 20 |
| Villarreal | 15 |
| Aston Villa | 6 |
After the 2026 final, Emery's Europa League statistics are updated as follows:
- Total matches: 109
- Wins: 70
- Draws: 23
- Losses: 16
- Win percentage: 64.2%
King of the Europa League: Five Titles
The 100-match milestone is just one chapter in Emery's phenomenal career in this tournament. He is currently the absolute record holder for the most wins in the Europa League — five trophies:
- 2014 — Sevilla (victory over Benfica in the final)
- 2015 — Sevilla (victory over Dnipro)
- 2016 — Sevilla (victory over Liverpool)
- 2021 — Villarreal (victory over Manchester United on penalties)
- 2026 — Aston Villa (victory over Freiburg 3-0)
Emery's closest pursuer in terms of Europa League/UEFA Cup wins is legendary Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni, who won the tournament three times. Diego Simeone is the only other active coach to have won the Europa League more than once (two wins with Atlético Madrid), but he still trails the Spaniard by three trophies.
Emery is also the first coach to win the Europa League with three different clubs (Sevilla, Villarreal, Aston Villa).
Among the Greatest
Five major European trophies is an achievement that places Emery alongside the greatest coaches in European football history:
- Carlo Ancelotti — 5 major European trophies (3 UCL + 2 UEFA Super Cups by major trophies count)
- José Mourinho — 5 major European trophies (2 UCL + 2 UEL + 1 UECL)
- Giovanni Trapattoni — 5 major European trophies (1 UCL + 3 UEFA Cup + 1 CWC)
- Unai Emery — 5 major European trophies (5 UEL)
Moreover, four of his five European trophies were won in the last 11 years — from 2014 to 2026.
Context and Significance
"I Won My Fifth Final"
After the victory in Istanbul, Emery commented on his achievement with characteristic modesty. "The Europa League has become a special tournament for me," the Spaniard admitted. "This is my fifth win in six final attempts. Each time it's a unique story, a unique team. I am grateful to fate for the opportunity to work with such players and at such clubs."
His only final defeat came in 2019 with Arsenal, losing to Chelsea (1-4).
Record for Wins in European Competitions Since 2020
Equally impressive statistics: since 2020, Unai Emery has achieved 42 wins in UEFA competitions. This is the best record among all coaches worldwide, ahead of even Pep Guardiola (41 wins) and Carlo Ancelotti (36 wins).
Top 5 coaches by number of wins in European competitions since 2020:
- Unai Emery — 42
- Pep Guardiola — 41
- Carlo Ancelotti — 36
- Mikel Arteta — 35
- José Mourinho — 32
Remarkable Transformation
Emery's journey after his dismissal from Spartak Moscow in 2012 deserves special attention. The specialist lasted only five months in Russia, after which his career could have taken a downward trajectory.
Instead, Emery rebooted and has since won 12 trophies:
- 5 in the Europa League (with Sevilla, Villarreal, and Aston Villa)
- 7 with Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1 2018, Coupe de France 2017, 2018, Coupe de la Ligue 2017, 2018, Trophée des Champions 2016, 2017)
What's Next / Preview of the Next Match
After the Europa League triumph, new horizons open up for Aston Villa and Unai Emery.
The 2026 UEFA Super Cup will be the next test for the Spanish coach. On August 10, 2026, Aston Villa will face the Champions League winner — either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal. The match will take place at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. For Emery, this is a chance to add another European trophy to his collection.
Additionally, Aston Villa will compete in the Champions League next season — the main tournament that has so far eluded the Spanish specialist. The Champions League remains the only "blank spot" in Emery's brilliant European career.
The coach himself has hinted at new ambitions: "We won't stop. This club, these fans deserve big victories. The Champions League is our next goal."
Editorial Prediction
The 2025/26 season has already been historic for Unai Emery: 100 matches in the Europa League, a fifth trophy, and a place in the pantheon of the continent's greatest coaches. However, the Spaniard's appetite seems to be growing.
In the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, Aston Villa will be the underdog — regardless of whether PSG or Arsenal wins the Champions League. Both teams have more star-studded squads and vast experience. But betting on Emery in finals — especially in Europa League finals, even in a "hybrid" Super Cup match — is betting on a coach who has lost only one European final in his life. If Aston Villa can impose their game and keep the match tight in the first half, the chances of an upset are quite real. However, the favorite in this match will likely be the Champions League winner — the class of individually stronger players could be the decisive factor.
— Editorial Team
