Why Real Madrid Are Seriously Considering Unai Emery As Next Manager 

Real Madrid’s managerial situation is in flux and at the center of a growing story connecting one of Europe’s most respected coaches with the Spanish giants. According to multiple reports today, Unai Emery, currently the manager of Premier League club Aston Villa, has landed firmly on Real Madrid’s summer shortlist. 

Early exploratory contact has already been made between Madrid and Emery’s representatives as Los Blancos assess their options for a long-term leader. Real Madrid’s current campaign has been defined by inconsistency. 

Former manager Xabi Alonso, who took over in the summer of 2025, delivered mixed results and saw his side knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage. Meanwhile, caretaker boss Alvaro Arbeloa is holding the fort, but Madrid’s hierarchy appears keen to secure a definitive plan before next season. Initial conversations with Emery seem to be part of that wider evaluation process, Bundesliga and Premier League sources reveal. 

What Emery Has Built At Aston Villa And Why Madrid Are Watching

Unai Emery’s influence on Aston Villa since his appointment in late 2022 has been remarkable. When he took over, Villa were a mid-table team with little European pedigree. 

Under his leadership, they secured Champions League qualification for the first time in decades and established themselves as credible challengers both domestically and in European competition. Villa sit among the Premier League’s top 3 this season, often outperforming sides with bigger budgets thanks to a blend of tactical organisation and effective man-management. 

Players like Ollie Watkins have flourished, with Watkins recently becoming Villa’s all-time Premier League top scorer and a key figure in Emery’s setup. Emery has a storied European pedigree. Long before his Villa days, he led Sevilla to three consecutive Europa League titles and later won the competition again with Villarreal. 

His track record of guiding teams in European competition is one of the key reasons he is being taken seriously as a Real Madrid candidate. His Aston Villa side’s success has not been solely down to star names.

Unlike the traditional powers of Manchester City and Arsenal, Villa operate with a smaller budget yet remain in the Premier League’s upper echelons thanks to tactical discipline and squad unity. That makes Emery’s Valencia-esque project attractive to clubs looking for stability and a clear identity. 

What Real Madrid Are Looking For In A Manager

Real Madrid’s managerial criteria this summer are expected to be exact. After the departure of Carlo Ancelotti and a brief spell for Xabi Alonso, the club’s leadership are keen to find a coach capable of delivering both immediate success and a sustained project. 

The club’s appetite for big-picture planning explains why internal discussions are combining Emery’s name with others, including Jurgen Klopp, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano. 

The Madrid job is one of the most challenging in club football. The weight of expectation from fans and President Florentino Perez is enormous. Champions League trophies are the gold standard, while domestic dominance is non-negotiable. 

Emery’s European record and ability to compete against elite opposition tick some of those boxes. However, there are lingering questions about how he would handle the extreme pressure that comes with managing Real Madrid week-to-week. 

Real Madrid historically favours big-name managers and coaches who have managed global superstars with established egos. Emery’s past spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have provided mixed results, with critics citing difficulties handling pressure environments and intense dressing room dynamics. 

Risks And Rewards For Both Clubs If The Move Materialises

For Real Madrid, pursuing Emery carries both risk and potential reward. On one hand, Emery is known for his meticulous preparation and ability to instill a strong tactical identity. His teams are disciplined, difficult to break down, and capable of navigating multiple competitions simultaneously. 

At Villa, this has translated into a level of consistency that few expected when he arrived. On the other hand, Real Madrid’s unique environment tests even the most seasoned coaches. 

The Spanish giants are accustomed to working with elite talent and significant media scrutiny. Previous experiences with managers who struggled to balance dressing room power dynamics highlight a potential challenge for Emery if he were to arrive at the Bernabeu. 

For Aston Villa, losing Emery would be a seismic moment. His project has transformed Villa’s standing, bringing European nights back to Villa Park and redefining the club’s identity. 

Should the contact with Madrid develop into formal talks, Villa could be forced into a managerial transition at a critical moment. That situation tests the club’s long-term planning, particularly given Emery’s contract running until 2029. 

Villa would have to find a successor capable of maintaining momentum, a tough ask given how integral Emery has been to their recent success. The timing of such a move could coincide with high-stakes fixtures and transfer planning, making stability a key concern for Villa supporters. 

What Happens Next For Real Madrid And Emery

At this stage, the contact between Real Madrid and Emery appears exploratory. No official offers have been made, and talks remain in the early stages. 

Real Madrid are expected to observe how the remainder of the current season unfolds under Arbeloa before making a final decision on a permanent manager. Emery, meanwhile, remains focused on Villa’s ambitions. 

With Premier League and European objectives still alive, his immediate priority will be guiding Villa through the rest of the season while discussions about his future capture headlines across Europe. 

Should Real Madrid press ahead with a formal approach in the summer, it would represent one of the most compelling managerial sagas of 2026. A move for Emery would underline Madrid’s desire for tactical structure and European experience, while Villa’s response will set the tone for the Premier League’s managerial market in the years ahead. 

As the season unfolds, all eyes will remain on both Aston Villa’s Premier League challenge and Real Madrid’s hunt for long-term stability. The next chapter in this developing story is sure to be one of the most-watched managerial decisions of the summer.