Arsenal have appointed Unai Emery as their new head coach.
Emery emerged as the favourite for the role on Monday in a shock, late twist to the club's search for Arsene Wenger's successor.
Announcing the appointment, Arsenal CEO Gazidis said: “Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career, has developed some of the best young talent in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly. His hard-working and passionate approach and his sense of values on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward."
“We conducted a confidential, wide-ranging and rigorous search involving extensive background references, data and video analysis, and personal meetings with all the candidates we shortlisted. All were interested in the position and we were unanimous in our choice of Unai to drive the next chapter of our history.”
Emery said that he was thrilled to be joining one of the great clubs in the game.
"Arsenal is known and loved throughout the world for its style of play, its commitment to young players, the fantastic stadium, the way the club is run. I’m very excited to be given the responsibility to start this important new chapter in Arsenal’s history. I have met Stan and Josh Kroenke and it’s clear they have great ambitions for the club and are committed to bringing future success. I’m excited about what we can do together and I look forward to giving everyone who loves Arsenal some special moments and memories,” he was quoted as saying in club's official annoucement.
Emery at Emirates
Unai started his coaching career at Lorca Deportiva in 2005 after playing mostly in the Spanish second division. He went on to coach Almeria, Valencia and Spartak Moscow before joining Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain.
With Arsenal playing in the Europa League next season, they may find Emery may well be the perfect fit.
Emery three consecutive Europa League titles with Sevilla from 2014-16.
However, he failed to take PSG past the last 16 in Champions League in his two years in France.
Emery is known as a gentle character, however, he is an altogether different person at the touchline.
In Spain, his constant gesturing on the sidelines earned him the nickname 'guardia urbano' (traffic warden) and he was even once sent off during an exhibition game in his honour.
Emery is a workaholic who spends hours studying videos of opponents.
Former Spain winger Joaquin, who played under the Basque coach at Valencia, once described him as being so obsessed with football "it's practically an illness".
"He's one of the best managers I've had. I worked with him for three years. I couldn't handle a fourth," Joaquin said.
"Emery put on so many videos I ran out of Popcorn!"
Emery spent the majority of his own playing career in the Spanish Segunda Division, before making the transition to management following a knee injury.
His appointment at Lorca saw the Spanish side achieve promotion to the second division in 2005 before he moved to Almeria and led them into La Liga.
During Emery's time at Valencia from 2008-12, they achieved three successive top-three finishes before a brief spell at Spartak Moscow brought an end to Emery's run of success.
While his return to Spain with Sevilla delivered a remarkable trio of Europa League titles, his time at PSG will be remembered as one of missed opportunities despite their continued domestic dominance.
In France, Emery failed to get a grip of a star-studded dressing room and could not stamp his authority on the squad.
In two seasons in the French capital, he won two French Cups, two League Cups and a Ligue 1 title, but that could not hide the fact that he had been appointed to deliver success in the Champions League.
Emery will be remembered as the man who led PSG to a resounding 4-0 win against Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League last year.
Yet more significantly as the coach who could not prevent his team from melting down in the return leg in a 6-1 defeat at the Nou Camp.
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