Former Arsenal manager rumoured to join Newcastle
Could he be the one to get the Magpies out of a relegation battle?
Last updated 2nd Nov 2021
It has been widely reported that former Arsenal boss Unai Emery has become the top choice to take over from Steve Bruce.
He's currently in charge of Spanish side Villarreal, but talks have taken place over the past 48 hours over a return to the Premier League.
Emery has guided them to the Champions League and last season he won the Europa League after a 22 shot penalty shootout against Manchester United.
Tonight Emery's Villarreal side will face Young Boys in the champions league.
Newcastle's new Saudi-backed owners are believed to want a new head coach by Saturday's game at Brighton.
NUFC YouTuber Holly Blades has given us her reaction, she said:
"I think that it's a very interesting appointment. Of course he does have a level of success and he's won things before. That's not quite where we need to be now.
"We're in a relegation battle at the moment and we need to worry about getting ourselves out of that situation, which is going to be a difficult job for Unai coming in."
The 49-year-old Spaniard has also managed Valencia, Sevilla and Paris St Germain in his career.
Newcastle are currently sitting 19th in the league, with the magpies still yet to win a game this season.
They travel to Brighton on Saturday evening with the need for a permanent manager more pressing by the day.
Holly Blades has said that Emery's Premier League experience could help the side get out of a relegation battle, but like many fans she is concerned at the quality of the squad and is looking forward to the January window.
The NUFC youtuber said: "Of course he did have a brief bit of Premier League with Arsenal, albeit only for a year, but I think that will help us out. He has already experienced the league and understands how it works.
"The squad hasn't been invested in for a long, long time. The players are ageing and we don't have that quality there. Ultimately we probably have a mid-table, top-end Championship side with a few good Premier League players. The January window is going to be a massive opportunity to try and sort out this problem.
Eddie Howe, Roberto Martinez, Antonio Conte - who has since been appointed Tottenham boss - Paulo Fonseca and Brendan Rodgers are among those to also have been linked with the post.
Holly has warned fans to give the ne manager time, whoever they may be.
"Allow him time. Give him time, try to see if he can try and pick up some results and then you can make your mind up", she said.
"Go in with an open mind, give him your support and get behind him. That's what we need to be, we need to be united as a fan base and get behind anyone that comes into this football club."
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20th October 2021: Steve Bruce leaves position of Head Coach by mutual consent
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