Unai Emery sets a record of 5 Europa League titles, equaling Ancelotti and Mourinho.
With Aston Villa's 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the 2025/26 Europa League final, Unai Emery officially holds the record for 5 European titles, joining the ranks of the greatest strategists in history.
Coach Unai Emery has just written a new chapter in history by leading Aston Villa to victory in the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 season after a convincing 3-0 win against Freiburg in Istanbul. This is not only a glory for the English team but also a great personal milestone, affirming the Spanish strategist's dominant position in this competition.
Aston Villa's overwhelming dominance in Istanbul.
The final in Türkiye unfolded with a completely dominant performance from the Premier League representatives. Despite Freiburg's attempts to employ a defensive counter-attacking style, the difference in class and experience was quickly apparent. Goals from Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia, and the young talent Morgan Rogers solidified the Birmingham team's dominance.
With a squad whose total transfer value reached nearly 550 million euros, Aston Villa operated their tactical machine perfectly. Emery's team stifled any resistance from their Bundesliga opponents, completely controlled the midfield, and thoroughly exploited the gaps in the opposing defense.
Unai Emery's unprecedented record
This championship marks Unai Emery's fifth Europa League title, a personal record that will likely remain unbroken for a long time. Before his triumph with Aston Villa, the Spanish strategist had dominated the competition for three consecutive years with Sevilla (2014-2016) and led Villarreal to victory in 2021.
Throughout his managerial career, his only defeat in a final of this tournament was in 2019 while managing Arsenal. However, this latest triumph has placed Emery on a separate list of the greatest managers in European football history.
On par with legends like Ancelotti and Mourinho.
According to statistics, with this fifth continental title, Unai Emery has officially equaled Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho in terms of the number of major European trophies (including the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League). Specifically:
- Carlo Ancelotti:5 Champions League titles.
- Jose Mourinho:2 Champions League, 2 Europa League and 1 Conference League.
- Unai Emery:5 Europa League titles.
Notably, this achievement puts Emery ahead of other illustrious names like Bob Paisley and Giovanni Trapattoni (both with 4 trophies), and also ahead of Pep Guardiola and Zinedine Zidane (both with 3 trophies). Although Emery's titles are mainly in the Europa League, his consistency and ability to conquer the tournament are considered by experts to be a unique phenomenon.
The victory in Istanbul not only ended Aston Villa's decades-long trophy drought but also served as a crucial springboard for the team to qualify for the Champions League next season. With Emery's experience and knack for cup competitions, fans can certainly expect further surprises in the most prestigious tournament on the continent.
