Football
Exclusive: Champions League Nights and Bayern Scalps, Ex-Villa Star on Unai Emery’s Era
Former Aston Villa midfielder Garry Thompson reflects on Unai Emery's transformative reign, Champions League success, and the Villains' return to European glory.
Carl Recine/Getty Images
Former Aston Villa midfielder Garry Thompson says it has been dreamland for the club ever since Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard.
The Spaniard took the reins at Villa Park after Liverpool legend Gerrard was sacked in October 2022.
It looked to be a relegation fight for the former Arsenal boss with two of their first 11 games of the season under Gerrard left them just a point outside the dreaded drop zone.
But just over two years later and the Villains are playing in the Champions League and scored the scalp of Bayern Munich in Europe’s premier competition.
They have suffered a minor blip heading into the international break with four defeats on the bounce for the first time since Emery took over.
But Thompson, who played at the club in the late 80s, told SportsBoom.com:
Life's sweet at the minute as a Villa fan.
Garry Thompson
“From the moment Unai walked in he’s done a good job. You can see from all the players that he’s improved them. It’s been phenomenal.”
“To beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League was amazing.”
“We aren’t going to win every game of course, but as a Villa fan who’s supported the club for over 40 years, it’s incredible times at the club.”
“I was watching the club when we won Division One and then the next season in 1982 we won the European Cup. But those days go and suddenly you’re thinking we’ll never see those days again.”
“I didn’t think we’d get back into the Champions League for a long, long time and all of a sudden we’re in the Champions League and competing in the Champions League.”
There haven’t been too many setbacks, it’s only been the last few games. The Brugge one was the one that worried me because we didn’t look our usual selves
Garry Thompson
“When Unai took over we ended up keeping clean sheets, defended really well and had that foundation to win games.”
“The improvement’s been so good that every now and again you can have a lull. Every club’s going to have it. If that was our hiccup that’s just gone then it’s not too bad.”
“I’ve watched some good times at Villa and absolutely terrible times at Villa, but you go to places now and you know you’re going to be competitive and give it a go.”
“Previously you’ve had times, even at home, where you think we could get a tanning here, but you don’t have that anymore and that’s testament to what Unai’s done.”
Thompson was worried about who the club were going to appoint after Gerrard’s departure. But Villa paid £5.2million to get the Villarreal boss.
The 65-year-old remembers exactly where he was when news filtered through Emery would be the new man in charge.
He added: “I was about to do a premiere for some film and my phone’s buzzing, going nuts. I see Unai Emery’s got the job.”
I was thinking he’s an elite manager and renowned through Europe. He’s one of the better ones, you’ve got Tuchel and Pep, but he’s not far behind them. I remember saying if his English language is better this time round then he’ll do okay for us
Garry Thompson
“He turned down Newcastle a few months before, he’s got good pedigree. His ability to work with players and players to buy into what he wants them to do is incredible.”
“It's gone really well. The garden’s rosy. You can’t think of any player who would want to leave Aston Villa.”
“Villa fans complained after a couple of results, but the man’s done unbelievably well since coming in.”
Shane is a respected journalist who has covered a range of sports for a number of years.