Unai Emery Appointed PSG Manager: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Paris Saint-Germain have appointed Unai Emery as the club’s new manager, with the former Sevilla boss penning a two-year deal. Emery posted an image on Twitter of himself signing his contract, and PSG provided an additional statement in their press release: 

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Emery will begin his duties today. He will also play an active role in the club’s player recruitment that will launch a new ambitious cycle for Paris Saint-Germain, five years after the arrival of Qatar Sports Investments.

“It is with great pride that I agreed to become the Paris-Saint Germain coach, said Emery. The club has become one of the biggest in Europe over the past few seasons and I am both happy and honoured to be able to help realise its great ambitions. I am eager to meet up with my new players as well as the people who work tirelessly every day to help the club grow. I know that an immense fervour exists around the Paris Saint-Germain and I will be giving my best to ensure its millions of fans have a great deal to cheer about.”

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The Spanish boss will replace Laurent Blanc at the Parc des Princes after the ex-France international spent three seasons at the club.

Blanc brought three league titles, two wins in the Coupe de France and a further trio of titles in the Coupe de la Ligue during his tenure. But it was his failure to get beyond the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in any of his three seasons in charge that ultimately cost him his job.

So it’s clear what will be the big target for Emery as he gets settled at the Parc des Princes. And looking at his recent record with Sevilla in European competition, you’d have to say he’s a man who is potentially capable of bringing the Parisians some overdue success in the continental competitions, per Squawka Football:

There’s more to Emery than his success in the UEFA Europa League, though. He consistently had Sevilla pushing for the top four spots in Spain and did so despite losing key players regularly throughout his tenure. His success as a manager predates his time in Andalusia.

In 2007, he took Almeria into the top flight for the first time in their history before finishing in the eighth spot the very next season. Emery was then picked up by Valencia, whom he steered to three successive third-place finishes despite losing David Villa and David Silva during his second year in charge.

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There will still be some concerns for PSG supporters. The only time Emery has managed outside of Spain was during an ill-fated stint with Spartak Moscow; he was sacked just six months into his tenure following a 5-1 defeat to rivals Dynamo Moscow.

Additionally, Sevilla failed to win a single away game in La Liga under his guidance in 2015-16. At PSG, standards at home and on the road will not be allowed to drop below an immaculate level.

Emery also worked under brilliant sporting director Monchi at Sevilla, a man who is credited for the squad's superb recruitment strategy. Sport Witness’ Tom Coast added there may be a chance of him joining the coach in Paris:

Emery has shown enough coaching acumen, leadership and intensity to suggest he’ll be capable of keeping up PSG’s proud tradition in dominating Ligue 1. But it’s his ability to negotiate two-legged ties, motivate players for big games and set up a team for a particular opponent that undoubtedly enticed the club’s owners as they seek the biggest prize.

It’s a move Emery has earned after his brilliant spell with Sevilla, and it’ll be fascinating to see what kind of moves the club make in the transfer market with him at the helm. What is for sure is that PSG will be taken a lot more seriously on the European stage with a man of his pedigree on the sidelines.