'I think if you're Man Utd or Liverpool' - former Reds midfielder shares verdict on Aston Villa boss Unai Emery

Unai Emery’s name has been thrown into the next Liverpool and Manchester United managerial mix.

The Spaniard, who has Aston Villa competing for a Champions League place next season, deserves a mention whenever talk turns to potential new men at the helm at both Anfield and Old Trafford. That’s according to former Reds midfielder Don Hutchinson, who has described Emery’s work at Villa Park as ‘remarkable’.

The ex-Sevilla, Villarreal and PSG boss replaced Steven Gerrard as Villa boss in October 2022, with the club 14th in the Premier League standings. He subsequently guided the club to seventh in the table last season, earning the Villans a European competition return. Meanwhile, this term, Villa are currently fourth in the table and well placed to secure a maiden Champions League spot.

Emery, who has won the Europa League four times during his manager career, also boasts a 58.46-percent win ratio during his time at Villa Park, surpassing that achieved by the likes of George Ramsay, Ron Saunders and Tony Barton. And it’s that list of achievements and his Villa impact which makes the 52-year-old an ideal candidate, according to Hutchinson, to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool or Erik ten Hag at Manchester United - with speculation continuing about his Old Trafford future

Speaking on BBC 5 Live’s Friday Football Social, Hutchinson said: ‘One man who I think doesn’t get a mention, I think if you're Man Utd or Liverpool, and if it’s not Xabi Alonso for Liverpool, when he should do - and that’s Unai Emery at Aston Villa.

‘If you’re Man Utd or Liverpool, with Monchi (president of football operations at Villa) being the sporting director, the job that he’s done at Villa, I think it’s been remarkable. 

‘Now, I’m not saying he would leave Aston Villa, but when Man Utd or Liverpool come calling, you have to think about that and I think he deserves a special mention for the job that he’s done at Villa.’

When asked if Emery’s record at Arsenal would stand against him, when he was sacked 18 months after replacing Arsene Wenger at the Emirates, Hutchinson replied: ‘I think it was bad timing. He went in after Arsene Wenger, and it’s difficult to follow the man.

‘He might be thinking "not again (replacing Klopp at Liverpool), I’m not going to do that twice in a row". But at the same time, if he gets offered the job, it’s difficult to turn down Liverpool or Man Utd.’