Unai Emery rescues the historic Spanish club close to his heart

A deep family connection

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is currently working in England, but his heart remains tied to a small club in Spain. Real Union de Irun was a founding member of LaLiga in 1929. The club has a massive connection to the Emery family that spans four generations.

Emery's grandfather, Antonio, was a legendary goalkeeper for the club. He helped them win the Copa del Rey in 1924 and 1927. Antonio was the goalkeeper who conceded the very first goal in LaLiga history in February 1929. Unai's father, Juan Maria, and his uncle, Roman, also wore the Real Union shirt. Today, Unai's son Lander, who is 23, is a goalkeeper for the club, continuing the family tradition.

Saving the club from ruin

Despite its rich history, Real Union fell on very hard times. The club was relegated from the top flight in 1932 and ended up in the semi professional third tier. By 2021, the club was facing financial disaster.

"The club was in a bad way, going down," Unai Emery said. He explained that they bought the club out of pure sentiment to honour its history and his family link. Unai's brother, Igor Emery, now serves as the president of the club. Another brother, Andoni, and their brother Koldo work as gardeners at the stadium.

The club's financial situation was disastrous, and they owed money to many people. The Emery family bought shares, starting with 20 percent, and launched an initial 300,000 euro share issue. They assumed the debt to keep the club from folding. Their lawyer told them they were mad to do it, but they decided with their hearts to keep the legacy alive.

What it means for the next game

Aston Villa vs Brentford (Premier League, Sat, 10 Oct): Aston Villa win 39%, draw 26%, Brentford win 35%; expected goals 1.50 to 1.42. Our safest pick: Over 1.5 goals.