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According to sources, Pablo Villanueva and Antonio Rodriguez are “likely to join” Unai Emery at Aston Villa as the new manager seeks to solidify his coaching staff.
The Villa owners moved quickly in their search for a significant upgrade over the previous management in an effort to achieve the continual improvement they have so desperately sought after since the departure of Dean Smith last November, and Emery, 50, has now been confirmed as Steven Gerrard’s successor.
Since the new Villa manager won’t take over the team until November 1, interim manager Aaron Danks will be in charge for this weekend’s game against Newcastle United (3 p.m. kickoff), looking to improve on his team’s 4-0 win over Brentford.
Emery will be working on the finer elements of his transitional planning in the meantime, which includes establishing his backroom staff.
Villanueva and Rodriguez are reportedly ‘set to join’ Emery at Villa, according to The Times, and the former Villarreal manager is also eager to bring in video analyst Victor Maas.
While Rodriquez served as a technical assistant at The Yellow Submarine, Villanueva has worked with Emery at PSG, Arsenal, Sevilla, and Villarreal. Villanueva is ‘anticipated’ to make the switch.
After meeting in Almeria more than 14 years ago, Maas has partnered with Emery in all of his responsibilities. A move to Villa is now also anticipated.
Last but not least, Jaime Arias, 23, is reportedly being considered for a coaching position after making an impression on the youth teams of Villarreal and Real Oviedo.
