Unai Emery has signed a five-year contract with Aston Villa until 2029 in a major boost for the club as they prepare for their first season in the Champions League. Villa made it their top priority to secure Emery with a new long‑term deal this summer after an excellent Premier League campaign. Villa finished fourth in the league, which meant qualifying for Europe’s premier competition for the first time since 1982-83.
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Southampton beat Leeds in the Championship play-off final to secure an immediate return to the Premier League and the £140m to go with it. Saints’ 11-year spell in the top flight came to an end after a wretched campaign last time out but, despite finishing one place and three points behind Leeds in fourth, it is they who join Leicester and Ipswich in going up thanks to a first half strike from Adam Armstrong.
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Manchester United teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo were the young heroes at Wembley as their goals clinched a remarkable 2-1 victory over deadly rivals Manchester City to see their side lift The FA Cup and clinch a place in Europe.
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FC Barcelona have sacked manager Xavi Hernandez with former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick set to replace him. Xavi will take charge of Barcelona for the final time on Sunday, when they host Sevilla in their last La Liga match of the season. The 44-year-old, who had been contracted until 2025, was informed of the club’s decision during a meeting with club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco on Friday – exactly one month since it was announced that he would remain at the club.
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West Ham United have confirmed that Julen Lopetegui has taken over as manager after David Moyes’s exit at the end of the Premier League season. Lopetegui has managed Spain and Real Madrid but was most recently with Wolves, stepping down on the eve of the new season in August 2023. The 57-year-old previously guided Sevilla to the Europa League title in 2019-20, as well as consecutive finishes in the top four of Spain’s La Liga.
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