History hasn't just been made at Villa Park—it’s been shattered. With a clinical 1-0 victory over Lille in the Europa League Round of 16, Unai Emery has officially reached 100 wins as Aston Villa manager.
But the milestone is only half the story. Emery has reached the century mark faster than any other manager in the club’s 152-year existence, cementing his status as the architect of the most rapid transformation in modern Villa history.
The Race to 100: Breaking a 129-Year Record
For over a century, the benchmark for managerial excellence at Villa Park was held by George Ramsay and later Ron Saunders. Emery has surpassed them all. He reached 100 victories in just 181 matches, boasting a win percentage of 55.2%—the highest of any Villa boss to ever hold the whistle.
How he compares to the legends:
Unai Emery (2022–2026): 181 games (3 years, 4 months)
George Ramsay (1884–1926): 190 games
Ron Saunders (1974–1982): Reached 100 wins at the end of his 4th season (1977/78).
Joe Mercer (1958–1964): Required 4.5 years to reach the century.
By reaching this landmark in just over three years, Emery has accomplished what many thought impossible when he took over a side languishing near the relegation zone in late 2022.
A Year for the Ages (2025)
The journey to 100 was supercharged by a record-breaking 2025. Last year, Emery masterminded 36 wins in all competitions—the highest number of victories in a single calendar year in the club's history, surpassing the previous record of 32 set by... Unai Emery in 2023.