Aston Villa defeated Lille in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday. The result marks the 100th victory for Unai Emery since he joined the club in October 2022. According to Sky Sports, Emery achieved the milestone in fewer matches than any other manager in the history of the club.
Only three managers have reached 100 wins for the West Midlands side. George Ramsay and Tony Barton previously held the record, but Emery surpassed their pace during the continental fixture at Villa Park. The Spanish head coach has overseen a period of consistent form in both domestic and European competitions.
Villa now carry a lead into the second leg of the knockout stage. Per The Guardian, the squad maintained defensive discipline to secure the landmark win for their manager. Emery previously won the Europa League four times with Sevilla and Villarreal. His side remains one of the favourites to progress further in the tournament.
