Former PSG coach Unai Emery is set to be announced as Arsene Wenger’s successor in the coming days. Having first started his managerial career at Lorca Deportivo, the 46-year-old has also enjoyed major success at Almeria, Valencia and Sevilla.
David Silva, David Villa and Juan Mata were among the players to improve under guidance from Emery with Presnel Kimpembe and Giovani Lo Celso having a progress over the past 12 months in Paris.
There are many other players who improved under Emery. The list of their names is below.
- David Silva
The Manchester City man was a key figure under Emery at Valencia prior to his move to the Etihad Stadium in 2010. It has recently been revealed that Emery had told Pep Guardiola to buy him during his time as Barcelona manager.
- Juan Mata
Mata was also key for the Spanish side.
Speaking of Silva and Mata's success at Valencia, Emery said: "Silva might be the best; he made us play. And Mata is the sharpest, brightest player out there. Mata’s clever, very clever, the cleverest of the lot." Having won the World Cup with Spain in 2010, Mata dropped down a level a year later and picked up the Golden Player award
- David Villa
It was under Emery where he had his best two seasons for Los Che. After netting 31 goals in 43 games in the 2008-09 season, Villa, who finished the following season with 28 goals, then went on and finished joint-top scorer at the 2010 World Cup with five goals.
- Alvaro Negredo
After Emery was appointed as manager of Sevilla in January 2013, Alvaro Negredo started to benefit under the new coach hitting top form for Sevilla. Negredo hit 17 goals as he finished the season with 31 goals in 42 appearances.
- Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic was another player to improve dramatically under the guidance of Emery at Sevilla. The Croat became one of the league's best players.
"There are players that carry the team in their heart, those are the ones that transmit what you want. At Sevilla, it was Rakitic," Emery said.
- Presnel Kimpembe
Kimpembe is one player to have definitely benefited from working with Emery. Having made seven appearances for the French giants in the 2015/16 season, the defender made 26 appearances under the Spaniard the next campaign, as well as receiving his first international call-up for France.
- Giovani Lo Celso
Lo Celso has also benefited having Emery as manager. The young Argentine cemented his place in the team and made 45 appearances for the club in all competitions this season.
