The English Premier League has named Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola as the Manager of the 2023-2024 Season, edging out Unai Emery for the honor.
Before the announcement, many football enthusiasts believed that Unai Emery deserved the recognition. Under Emery’s leadership, Aston Villa achieved their best Premier League run in history and played a crucial role in Arsenal’s failure to clinch the title.
Emery’s Aston Villa managed to defeat an in-form Arsenal both at home and away during the season. Their second victory over the Gunners on April 14, 2024, caused Arsenal to slip to second place, just two points behind the eventual champions, Manchester City.
Throughout the season, Aston Villa recorded 20 wins, 8 draws, and 10 defeats, amassing 68 points from 38 games. This impressive performance secured them the 4th spot in the league and a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Despite Aston Villa’s remarkable run, Unai Emery received only a nomination for the Manager of the Season. Instead, Pep Guardiola, who led Manchester City to their record fourth consecutive Premier League title, was awarded the honor for the fourth time in eight years.
Guardiola was chosen over other notable managers, including Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp.