Latest news with #Unai
The National
28-05-2025
- General
- The National
Six killed in attack by pro-government militias on tribal area in Syria's north-east
Pro-government militias have killed six people in an attack on a tribal farming community near the border with Turkey in Syria 's north-east, residents said on Wednesday, underscoring difficulties the new administration has in controlling outlying areas. The violence in the town of Suluk, to the east of the Euphrates River in Raqqa governorate, came after members of the Unai, the main tribe in the area, expelled on Monday a militia called the Sunni Lions, which is part of a constellation of armed groups in the region supported by Ankara and allied with Syria's ruling Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS). The main conflict in the north-east is between US-backed Kurdish forces and the Turkish-backed government in Damascus and its auxiliaries. The violence in Suluk indicates disagreements between the central authorities and Arab tribes. The tribes have been trying to regain influence on their home turf, after their areas repeatedly changed hands in the 14 years of Syria's civil war between anti-Assad rebel Kurdish militias, pro-Iranian forces and finally Turkish-backed forces. Local resident Hamlan Al Ein said the expulsion of the Sunni Lions was sparked by the beating by militiamen of an elderly man in the street while he was with his grandchild. "It was the tipping point. People are fed up with their racketeering and thuggishness," Mr Al Ein told The National. He said militiamen then returned to Suluk on Tuesday, accompanied by units of the Syrian National Army, another militia supported by Turkey. "They fired mortar rounds and Dushkas randomly," Mr Al Ein said, referring to a Soviet-era heavy machine-gun. "They broke into shops and rampaged in the town." The dead comprised two tribal fighters and four civilians, he said. There was no information about casualties among the attacking forces. Abdallah Najm, commander of the Sunni Lions, appeared in a video statement from the main square in Suluk. He accused the Unai of "provocation against the government" and marring joy over the removal of Syria's former Bashar Al Assad regime. Mr Najm brandished a tribal robe at the end of his statement, a symbol of victory. The Syrian National Army captured Suluk in 2018 from the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a militia supported by the US that still controls large areas of north-east Syria. Since the fall of former president Mr Al Assad, the Syrian National Army, the Sunni Lions and other Arab militias have allied with HTS. HTS, which was formerly linked with Al Qaeda, is led by Ahmad Al Shara, the current Syrian president. Mr Al Shara has been seeking to enlist tribal support in the east to undermine the SDF. He has used a similar strategy against other foes in his quest to consolidate control over the country.
New York Times
01-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Real Union: The club Aston Villa manager Unai Emery and his family saved from ruin
Early morning Basque sunshine is threatening to break through. Take the first turning off the main road and you will come across Real Union's bar, tucked into the corner of their stadium. Inside, gentle music is playing as a couple of locals enjoy a coffee. The artificial pitch used for training is opposite and Real Union's first-team players have started to trickle out for today's session. Advertisement It is here, in the province of Gipuzkoa, where Aston Villa manager Unai Emery's footballing foundations were formed. Real Union play in Irun, a sovereign community of just over 60,000 in the Basque Country, about a 25-minute drive east of San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa's capital, and four kilometres from Emery's family home in Hondarribia. The Athletic is visiting on the weekend Emery guided Villa into the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace next month, to add to their two-leg Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain. This is all a world away from the footballing company Emery, 53, now keeps. He has not forgotten his roots though. If you sit high enough up in the ground's largest stand, you can see buildings that sit on French soil, a short distance away to the left and just over the Bidasoa River, which runs past the stadium and serves as a natural border between the two countries, its waters flowing between and around three small uninhabited islands in midstream. To your right and behind the opposite goal, painted white onto black walls, are a series of numbers: 1913, 1918, 1924 and 1927 — the years this club won the Copa del Rey. 'The reason we are here is because of those years,' Real Union president Igor Emery, brother of Unai, tells The Athletic. In June 2021, the siblings acquired a controlling stake in this Spanish third-division side. 'We have family in the history of the club. My father (Juan), uncle and grandfather played here. This is our home. 'I couldn't see my father playing, because I was born in 1980 and even my brother, Unai (born nine years earlier), couldn't. Our father died in 2015, but we know all about what he did at the club because of all the things he told me and my three brothers. 'We would come and watch Real Union all the time. I used to play for the academy when I was 13 and started as a goalkeeper, like my father and grandfather, before moving into midfield.' Advertisement The four Copa del Rey trophies are now proudly displayed in the conference room where we're sitting. Before the Emerys arrived four years ago, they had been strangely stored away. The brothers' grandfather Antonio, also born in Hondarribia, helped win the final two, including keeping a clean sheet against Real Madrid, his greatest moment across 110 appearances, in 1924. Antonio's brother Roman had featured in the 1918 win against Madrid FC, who became Real Madrid a couple of years later. In essence, the Emery name was central in three of the four trophy wins within 14 years. Quite simply, Real Union, Irun, and Hondarribia are in the bloodline. Andoni, another of the four brothers along with Igor, Unai and Koldo, has been the chief groundsman here for the past two years. 'This project can personally be made for us and our family,' Igor says. 'We are working together to get the club right and to go higher (in the Spanish league system), because we have a big history. We are still in a position where Real Union shouldn't be. 'Unai and I started talking about taking over because our other two brothers are not so involved in football and because we would always speak about how Real Union were doing. We would see the results, highlights and then, in 2020, just as Unai left Arsenal and being in the pandemic, everything accelerated in us buying the club.' Unai and Igor spoke to the previous owners and Ricardo Garcia, who served as president for two decades and had turned the club into a public limited sports company. Igor, having gained knowledge of the inner workings of a football operation from accompanying Unai when he managed Paris Saint-Germain and later Arsenal, identified entrenched issues. 'At the start, we were not talking about me being the president,' he says. 'We were talking about trying to help effectively. We learned about some of the problems, but how to solve them when you are inside is not the same as when you are outside or in the stands.' Advertisement Led by Igor, the Emerys have restored stability off the field, yet fortunes on it remain rocky. While staving off relegation from the third division is the short-term priority, long-standing staff say the family's support has transformed the club. Real Union were on the brink of collapse, with wages unpaid and their stadium ageing rapidly. Facilities have now improved, professionalism has increased and unsurprisingly due to the association of a certain Emery brother, the club have been incorporated into V Sports, the group which owns Villa as part of its multi-club model. 'Three years ago, the seats were white and full of rubbish,' says Ricardo Costa, a player at Real Union for seven years and now their goalkeeping coach for the past 19. 'Now with the Emery family, it's better. We are very happy. Daily work is easier for us. We had a lot of problems with money and getting paid. Not now.' 'At the game tonight, you will live it here,' smiles Igor. He is tasked with shaking Real Union out of the deep-rooted malaise and taking them back towards those former glories. Along with fellow Basque sides Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, Real Union was among La Liga's founding members in 1929. Founded in 1915 after two breakaway teams (Irun Sporting Club and Racing Club de Irun) were knitted together — which owed to the mediation of Alfonso XIII, the King of Spain and hence the name 'Union' — the early years were plentiful. Those four Copa del Rey triumphs ensued between 1913 to 1927 (the first of them won by Racing Club de Irun). If the rise was sharp, the fall has been prolonged. The club's peak years mainly lay in the early part of the 20th century and have firmly stayed in the past. Real Union suffered relegation from Spain's top division in 1932 and have never been back. 'Real Union is a modest club, but with the soul of a great,' says Costa. 'Irun doesn't have the economic potential of other major cities, nor a large and boisterous following. On the contrary, the character here is quite humble and simple, somewhat dull and pessimistic. If you add the fact that the average age of our fans is quite high, then the truth is that we don't make as much noise as we should. Advertisement 'We have been fighting to revive old glory. In 2008-09, we achieved our last promotion to the second division in a season that was also historic — we eliminated Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Copa del Rey (on away goals, after the two-leg tie finished 6-6 on aggregate). But as with previous promotions, we couldn't maintain our status and fell back into hell.' Irun is a quiet, uncomplicated area, populated with independent cafes, fashion stores and quaint jewellery shops. Hondarribia to the north is busier and more aesthetic, boasting a coastline that looks across the river estuary towards France and historic stoned buildings. Today, the Gal Stadium is an unusual hive of activity. The first team are playing later against FC Andorra — this season's first Friday home game — and will welcome the visitors' owner and president Gerard Pique, the former Barcelona and Spain defender who helped the national team win the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship two years later. First, however, commercial partners are converging in the hours before. They are shown around the stadium and Igor gives a speech pitchside at the tour's conclusion. Unai Macias Fernandez is Real Union's head of communications but in truth, his job title belies a sprawling remit. Matchday duties include writing for the website, updating social media and, should his hands not be full enough, being the stadium announcer. 'What you don't get at most places are those incredible mountains,' he says. 'I have lived in Irun all my life. Before working here, I was a fan (of the club). The right-back from the second team works at the club. We are a small group. In the academy, there are three or four people (running things). In the office, there are four people in accounts, only me in communication and another person helps in marketing.' Advertisement Gal Stadium was built in 1926 and has had small cosmetic uplifts since to reach a 5,500 capacity. Its name derives from the generosity of local businessman Salvador Echeandia Gal, who gifted 313,000 pesetas (£1,580 in today's money) to buy this plot of land beside the river. The stadium's inauguration was marked with a match against Barcelona. Graffitied walls surround the artificial training pitch. Like the club's other employees, the first team are getting their session in during the morning before retiring in the afternoon for a siesta. The real work starts in the evening. 'Here is where the academy trains,' Macias Fernandez says. 'They train as young as 12 and we now have lots of teams.' 'Since the arrival of the Emery family, our academy has improved considerably, in volume and the quality of players,' adds Mikel Bengoa, Real Union's sporting director. 'We're improving training methods at grassroots level.' Senior figures are bustling around the stadium. They are occupied but hospitable, going out of their way to introduce themselves. Manolo Nieto, a former director on the club's board, is enjoying a glass of wine at the bar, breaking away from his usual tradition of a coffee every morning. There are several cogs to the overall machine, but no part is more influential than the Emerys. It is a relationship, though yet to materialise on the pitch (Real Union are 15th in a 20-team league), that has reconnected staff. 'Unai is the grandson, son and father of goalkeepers,' says Costa. 'His son, Lander, is at Aston Villa and is a goalkeeper. You can imagine the importance that Real Union has always had in his family. The four brothers have absorbed Unionism in their home since they were children. I sincerely believe they've let their feelings guide them to buy us — with their hearts more than their heads. I'm sure their grandfather and father would be proud.' 'The Emery family's first objective when they bought Real Union was to provide financial, social and institutional stability so that it wouldn't disappear,' says Bengoa. 'From that point, they aimed to honour the families who made Real Union great in the past.' The family's synergy with Real Union is unequivocal. Against the family norm of goalkeeping, Unai was a left-sided midfielder, starting locally in Hondarribia before joining Real Sociedad. 'With Real Union, I have a certain sense of responsibility with my father and grandfather. I have that responsibility towards my land,' the Villa manager said after taking ownership of the club. Advertisement 'Logically I am the link, but also a coach abroad, and I focus 99 per cent on that. What we have to do is recover that feeling in Irun. If you ask me what my dream is, it would be for Real Union to be in the first division. But it's a waking dream. I want to ensure Real Union also has its place, its space.' It has just reached midday and two men are out on the pitch. One is Josu Reta, a lawyer and trusted confidante of the Emerys, the other is another of the brothers, groundsman Andoni. The Emerys are fiercely proud of where they were raised. 'Born in Hondarribia' is the first sentence on Unai's Instagram bio and he was close to tears when he received the town's 'gold badge' from the local council in November 2022 to commemorate his achievements in management. Dancers dressed in traditional green and white colours welcomed him into a packed town hall, where family members — including Igor, who made a speech — watched him collect the honour. 'When we recognise high-level merit, the ability to improve and innovate. Leadership, excellence and success. Unai Emery owns all of these characteristics,' said mayor Tom Sagarzazu. A post shared by HONDARRIBIKO UDALA (@hondarribiko_udala) As well as economic factors, societal themes had to be considered when returning to Real Union. Many supporters — 'Unionistas' — had lost faith. 'The fans were not coming anymore,' says Igor. 'The club had a debt with nearly everybody here and they were not taking care of the academy. The stadium was poor and old. We had to change it. The biggest value of this club is our four cups, yet they were behind a cupboard with other smaller ones. Now you can see them. 'You can try to bring good players with a lot of money but sports is different. This is what happened at Aston Villa, right? They invested a lot of money but the results weren't coming. It changed when Unai came because they changed the way they are working.' If Villa's manager can only have a slight focus on Real Union at the moment, then it does little to ease the tension of him watching their matches from his house in Birmingham when the schedule allows. He is in continual communication with Igor and head coach Albert Carbo, who took over in December after being part of his backroom team at Villa last season. The 34-year-old draws on Emery's expertise on footballing matters. 'He is 200 per cent focused on Aston Villa but will have attention on Real Union when he can,' Igor says. 'Tonight he will watch the game and yesterday he was telling me that he was nervous. When he can, he will be here to see the games.' Emery's presence across both clubs naturally lent itself to a more formal partnership between Aston Villa and Real Union. In November 2023, the latter came under the V Sports umbrella. The idea was for a cross-pollination of ideas, where Villa players could be loaned to Real Union, coaches would join them and the general setup would be enhanced through Villa's data and methodology. Advertisement 'Villa staff often come to Irun to monitor the players we've loaned,' says Costa. 'The relationship is very fluid and enriches us. We exchange reports and share work methodologies and databases. And now that Albert has come as a coach, even more so. Last season, one of Unai's technical staff analysts, Jaime Arias, worked with us.' To diversify Real Union, Igor spent time at V Sports' other teams, including travelling to Egypt and meeting ZED FC staff; players from Vissel Kobe, a top-flight Japanese side Villa collaborate with, have been here on trial. 'Obviously, the first reason was Unai,' Igor says. 'Once we signed the partnership, the aim was to bring talent here and to develop them for their return to Villa.' 'Unai comes out a few times a year,' adds James Wright, a 20-year-old goalkeeper on a season-long loan to Real Union and one of four Villa players to have made such a move in the past two years. 'I have weekly meetings with the goalkeeper coach (back at Villa, Javi Garcia), so you always stay in contact. When time goes on and you start to learn what people are saying, and start playing games regularly, you do feel pride that you made the move.' Last December, Real Unions' shareholders ratified an agreement that saw V Sports turn their working partnership into a financial one. Board members approved a capital increase of €4.5million in exchange for V Sports having a 25 per cent stake. 'You see that over there? That's France. So with V Sports resources' help, we can be in the Spanish market and French market,' Igor says. 'It's a way for V Sports and us to have control of a lot of players. If they are not at Real Union directly, we can have their data and watch them. 'My goal is to go into the professional league — La Liga 2 or La Liga. If we get promoted to the second division, we will have the chance to grow more. Our first ambition now is to stay up, and then the second ambition is to be promoted.' V Sports co-owner Wes Edens visited Gal Stadium in February and was pictured with Igor holding Real Union's away shirt. Predictably, the claret and blue pallet is in homage to Villa's home kit. On Saturday Wes Edens was watching our game at Stadium Gal. Thank you for your visit and support! — Real Unión Club Irun (@REALUNIONCIRUN) February 24, 2025 'We would like to explore our partnership with Villa more,' Igor admits. 'We agreed to change the away kit to engage Villa supporters. We knew it was going to be appreciated and we also got Adidas because of their partnership with Villa (fellow co-owner Nassef Sawiris owns a six per cent stake in the sportswear giant, making him its biggest shareholder).' Advertisement Steadily, Real Union are recapturing local supporters while adding more from hundreds of miles away in the English Midlands. During last summer's pre-season, the squad spent a week at The Belfry hotel and golf resort, which is less than a mile from Villa's Bodymoor Heath training centre. They used the Premier League club's facilities before getting a tour of Villa Park and playing a friendly match against League Two side Barrow. Staff were pleasantly surprised to see their Villa-inspired shirts among the crowd that day. 'We are very grateful for the partnership and it gives us more opportunity to sell more shirts,' Igor says. 'Teams in our division, even those above, can't afford to go abroad for pre-season. It's too expensive.' Dusk has turned to darkness and the other side of the French border is no longer visible. The attendance for the FC Andorra match is lower than the average of about 1,000 due to the change in fixture date to a Friday evening, instead of the usual Saturday, and the inclement weather. Carbo coaches from an Emery template, in a 4-4-2 and narrowing wingers. Real Union do not have the fizz in their passing to break lines or sufficient precision from cutback crosses. Any hope of victory is dampened, quite literally, as the rain showers start towards the end of the game. Frankly, the match is uneventful, but given Real Union's challenges, the point from a goalless draw is an important one against their sixth-placed visitors. 'Having the support of a club as great as Aston Villa gives us a sense of security that allows us to work with peace of mind,' says Costa. 'Now a new capital increase has been approved, we're going to have a significant financial boost. Our feelings about the future are unbeatable.'
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Named after Van Basten - Asensio shining at Villa
As deadline day signings go, Aston Villa's capture of Marco Asensio looks set to be among the best of Spain international has enjoyed a career laden with trophy victories, from multiple Champions League titles with Real Madrid to winning the French league with Paris his double against Cardiff in the FA Cup on Friday night - which sent Villa into the quarter-finals - he is keeping himself on course to add to silverware in England to his collection as impact since joining Villa on loan from PSG has been telling as his two goals took him to four in all competitions."I'm very happy with the team-mates, with the staff, they give me a lot of confidence," Asensio told ITV Sport. "I try to do my best on the pitch and it's going well and I want to score more to give more to this team, to this club and this is my objective."We have to keep pushing, we are in the right way. Next step is Champions League and now the focus is there."Even more exciting for Villa fans is the understanding he appears to be developing with Marcus Rashford, another winter window signing after the England forward joined on a season-long loan from Manchester provided the assist for Asensio's opener against Cardiff, meaning all three of his assists for Villa so far have been for goals scored by the Spanish midfielder."Marcus [Rashford] is a top player," Asensio added. "We are together not so much but I know what he wants to do, where he passes and I am very happy to have Marcus and all of the team-mates." Admiration of Emery and a desire to play number 10 Asensio was perhaps destined to be a footballer, with his father having named him after legendary Netherlands striker Marco van the 29-year-old has forged an impressive career in his own right. After starting out at Mallorca, he had a spell at Espanyol before joining Real Madrid, where he helped the Spanish giants with La Liga four times and the Champions League three total he won 17 trophies at Real, as many as a player considered one of the greatest in world football - Alfredo Di seven seasons at Real he made the move to French giants PSG, helping them to win a domestic treble last the success he has enjoyed, joining a club not currently challenging for league titles no doubt raised an Unai Emery has been a long-time admirer of Asensio and played a key role in his signing."Unai has tried to get Asensio in at least three windows," Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Sport."He has always said to Unai he wanted to work with him and develop with him."The clincher for Emery appears to have been the promise of playing Asensio in the number 10 position."He hasn't played there since Mallorca," added Balague. "At Madrid he wasn't allowed, so that was the discussion he had with Unai. He was told number 10 and you can see the good consequences of it." 'Things could be very exciting at Villa' - fresh start revitalising Rashford Asensio is not the only player who is flourishing since moving to Aston Villa, with Rashford appearing to be putting behind him a difficult season at Manchester United with a strong start to life in the had been struggling for form at Old Trafford and found himself out of the picture under Ruben the move to Villa and playing alongside Asensio appears to bringing him back to his his debut on 9 February, Rashford has created more chances in all competitions than any other Premier League player (13).Against Cardiff, Rashford created six chances for Aston Villa, equalling the most he ever created in any of his 426 matches for Manchester United (six vs Wigan in January 2024).He has yet to score, although given his performances so far that will surely come sooner rather than later."Aston Villa have given him a lifeline," former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said on ITV Sport. "It seems to have come to an end at Manchester United. He needed to rebuild his confidence, he is 27 and has to show he has a lot to give. Villa have given him a good opportunity."Things could be very exciting here at Aston Villa with this new exciting Aston Villa forward line."With a Champions League last-16 game at Club Brugge up next, Emery believes Asensio and Rashford maintaining their form is key to Villa achieving their ambitions this season."We need [Asensio] and we need Rashford," he said."We need the players who joined in the last window. We need the players coming back from injury. Every player will be necessary for the matches in the next weeks and months."Now we focus on the Champions League. We are there and we have to enjoy it and compete."
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Official: Barcelona confirm La Masia prodigy's transfer to Saudi Arabia
La Masia prodigy Unai Hernandez has completed a transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, FC Barcelona have officially confirmed. 'FC Barcelona and Al-Ittihad Jeddah Club have reached an agreement for the transfer of Barça Atlètic player Unai Hernandez,' the statement from the club read. 'The club wishes him the best of luck and success in the future, both personally and professionally.' 🤝 Acuerdo entre el FC Barcelona y el Al-Itrihad para el traspaso de Unai Hernández🙌🏼 ¡𝑆𝑢𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒, 𝑈𝑛𝑎𝑖!💙❤️ — Barça Atlètic (@FCBarcelonaB) January 31, 2025 Unai, 20, joined Barcelona in 2022 from the Girona youth academy and was heralded as one of the most promising young talents coming through the ranks at La Masia. A versatile attacking midfielder, the Spaniard was made the captain of the Barça Atletic team this season and had trained with the first-team setup on several occasions under Hansi Flick. With his contract on the verge of expiry in the summer of 2025, there were talks over a renewal, following which he might have even been promoted to the senior team. But the youngster has opted to move on and sign for Al-Ittihad, in a deal understood to be worth €4.5 million plus €300,000 in add-ons. Soon, Unai is likely to be followed by another La Masia gem in Pau Prim, who has verbally agreed to sign for Al Sadd in Qatar.
