Birmingham, England – Four-time Europa League winner ⁠Unai Emery booked an astonishing sixth trip to the final in the competition as a manager on Thursday when his Aston Villa team swept aside Nottingham Forest in the second leg ​of their all-English semifinal.

The 54-year-old Spaniard has won ‌three ‌times with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016) and once ​with Villarreal (2021) — either side of a defeat with Arsenal (2019) — deservedly earning him the epithet "Mr. Europa League" from ⁠some fans and media.

Now he goes to the 2026 final ⁠seeking a fifth title, this time with Aston Villa against Bundesliga side Freiburg.

"His track ​record speaks for itself," ⁠said Villa striker Ollie Watkins, heaping praise on his boss as the man ⁠to guarantee ​Europa League success.…