:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68722517/1297953500.0.jpg)
Unai Emery will soon be the owner of a historic Spanish football club, if reports are to be believed. Journalist Colin Millar (Andalusian football expert and author of a great book on El Gran Derbi that you can buy here) reports that Emery is looking to buy Real Union which both his father and grandfather played for.
Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery is set to buy historic Spanish club Real Union. His father Juan and grandfather Antonio 'Parajito' were both famous goalkeepers at the club. Some fun trivia: Antonio Emery conceded the first ever goal in Spain's top division.
— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) January 26, 2021
Real Union is, as you might expect if you know Unai’s personal background, a Basque club who was one of the founding members of La Liga back in 1929. Since being relegated in 1932 they have not returned to the top flight and current compete in Segunda B. They won the Copa Del Rey four times before the founding of La Liga, in 1913, 1918, 1924, and 1927. Frankly, it’s kind of bizarre that at team so successful before the founding of the league should drop out and spend so long down.
Their most famous achievement of this century was a two legged Copa Del Rey tie against Real Madrid in November of 2008. Union lost the first leg 3-4 at the famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium but advanced on away goals after winning the second leg 3-2 despite Madrid fielding legends such as Cannavaro, Raul, and a very young Marcelo.
Before anyone gets worried that this deal may somehow distract Emery from his work at Villarreal, it is said that his brother and lawyer and the primary people working on the deal itself. It is unclear how much money is involved.
If you happen to see a Villarreal youngster loaned over to Real Union in the next year or two, I guess now you know why.