#raul sanllehi

[elmaestrostan]

It makes me sad knowing what this sweet bean went through towards the end at Arsenal, but… damn, I’m glad if it had to happen to lead to this.

He’s ours and he’s perfect 💜💙

Paywall article text under the cut 🤝

Upstairs at Aston Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground, overlooking the newly refurbished gymnasium, sits Unai Emery’s office.

His room is divided into three, with a door-sized hole between each. It is where Villa’s footballing decision-makers for the head coach, Monchi and Damian Vidagany, work.

“Obsessive” is a frequently used description from those who have worked with Emery. It is his overarching coaching trait and a blessing or a curse, depending on the club he works at.

It is four years to the day since Emery was sacked at Arsenal. It hurt him deeply given it was a decision he did not see coming. Such was his insular, all-consuming manner, he felt blindsided and unaware of the growing scepticism in his project. He believed there remained total belief in him having integrated young players, such as Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah into the first team, which, in his mind, displayed the early buds of a new, youthful Arsenal.

UNAI-EMERY-BUKAYO-SAKA-

Emery gave Saka his Arsenal debut (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Since his sacking, however, the 52-year-old has spoken to close friends, accepting he was too focused on just the football aspect within a club where politics are rife and diplomacy is key.

Increasingly at Arsenal, he was regarded as too introspective and not tending to the broader picture. The difference at Villa is that they indulge his footballing obsessions, building a network of his own choosing around him, all of whom he trusts implicitly and, as explained by Vidagany, a close friend and the director of football, takes care of most off-the-field matters.

He shares a trusting relationship with owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris, demonstrated in their holding company, V Sports, announcing a partnership with Real Union earlier this week. In June, Emery and his brother, Igor, acquired a controlling stake in the Spanish club, for whom their father and grandfather both played and who now sit in the regional third tier.

Arsenal are a huge club interweaving several large departments. Politics is naturally at stake and, as his predecessor Arsene Wenger was deft in doing, needs an all-encompassing remit that involves managing areas outside of just football. Yet Emery is fanatic about improving his side from a tactical perspective. He pays little attention outside of his close circle and footballing bubble which, invariably, means the structure around him needs to be managed from elsewhere.

As he does at Villa working from 7am to 7pm, he would be at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground until late, brimming with ideas and designing training sessions that were often long. They could irk players, especially on the days before games when Emery was known to spend two to three hours on the grass, practising shape work.

The network Emery inherited at Arsenal was unstable and the boardroom in a state of flux. For a coach replacing a figurehead such as Wenger, whose fingerprints were all over the club, stability from above was paramount.

It was quickly found wanting. Then chief executive Ivan Gazidis immediately left for AC Milan, while recently appointed head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and head of football relations Raul Sanllehi did not last long. Other figures involved in the inner mechanisms, including head of scouting Francis Cagigao and contract broker Huss Fahmy, departed.

Emery wanted to be solely the head coach. This was his strength and why he held three Europa League winners medals — he would add another at his next job Villarreal — and seven trophies in two years at Paris Saint-Germain. Emery did not want to be directly involved in transfer negotiations, only interested in the outcome of deals, nor did he want governance over the day-to-day running of the club.

One of the first calls Emery made before joining Villa was to Vidagany, who initially came in as his personal assistant, so he could manage those aspects off the field. Augmented by the arrival of the president of football operations, Monchi, in the summer, he and Vidagany take care of transfer negotiations, act as sounding boards for players’ and agents’ queries and connect the different departments together. It is widely accepted Emery did not have those figures of personal connection at Arsenal, with Villa intending from the outset to build the club around him.

Vidagany, left, is a key figure in Emery’s staff at Villa (David Rogers/Getty Images)

Within an executive structure that was unsettled, the schism between Arsenal’s departments continued to grow.

“If Mikel (Arteta) had come in straight after Arsene and tried to apply these kinds of hard and fast rules, it would never have worked,” one source told The Athletic in April 2021.

Crucially, it meant the backing for Emery was never firm. The general sense of Emery was that he was so consumed by football that he occasionally failed to see the bigger picture or relate to others.

Even though he was not overly personable, he still retained a warmth. Almost everyone at Arsenal still speaks highly of Emery, even if his sacking hurt him. They are pleased to see his progress since his sacking in November 2019 and his remarkable first year at Villa.

The underlying theme behind Emery’s second crack in England — from a figure of ridicule to being viewed as one of Europe’s elite coaches again — is learning the lessons from Arsenal. He knew a support network that worked in his best interests was essential in building Villa in his image.

Villa staff do not underestimate Vidagany’s importance. There is a feeling that, if Emery had Vidagany at Arsenal, Emery would still be the manager in north London. Similarly at Paris Saint-Germain, Vidagany might have helped manage internal politics and manage broader departments.

When Emery was appointed head coach in October 2022, Villa brought in six staff members to form his backroom team, all known to Emery or who previously worked with him. More Spanish-speaking figures have joined since. Previous sporting director Johan Lange moved away from the day-to-day running of the club to assist the owners in their multi-club model plans before leaving for Tottenham Hotspur, along with former head of recruitment Rob Mackenzie in October.

Both decided to pursue new endeavours after Villa’s existing model was altered to suit Emery. This included the hiring of Alfredo Benito — a former team-mate of Emery’s at Toledo — in a global technical role and another scout in Pablo Rodriguez, who was a former team-mate at Racing Ferrol. Vidagany’s official title changed from personal assistant to director of football in the summer.

Monchi, a close aide from their time at Sevilla, drives the recruitment process under Emery’s demands. Emery, Vidagany and Monchi have formed a “power triangle” in charge of the critical decisions.

Emery views Pep Guardiola’s structure at Manchester City as the most conducive to empowering managerial success. Those close to Emery believe he is on the same level as Guardiola when assessing the best coaches in the world and point out that City’s manager, similarly to Villa’s head coach, has good friends in the boardroom, such as managing director Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain.

“What we need to do here is to let Unai take the sporting decisions, let Monchi choose the players with Unai and all of us provide a strong structure — like a fortress — to give them time to develop the project,” Vidagany told The Athletic in October. “Because in the end, the difference between success and failure is time.”

Sources close to Villa’s players say Emery does not tend to have conversations with members of the team unless they are in matchday squads. Some who have spent prolonged periods out with injury, such as defender Kortney Hause, have only briefly spoken to Emery.

The Spaniard has, however, shown an adept balance in choosing times to learn about his players. During Villa’s pre-season tour of the U.S. this summer, Emery spoke at length with younger players, asking about their ambitions and backgrounds, right down to what their parents do.

Pre-season was exhausting. Lots of travel with lots of games afforded little opportunity for downtime and pushed players to physical exertion, far more than what is accustomed. Yet, among Villa’s players and staff, there is total buy-in, which was not always the case at Arsenal, where certain staples of his management — including lengthy video analysis sessions — were met with consternation.

“With (Steven) Gerrard, training was just training,” says a source close to a Villa player, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “But Emery is so detailed, as he was at Arsenal. He coached them and continues to coach them in every facet of football every single day.”

Emery is demanding of his players (James Gilbert/Getty Images for Premier League)

“The mentality, the desire to win — just everything about him has been absolutely brilliant,” said captain John McGinn following Villa’s 2-1 victory away to Tottenham Hotspur. “He is obsessed about winning today, absolutely obsessed. That mindset and mentality is put into our heads. When we go behind, before we would have crumbled, but today we had our chests out.”

Villa players see purpose in his lengthy video sessions because the benefits are tangible on a matchday. At Arsenal, though, a different view was shared. “When he was doing a tactical presentation, there was a lot of chat,” said one observer.

Emery is highly regarded and accomplished among coaching circles. One young manager at an upwardly mobile side in England’s higher leagues described Emery to The Athletic as “interesting and excellent” in his approach, expressing his joy at watching Villa from a tactical perspective.

“If anyone is trying to get hold of me and I’m not answering, I’m in the meeting room,” said McGinn. “He does a lot of hard work. He wants to win, he’s won throughout his career and there’s no reason why he can’t do that here. He’s drilling that into us. There are a lot of details, a lot of thinking and a lot of concentration required from us. He’s making people concentrate that I didn’t think were capable… I’m not naming any names.”

Emery’s reputation has recovered in England and, four years to the day since his departure from Arsenal, his stock has never been higher. A coach who learned the right lessons but refused to change his principles.

[naijamixedng]

BREAKING NEWS!! Arsenal Sack Head Of Football Raul Sanllehi

[seatsbythepit]

Raul has been at Barcelona for the past 14 years. He will join us in February to lead future player negotiations and work alongside manager Arsène Wenger, chief executive Ivan Gazidis and contract negotiator Huss Fahmy.

He will also represent and support the club with international and domestic governing bodies.

[sourav2612-blog]

Unai Emery was finally shown the door by the Arsenal hierarchy and you can’t help but see the relief in the eyes of the fans. It took a painful 18 months but it seems like Frankfurt was the last straw.

[pakcricwiz]

Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal head of football, leaves club in structural shakeup

MD Vinai Venkatesham assumes board-level responsibilities

Mikel Arteta and Edu given control of footballing matters

Raul Sanllehi, the club’s head of football, has left Arsenal, with the managing director, Vinai Venkatesham, assuming responsibility for the director-level football work.

Sanllehi joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2017 but the Gunners are understood to have wanted to streamline their off-field structure. The technical director, Edu, and Mikel Arteta, the manager, will now head up the footballing and recruitment direction at the club.

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[justinssportscorner]

Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines. We expect this to be a significant number of people from Colney, including the full first-team squad and coaching staff, as well as a smaller number of people from our Hale End Academy which we have also temporarily closed as a precaution. We expect those who did not have close contact with Mikel to return to work in the coming days. In the meantime our Colney and Hale End training centres will undergo a deep clean and our other club sites are operating as normal. Managing director Vinai Venkatesham said: “The health of our people and the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is. Our thoughts are with Mikel who is disappointed but in good spirits. We are in active dialogue with all the relevant people to manage this situation appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows.” Head of football Raul Sanllehi added: “Mikel and the full first-team squad, players and staff, will be fully supported, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows. Obviously Mikel’s full recovery is the priority now for us all.”

We will work with Public Health England on the next steps in regard to our facilities and staff, and with the Premier League, Football Association and relevant clubs around our forthcoming matches in the Premier League and Emirates FA Cup.  

[penguru100]

Chelsea Player, Arsenal Head Coach Test Positive For Coronavirus

Chelsea men’s team player Callum Hudson-Odoi and Mikel Arteta, the head coach of Arsenal Football Club have tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus. This was confirmed by the clubs in separate statements Thursday evening.

Chelsea personnel who had recent close contact with the player in the men’s team building will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines. These will include…

[ladyarse]

Arsenal did hold talks with Manchester City over Mikel Arteta

Arsenal did hold talks with Manchester City over Mikel Arteta

Despite saying they knew nothing about it, Manchester City did indeed know about Arsenal’s interest in Mikel Arteta and they DID have talks.

OXFORD, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 18: Mikel Arteta, Assistant Manager of Manchester City looks on as Manager of Manchester City, Josep Guardiola reacts during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Oxford United and Manchester City at Kassam Stadium on…

[footymanccave]

How former Man United boss would turn Arsenal around

How former Man United boss would turn Arsenal around #MUFC

According to Evening Standard, Arsenal are standing by Unai Emery. This is despite the rumours of Jose Mourinho being approached.

There have been rumours this week about Jose Mourinho supposedly meeting Arsenal’s head of football, Raul Sanllehi.

Rumours that the former Man United manager could be on his way to the Emirates were fueled by talk of him having dinner with Sanllehi.

However,…

[sohamde]

Why Arsenal’s Top Brass Should Communicate With Each Other Before Talking To The Press

Why Arsenal’s Top Brass Should Communicate With Each Other Before Talking To The Press

I’m getting sick to death of the utterances of Arsenal chief Vinai Venkatesham and Head of Football Raúl Sanllehi, who insist on talking about the club’s strategy and the ‘hugely ambitious’ Kroenke.

It’s alright talking the talk, but there’s very little evidence of walking the walk in the eyes of Arsenal’s fans, because if Stan Kroenke had wanted to show a degree of intent, surely he would have…

[cendananewscom-blog]

Arsenal Bidik Bek Samuel Umtiti dan Matthias Ginter

Arsenal Bidik Bek Samuel Umtiti dan Matthias Ginter

JAKARTA — Bos Arsenal, Raul Sanllehi menyatakan klubnya berada pada posisi kuat dalam pasar transfer dan sudah berbicara kepada sejumlah pemain yang ingin mereka rekrut musim ini, namun kualifikasi Liga Champions bisa menjadi faktor menentukan dalam apakah mereka mengamankan target utama mereka.

Arsenal bisa lolos ke Liga Champions musim depan jika mengalahkan Chelsea pada final Liga Europa 29…

[akamaotto]

Danny Welbeck injury may force Arsenal to buy in January, reveals Gunners chief Raul Sanllehi - Football - news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures

Danny Welbeck injury may force Arsenal to buy in January, reveals Gunners chief Raul Sanllehi – Football – news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures

This article was originally posted in Football – news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures [ad_1]

IN THE MARKET

With the England man out of the rest of the season and out of contract in the summer, the club could be on the hunt for a new striker

Danny Welbeck’s injury blow could force Arsenal to sign a new striker in the January transfer window, according to head of football Raul Sanllehi.

[cnnnewsnetwork-blog]

Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis Is Convinced The Club Can Become Title Challengers Again

Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis Is Convinced The Club Can Become Title Challengers Again

CNN Paper: Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has admitted to a fans’ forum that the club “isn’t in the place we want to be”.

Gazidis says he wants Arsenal to be fighting for the Premier League title and is “convinced” they can get back to that level.

The Arsenal CEO and head of football relations Raul Sanllehi addressed supporters at a forum ahead of Sunday’s 3-0 win at home to Watford.

It was…

[lajugadafinanciera]

Raúl Sanllehí abandona el FC Barcelona y ficha por el Arsenal

El que fuera director de Fútbol de FC Barcelona, Raúl Sanllehí, deja el Barça y tratará de repetir sus éxitos en el Arsenal.

El adiós de Sanllehí no es noticia. Hace semanas que el ejecutivo anunció al club su intención de abandonar el equipo de LaLiga. Pero aún no se había heco público su destino. Raúl ha sido anunciado hoy como nuevo ‘Responsable de Relaciones de Fútbol’ de los gunners.

Aunque…

[xembongda]

Xemdabanhhd đưa tin: Neymar khóc lóc trước khi rời Barca

Tờ El Mundo đã đăng một bài báo hôm thứ Năm về những ngày cuối cùng của Neymar tại Barcelona trước khi ngôi sao này chuyển đến PSG. Theo El Mundo, ban lãnh đạo Barca đã tổ chức một ban giải quyết khủng khoảng nhằm thuyết phục Neymar không ra đi và ở lại Barcelona. Người chịu trách nhiệm dẫn đầu các cuộc trò chuyện với ngôi sao này và cha anh là Raul Sanllehi, giám đốc bóng đá của CLB.

Xem thêm: Video bàn thắng

Sanllehi cho biết, cha của Neymar rất tức giận với Barcelona vì đã làm rò rỉ tiền thưởng ký hợp đồng của cầu thủ này, lên tới 64,4 triệu euro.

Barca đã tìm mọi cách để Neymar không ra đi “Tôi đã ở bên người đàn ông này hàng giờ đồng hồ và tôi biết ông ta đủ rõ để biết khi nào ông ta lừa dối và khi nào nói sự thật”, Sanllehi nói về cha của Neymar.

Barca nổi giận khi thông tin về gia hạn hợp đồng của Messi bị tiết lộ Sanllehi nói tiếp về vụ việc: “Tôi đã nói với mọi người rằng vấn đề trong trường hợp này là ở cái đầu của cầu thủ. Cậu ấy (Neymar) đang ở trong tình trạng tồi tệ. Cậu ấy có rất nhiều vấn đề cá nhân, rất bối rối và rất dễ bị tổn thương. Vì vậy cậu ấy đã nhầm tưởng rằng khi chạy khỏi Barcelona cũng sẽ trốn tránh những vấn đề của mình (trong khi thực tế điều cậu ấy nên làm là đối mặt với chúng và không rời đi). Tôi đã nói chuyện trực tiếp với cậu ấy nhiều lần, tôi khiến cậu ấy khóc nhiều hơn một lần. Cậu ấy đã thừa nhận với tôi nhiều hơn một lần về cơ hội bị đánh mất”.

Cha của Neymar liên quan trực tiếp đến quyết định của con trai Về phần mình, cha của Neymar - người bị báo chí ví là kẻ hám tiền - rất tức giận khi thấy tiền thưởng ký kết được Barca công bố. “Tôi không tin tưởng ông, ông đã lừa dối tôi nhiều lần”, ông Neymar da Silva Santos nói với Sanllehi.

Giroud trở thành cầu thủ ghi bàn nhiều tuổi nhất lịch sử tuyển Pháp Olivier Giroud đã trở thành cầu thủ ghi bàn nhiều tuổi nhất trong lịch sử đội tuyển Pháp sau khi lập công vào lưới Áo ở Nations League. Quảng cáo

Giroud là tác giả bàn thắng thứ hai của tuyển Pháp vào lưới Áo trên sân Stade de France trong khuôn khổ Nations League. Kết quả này giúp Les Bleus vượt qua chính đối thủ để thoát khỏi ngôi cuối bảng 1. Họ còn gặp Đan Mạch ở lượt đấu cuối cùng cho mục tiêu trụ hạng.

Như vậy, ở tuổi 35 và 357 ngày, Giorud đã trở thành cầu thủ ghi bàn nhiều tuổi nhất trong lịch sử đội tuyển Pháp. Anh vượt qua Roger Marche, người ghi bàn ở tuổi 35 và 287 ngày vào tháng 12/1959 trong trận đấu với Tây Ban Nha.

Giroud ghi bàn thứ 49 cho tuyển Pháp trong sự nghiệp Giroud đang có phong độ rất tốt sau khi ghi 4 bàn thắng cho AC Milan tại Serie A mùa này. Tính ra, anh đã trải qua 4 trận liên tiếp “nổ súng” cả ở cấp CLB và đội tuyển.

Với 49 bàn thắng hiện tại, Giroud chỉ còn cách kỷ lục mọi thời đại của đội tuyển Pháp do Thierry Henry (51 bàn) nắm giữ có 2 bàn.

[ladyarse]

David Ornstein confirms Arteta Arsenal talks but says no Manchester City contact yet

David Ornstein confirms Arteta Arsenal talks but says no Manchester City contact yet

David Ornstein confirms that Arsenal and Mikel Arteta held talks over the Spaniard becoming the new Arsenal manager but the club have not yet spoken to Manchester City.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 20: Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City and Mikel Arteta, Assistant Coach of Manchester City applaud fans during the Manchester City Teams Celebration Parade on May 20, 2019 in Manchester,…