Unai Emery admits it was not the 'right moment' to leave Villarreal after being asked about his decision to turn down a job offer from Newcastle United. The former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain boss looked set to succeed Steve Bruce and become the first major appointment of the new era on Tyneside following the takeover.
However, Newcastle's pursuit of Emery was played out in the public domain and the 50-year-old opted to remain with the La Liga outfit. The Magpies ultimately plumped for Eddie Howe, while Villarreal would go on to enjoy a remarkable run to the Champions League semi-finals.
It was a humbling setback at the time for Newcastle's new owners, although Howe has since proven himself to be the right appointment after spectacularly delivering on his immediate remit of securing survival. Emery's reputation following a troubled stint at the Emirates Stadium has been rebuilt after Europa League success was backed up with knockout victories over Bayern Munich and Liverpool last term.
