Paris Saint-Germain hire Unai Emery as manager to replace Laurent Blanc

Posted Wednesday, June 29, 2016 by ESPN

Paris Saint-Germain have hired former Sevilla manager Unai Emery on a two-year contract to 2018 after parting company with Laurent Blanc.

Blanc, 50, had managed PSG since 2013, overseeing three of the team's four consecutive Ligue 1 titles and winning additional silverware in the form of French and League Cups along the way.

Le @PSG_inside est heureux d'annoncer l'arrivée d'@UnaiEmery_ au poste d'entraîneur jusqu'en juin 2018 #WelcomeCoach pic.twitter.com/FXeKEMXXUR
- PSG Officiel (@PSG_inside) June 28, 2016

It is an honour for me to accept the challenge of coaching @PSG_English this coming season. pic.twitter.com/GA7wMV6zde
- Unai Emery (@UnaiEmery_) June 28, 2016

"It is with great pride that I agreed to become the Paris-Saint Germain coach," Emery told the club's official website. "The club has become one of the biggest in Europe over the past few seasons and I am both happy and honoured to be able to help realise its great ambitions.

"I am eager to meet up with my new players as well as the people who work tirelessly every day to help the club grow.

"I know that an immense fervour exists around the Paris Saint-Germain and I will be giving my best to ensure its millions of fans have a great deal to cheer about."

"I am eager to meet up with my new players as well as the people who work tirelessly every day to help the club grow.

"I know that an immense fervour exists around the Paris Saint-Germain and I will be giving my best to ensure its millions of fans have a great deal to cheer about."

Blanc's teams were never able to advance past the quarterfinals of the Champions League, a goal that president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and ownership group Qatar Sports Investments made clear was the ultimate benchmark for the club's success.

Al-Khelaifi added: "I am very happy to welcome Unai Emery as the new coach of Paris Saint-Germain. Unai will bring to the club all his experience, his passion and his strong management skills and human qualities.

"He has a proven talent to get the most out of a team. I am convinced that our fans will love the spectacular style of football our team will play with Unai."

Emery, who was also linked with the vacant Everton coaching position, had overseen three consecutive Europa League titles with the Sevilla and is seen as a managerial prodigy by many.

Sevilla also made the Copa del Rey finals in the previous campaign and forced Barcelona into extra time before losing out 2-0 on goals from Jordi Alba and Neymar.