Izuchukwu OkosiBy Izuchukwu Okosi
Villarreal head coach Unai Emery has released a statement over his future amid links with English Premier League side Newcastle United.
New moneybags Newcastle United have been linked with a number of candidate to take over from Steve Bruce who is expected to be sacked but it seems the Toons’ search for a new boss will linger.
The Premier League club were recently subject to a Saudi-led takeover albeit with growing concerns from fellow Premier League sides.
Emery admitted on Tuesday night that he had been made aware of interest and that he would speak to Villarreal if an offer had come in.
But after a crucial Champions League win and a conversation with club president Fernando Roig on Wednesday, the former Arsenal head coach has categorically affirmed that he is staying put as the Submarine’s coach.
“Through a lot of noise that there was yesterday in another country, inside the club there was transparency and loyalty with the Roig family and my squad. That is most important to me, ” Emery who has won the UEFA Europa League thrice with Sevilla and once (last season) with his current side.
“Villarreal is my home and I am committed 100%. Honestly, I am grateful for the interest of a big club, but I am even more grateful to be here, and I communicated to Fernando Roig my decision that I want to continue to form part of this project through the commitment that I perceive of the club and my players, and that is mutual and reciprocated.
Emery hinted that a perceived respect from the board and the fans which seemed to be lacking in his previous job at Arsenal was key in his decision to stay in the Spanish club.
“I want to thank the fans for the help they have always shown. On Sunday, we have a very important game and I hope we can all achieve the win together. I will see you at Estadio de la Ceramica.
“Thank you, Groguets! Endavant!”
Villarreal are competing in the UEFA Champions League and are tied on seven points with Manchester United in the table.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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