Unai Emery buys the club his grandad and dad used to play for

Villareal boss Unai Emery has had a fantastic end to the season as he lifted the Europa League – again! After disposing of his old club Arsenal in the semi-final, his Yellow Submarine overcame Manchester United in one of the wildest penalty shoot-outs ever seen. You’d think he’d be relaxing on a beach somewhere by now. But no, not Unai. He’s got different plans.

It’s much more fulfilling to enjoy your success and wealth if you share it with those who need it desperately. Any wise man knows that. And you just know that Mr Emery is wise too. He decided to invest money in the Spanish third-tier club Real Union and help them overcome financial troubles. Not only that the former Paris Saint-Germain helped Union pay a few bills, but he became the club’s major shareholder. It’s Emery’s club now!

Real Union team in 1916 (©GureGipuzkoa)

It’s not so rare to see football players and coaches buy shares in football clubs. Manchester United’s famed Class of 92 did so with Salford City in England, David Beckham owns Inter Miami in the MLS, Ronaldo Nazario da Lima owns Real Valladolid, Demba Ba and Eden Hazard own a minor club in America… It’s good business. But it’s not so common to see someone purchase a football club out of sentimental reasons or just pure nostalgia.

Emery's grandfather, Antonio, was a stalwart of Union and played 110 games for the Spanish club from 1928-1935. He was a goalkeeper. Emery's father, Juan, also played 15 games for Union from 1957-59. He too was a goalkeeper by trade and played for nine clubs during his 16-year career, including Granada, Deportivo La Coruna and Alaves. Unlike his father and grandfather, Unai Emery played as a midfielder throughout his 14-year career as a professional, and never played for Union. But Villareal coach decided to make himself a part of the organisation. And what an organization it is!

Real Union is a club rich in history and poor in money. They were founded in 1915 in the Basque Country, right on the border of Spain and France. They were one of the founding members of La Liga in 1929 and boast four wins in the Spanish Cup. They’ve got a proud history, but their present isn’t exactly glorious. In the past three decades, they’d spent most of the time in the country’s third division with just a single, largely unsuccessful foray up in Segunda Division, Spain’s second tier.

But the club from the town of Irun could be on their way up after getting a high-profile owner. Although it’s not yet known if Emery has any real ambitions apart from keeping the club’s finances secure and inject fresh energy among the fans. But it’s certain to make an entire town dream again.