Why does Aston Villa boss Unai Emery own a Spanish third tier club?

Emery is juggling the search for a trophy in the FA Cup and Champions League, while trying to qualify for Europe's elite competition for next season.

However, he also has a vested interest in another club in Europe that stretches back decades.

Back in 2021, Emery along with other members of his family purchased a majority stake in Spanish club Real Union.

Reportedly, the club in the Basque region had been on the brink of collapse.

Five years later, the club, which competes in the third tier of Spanish football, has been transformed thanks to the Emery family.

But why did Emery, a successful manager who continues to compete at the top level of European football as a coach, purchase a majority stake in the club?

The deal first came to light back in 2021, when Emery, along with members of his family including his brother Igor, bought a stake in the club.

The move went through during Emery's time in charge of Villarreal.

According to reports at the time, the Emery family purchased their stake in the third tier club for sentimental reasons.

Emery's grandfather, Antonio, was a stalwart of the club, featuring 110 times as a goalkeeper between 1928 and 1935.

Then Emery's father, Juan, was said to have competed for the club for 15 games in the 1950s. He too was a goalkeeper and went on to play for other clubs like Deportivo La Coruna and Alaves.

Emery did not play for Union during his playing career, but his family links were enough to convince him and his family to purchase part of the club, according to the reports.

At the time of purchase, Emery's brother Igor was leading the signing off of the deal, and he is still in charge at the top level of the club now.

A recent feature from The Athletic revealed that Igor is the club's president, while another of Emery's brothers, Andoni, is the club's groundsman.

The Athletic states that although Emery's sole focus still remains on Villa and their progress, he does regularly keep an eye on Union's results.

And there have been links between Villa and Union in the past. Highly rated Villa youngster Tommi O'Reilly has spent time at the club on loan, with goungsters Finley Munroe and James Wright currently at the club.

And in 2023 the club's announced a 'collaborative partnership', working together on a range of different things.