Emery 'honoured' to land Ballon d'Or Coach of the Year nomination after ending Villa's 30-year trophy drought

Emery included on five-man shortlist

Unai Emery has admitted he is "honoured" to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or Men's Coach of the Year award, though the Aston Villa boss does not expect to lift the trophy.

The 54-year-old is part of a five-man shortlist after ending Villa's 30-year wait for a trophy by winning the Europa League, as well as delivering a fourth-place finish in the Premier League during a stunning 2025-26 campaign.

He is up against Luis Enrique, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente and Vincent Kompany for the prize. Carlo Ancelotti scooped the title in 2024, while Paris Saint-Germain's Luis Enrique was the winner last year after leading the Ligue 1 giants to their first Champions League crown.

'I feel very valued'

"Being nominated for the Ballon d'Or is something to be proud of," Emery told Diario de Sevilla about his nomination. "Sometimes people tell me: 'Unai is undervalued in football'.

"No, I feel very valued in the places I've been, I feel very valued in football in general, and I don't feel like I'm lacking anything.

"I feel like I have a very important place, and for me, it's an honour and a source of pride. I don't know who they'll give it to.

"I imagine the Champions League winner carries a lot of weight, and it could be Luis Enrique, or even winning the World Cup like De la Fuente did.

"That would also have its significance, but I don't know. I think the Europa League winner does too, and that's why I'm in the running, but a little less so."

Ceremony on October 26

The winner will be announced at the ceremony on October 26. Emery's attention will now switch to this weekend's Premier League clash with Brentford.