Aston Villa Reshuffles Emery’s Backroom as Two Senior Coaches Leave

Overview

• Aston Villa confirmed on Thursday that assistant coach Pako Ayestaran and individual performance coach Antonio Rodríguez Saravia will leave the club and issued a public statement thanking them for their service.
• The club named José María 'Chema' Sanz as Ayestaran’s replacement, described him as a coach with more than 20 years’ experience, and said his appointment is subject to visa approval.
• Rodri worked with Emery previously at Villarreal and was regularly cited by players for his influence on individual preparation, while Ayestaran has a long pedigree that includes serving as Rafa Benítez’s assistant at Liverpool.
• The move follows Emery’s initial 2022 hires and is framed by the club as a measured refresh of the backroom team; Villa have not yet announced a successor for the individual performance role.
• The changes could alter day-to-day coaching and match preparation at Bodymoor Heath as Villa build on a strong recent season and complete administrative steps such as visa clearance before the new staff are fully integrated.