Premier League 2019-20: 3 managers who could replace Unai Emery at Arsenal

Is Unai Emery walking a tightrope at Arsenal FC?
Is Unai Emery walking a tightrope at Arsenal FC?

#2: Quique Setien

Quique Setien was linked with a move to Barcelona.
Quique Setien was linked with a move to Barcelona.

Quique Setien, like Allegri, is a former midfielder, who made his name playing in La Liga in the 1980s. Best known as a player for his time at hometown club Racing Santander, Setien also represented the Spanish national team thrice before hanging up his boots in 1996 at the age of 38.

Five years after retiring, Setien made his first foray into management, with the club closest to his heart, in a city where he was admired; Racing Santander. He did quite well in his one and only season in charge, winning 18 of the 36 games he managed.

Between 2002 and 2009, Setien had spells at Poli Ejido and CD Logrones in Spain, as well as dipping his feet into international management with Equatorial Guinea. Thereafter, he spent six years with CD Lugo between 2009 and 2015, helping them earn promotion to Spain's second tier, and keeping them steady in mid-table for three seasons.

In 2015, Setien moved to UD Las Palmas, and guided them to an 11th-placed finish in La Liga. This was an impressive achievement given that they were in the relegation zone when he took over. 20 months into the job, however, Setien resigned due to differences with the club's board members.

He was then appointed as Real Betis boss in 2017 and helped them to a sixth-placed finish in his first season, securing qualification to the group stages of the UEFA Europa League for 2018/19 in the process. He was constantly linked with a move to Barcelona last season, but nothing came of it. Setien decided to step away from his role in May and has not been in management since.

Setien's sides have primarily been built around high, and meaningful ball possession. They are normally looking to draw opponents onto themselves before springing sharp, incisive passes into the forward players, enabling them to cause damage to the best of teams. This style of play would certainly be approved by the Arsenal faithful and could be an interesting appointment were it to actually happen.

Quick Links