Unai Emery stood on the touchline in Dublin, arms aloft, as claret-and-blue flares lit the night. Aston Villa had just claimed their first European trophy in 44 years, a 3-0 dismantling of Freiburg that felt less like an upset and more like the coronation of a new continental force.

Youri Tielemans’ precise opener, Emi Buendia’s curling strike and Morgan Rogers’ ruthless finish were the visible markers of Villa’s dominance. But the fingerprints on this triumph belonged to their manager. This was Emery’s fifth Europa League title, a number that places him alongside Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Giovanni Trapattoni in the rarefied air of serial European winners.

Emery has never been a showman. His reputation was long distorted by the glare of Paris Saint-Germain and the turbulence of Arsenal, where nuance was drowned out by narrative. Yet his true craft has always been in the slow, meticulous reshaping of clubs that have lost their way.

He turned Sevilla into Europa League royalty. He delivered Villarreal their first major European trophy. Now he has taken a drifting Aston Villa, once flirting with relegation, and turned them into a side that plays with the swagger and structure of a Champions League contender.

“My dream when I started was to play in Europe and play for trophies – this is the first one,” Emery said afterwards. “Those experiences are very important to get better. The club have been missing European cups, a trophy. So achieving this makes us so happy, but we’re not going to stop.”

His players speak of a manager obsessed with detail, demanding but clear. “With this manager in charge, anything’s possible,” said captain John McGinn. “Tonight was just everything we have built, coming together. It’s the proudest moment of my career so far.”

The hallmark of an elite coach is not just improving individuals, but raising the ceiling of an entire institution. Emery has now done that in three countries, repeatedly dragging clubs beyond what their budgets and histories seemed to allow.

When the era of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City eventually closes, there will be a compelling argument that the Premier League’s most complete coach is already in place at Villa Park. Five Europa Leagues later, the debate about Emery’s status should be over. He is not a specialist. He is one of the defining managers of his generation.