Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has announced a major change in the team’s leadership setup: Emi Martinez is no longer the club’s vice-captain.
Previously, Martinez regularly wore the captain’s armband whenever John McGinn was off the pitch, often leading the team out in McGinn’s absence. However, during the recent match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, the captain’s role was passed to Ezri Konsa when McGinn started on the bench.
This shift marked a notable change, reflecting Konsa’s rising leadership within the squad over the past 18 months. Emery confirmed that the decision was made after a meaningful conversation with Martinez regarding his role.
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Emery explained, “John McGinn remains our first captain. We’ve organized the leadership roles carefully. Martinez was usually our second captain, but after discussing with him, I decided to relieve him of that duty. Konsa is now the next in line, alongside Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins.”
This leadership restructuring underlines Emery’s trust in Konsa’s growing influence and the importance of managing the team’s hierarchy in a way that benefits squad dynamics.