Aston Villa to appoint Monchi successor as agreement struck

Aston Villa are expected to appoint Roberto Olabe as Monchi’s successor, with the 57-year-old having left Real Sociedad earlier this year

Aston Villa are expected to appoint Roberto Olabe as the successor to Monchi. The 57-year-old parted ways with Real Sociedad earlier this year and has been in discussions with Villa about taking the reins of the club’s football department, and an agreement has reportedly been struck.

Monchi’s departure was revealed on Monday night, with an official announcement anticipated soon. Villa have been bracing for his exit, earmarking Olabe as their top choice.

Olabe is considered one of Europe’s leading football executives and previously worked with Unai Emery at Almeria.

Alberto Benito, who joined Villa’s recruitment team in May 2023, took over from Olabe as sporting director at Almeria.

Olabe served as the sporting director at Real Sociedad for seven years, playing a pivotal role in the club’s development during that period.

Under his stewardship, Sociedad clinched the Copa del Rey in 2021, consistently finished in La Liga’s top six, and made a triumphant return to the Champions League in 2023/24, reaching the last 16.

His acumen has been particularly noticeable in the transfer market, where Sociedad have gained a reputation for savvy dealings – offloading players like Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi, and Alexander Isak for hefty sums.

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