Villarreal have appointed former Barcelona manager Quique Setien as their new head coach.

The 64-year-old has signed a contract until 2024 and will replace Unai Emery, who joined Aston Villa yesterday.

Setien was a manager at Real Betis before joining Barcelona in January 2020 to replace Ernesto Valverde.

The Santander-born coach was dismissed as the manager of the Catalan club after just seven months in charge, following an 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Villarreal said in a statement that Ramiro Amarelle will join as an assistant coach, with Fran Soto serving as fitness coach.

The club added: “Villarreal CF have reached an agreement with Quique Setién for the Santander-born coach to take charge of the Yellows for the remainder of the current season and the entirety of the following one.

“The Cantabrian coach will conduct his first session in charge of the team tomorrow at 10:30am CEST and will be presented at 1:30pm CEST in a press conference exclusively for the media in the press room of the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground.”

Setien had a spell in Africa, as the head coach of the Equatorial Guinea national team, as well as coaching Lugo and Las Palmas, among others.

As a player, he starred for Racing Santander, Atletico Madrid, Logrones, and Levante, winning the Spanish Super Cup in 1985 with Atletico Madrid.

Quique Setien first match in charge will be on Thursday against Hapoel Beer Sheva in the Europa Conference League.

Unai Emery bade farewell

Earlier, Emery had a farewell press conference and thanked the club for their trust in him and predicted a great future for the Yellow Submarine.

He said: “I am very grateful to Villarreal CF, the president and Fernando. I am also grateful to José Manuel Llaneza, who will always be in my memory.

“I am also grateful to all the people who are part of the club, the people and the fans. For all those moments we have shared, which have been precious.

“I’ve had two and a half very nice years here. I’ve felt at home at heart, but I carry the profession inside me. Now I have a new opportunity, just like when I came here. I thought I should take it as a different sporting challenge.

“It’s a difficult context for the players. Now I will say goodbye to them. It’s a professional, mature dressing room and they will adapt to whatever comes.

“It’s a united group. Another coach will come in with his message. They are professionals and they understand that.

“It’s a great project and they have a great fan base behind them. They are going to enjoy a beautiful pitch and will continue to do great things in football.

“I’m leaving an exciting project, with options in LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Europa Conference League. Here I have been able to be me.

“They have given me great conditions to bring out my best version. I have felt at home, but now it is time to continue to have challenges outside.”