Aston Villa agree deal to appoint Roberto Olabe to replace Monchi | OneFootball

Aston Villa have reached an agreement to appoint Roberto Olabe as their new president of football operations, with an official announcement expected in the coming days.

The Spaniard will replace Monchi, whose departure from Villa was confirmed earlier this week after just over two years in the role.Monchi is set to return to Spain for personal reasons, although he is expected to continue advising the club’s ownership group, V Sports, in a reduced capacity.

Olabe arrives with a strong reputation as one of European football’s most respected sporting directors.

He left Real Sociedad at the end of last season after overseeing one of the most successful periods in the club’s modern history.

During his most recent spell in San Sebastian, he played a pivotal role in building squads that combined homegrown talent with shrewd signings.

Alexander Isak, Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard all passed through Sociedad during his tenure, while academy graduates such as Mikel Oyarzabal, Martin Zubimendi and Robin Le Normand became first-team pillars.

Olabe’s influence went beyond recruitment. He was heavily involved in developing Sociedad’s training ground at Zubieta and embedding a club-wide model of technical, fast-paced football.

That framework not only supported the senior side but also helped shape the next generation of coaches, with Xabi Alonso among those who spent formative years at the club before moving into management.

His work at Independiente del Valle in Ecuador is also widely recognised. He oversaw the emergence of a ‘golden generation’ that produced Premier League stars including Moises Caicedo and Piero Hincapie.

Olabe has additionally served in advisory roles, including work with Qatar in preparation for the 2022 World Cup.

Villa had previously considered Olabe before hiring Monchi in 2023 and have now moved quickly to secure him following their poor start to the season.

Unai Emery’s side are yet to win in the Premier League this term, having scored just once in five matches, and frustrations over recruitment have grown among supporters.

The appointment of Olabe is a significant coup for Villa, given his track record of balancing financial prudence with competitive success.