Aston Villa overhaul football operations with Olabe in, Monchi out, as relegation fears grow

Aston Villa have shaken up their leadership in a dramatic move that reflects the club’s deepening crisis. Roberto Olabe has been appointed as president of football operations, while Monchi has stepped down from the same position and will now work in an advisory capacity at Villa’s parent company, V Sports.

The announcement comes with Villa languishing in the Premier League relegation zone, winless after five matches. The reshuffle follows mounting pressure both on and off the pitch, with head coach Unai Emery openly criticising his players for being “lazy” and warning that the team has lost its identity.

Olabe, who has enjoyed stints in Spain, Qatar and Ecuador, arrives at Villa Park immediately after leaving his role as director of football at Real Sociedad. His connection with Emery dates back to their shared time at Almeria, where the pair built a strong working relationship. He had been tipped for a high-profile move to Arsenal before they opted for Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta, but now takes on what may be the biggest challenge of his career.

Monchi, whose real name is Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, departs after just over two years in the role. Although he will remain within the V Sports structure, the change effectively ends his control of Villa’s football operations. The club has not disclosed the reasons for his step back, but the timing — with Villa entrenched in a poor run of form — has raised eyebrows.

During his tenure, Monchi played a pivotal role in reshaping the squad. Under his guidance, Villa secured the signatures of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana, alongside audacious loan moves for Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio. He also oversaw this month’s Deadline Day deals to bring in Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho. These signings helped propel Villa into the Champions League last season, though they narrowly missed out on qualification again by finishing sixth.

However, this summer’s optimism has quickly soured. Villa have not registered a Premier League victory since May, when they defeated Tottenham 2-0. Since then, their form has collapsed, culminating in a frustrating 1-1 draw against Sunderland, where Emery accused his side of being sluggish and lacking personality.

“We are not playing like I want,” Emery said after the match. “We have to recover our identity, our confidence, our personality. Right now, we are conceding too many chances and we are not comfortable with our style.”

Pundits have echoed the criticism. Sky Sports’ Micah Richards said: “Villa need more. The urgency wasn’t there against Sunderland. Everything was too slow. They didn’t create enough. Something’s not right. At the moment, they are miles off it.”

Monchi struck a more conciliatory note in his farewell message. He thanked Villa’s owners Nassef Sawiris, Wes Edens and Michael Angelakis for their backing, and singled out Emery and director of football operations Damian Vidagany as key colleagues. “We have enjoyed so many special moments together and I look forward to continuing to support V Sports in an advisory role,” he said.

Yet the move signals a clear change in direction. With the season already slipping into danger, Olabe’s arrival represents a gamble. He inherits a squad stacked with high-profile players but short on form and confidence. His immediate priority will be to work with Emery to stabilise performances and halt the slide towards a relegation battle.

Supporters, who only months ago were celebrating Villa’s Champions League push, now face a stark contrast: the fear of being dragged into a dogfight at the bottom of the table. Whether Olabe’s appointment can spark a revival will be tested in the coming weeks, as pressure intensifies both inside Villa Park and in the stands