Three-and-a-half years ago he walked into Villa Park and vowed he had joined Aston Villa to win trophies.
On Wednesday in Istanbul he achieved it.
Skipper John McGinn lifted the Europa League after a 3-0 victory over Freiburg to etch Villa’s name into the history books again.
In front of nine of the 1982 European Cup heroes – including captain Dennis Mortimer and goalscorer Peter Withe – Villa wrote themselves another momentous chapter.
Spectacular strikes from Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendia sent them on their way, with Morgan Rogers sealing victory.
This time they still played in white and beat a German team in red. Instead of Bayern Munich it was Freiburg. Instead of Rotterdam it was Istanbul.
Emery alao clinched his fifth Europa League title.
The previous four were already a competition record and while he dismissed the suggestion he was a European king, he is a serial winner.
It now six finals and five wins – with the latest cementing a legacy at Villa Park which will last decades.
Villa officials were nervous talking about the trophy parade in advance, which needed to be organised ahead of time given the disruption in Birmingham, but the squad will flaunt it in the city Thursday afternoon.
Emery said: “I am thankful to [co-owners] Nassef [Sawiris] and Wes [Edens]… they are supporting always. I am thankful to the supporters and I am thankful for the players.
“All the times I am successful in this competition I needed good players. Now I am so thankful for the players, they are following our ambitions.
“They are protagonists on the field. This is the reason I am not feeling the king in this competition. I am feeling really thankful – we are the kings together.
“After 1982 the club won the European Cup, it was something they were missing – the supporters – a trophy. Achieving this one is making us so, so happy but we are not going to stop.”
If Tielemans’ volley – rounding off a short corner routine – gave them the platform then Buendia’s curler into the top corner put one hand on the trophy.
Rogers’ third had the substitutes celebrating on the pitch and an airborne Emery jumping on the touchline with clenched fists. Victory was assured.
