“Shockwaves at Villa Park: Damian Vidagany’s Contract Terminated Amid Internal Crisis”
By David Ornstein, Senior Football Correspondent – The Athletic
In a stunning development that has sent ripples through English football, Aston Villa have officially terminated the contract of Director of Football Operations Damian Vidagany. The move, confirmed late Sunday evening by multiple sources within the club, comes amid reports of escalating tensions, power struggles, and strategic disagreements at the highest levels of the organization.
Vidagany’s abrupt departure signals the deepest fracture yet in the leadership structure at Villa Park, raising urgent questions about the club’s internal harmony and long-term vision.
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A Trusted Lieutenant Falls
Vidagany joined Aston Villa in late 2022 alongside Unai Emery, serving first as Chief of Staff before earning promotion to Director of Football Operations in mid-2023. His appointment was seen as a natural extension of Emery’s footballing philosophy—methodical, structured, and forward-thinking.
But as the club evolved and brought in high-powered executives like Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo (Monchi) and welcomed a wave of American investment through Atairos, the dynamics in the boardroom began to shift dramatically.
“Damian was a voice of continuity and caution,” a club insider told The Athletic. “But the club started moving in a faster, more aggressive direction—he didn’t match that pace.”
Sources close to the situation describe a prolonged period of tension between Vidagany and Monchi over operational responsibilities and the direction of Villa’s recruitment strategy. The disagreement reportedly came to a head after the January window, when disputes over key transfer targets exposed deep rifts in the leadership structure.
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Fallout and Silence
Perhaps the most notable silence amid the chaos has come from Emery himself. The head coach has been unusually subdued in press engagements over the past two weeks, and club insiders confirm that he was “completely blindsided” by the decision to let go of his closest ally.
“There’s no sugarcoating this—Unai is furious,” one source said. “Damian wasn’t just a colleague, he was his right hand.”
While there’s no immediate suggestion that Emery is considering stepping away from his post, sources warn that trust between the manager and the club’s executive leadership has been “severely damaged.”
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Shifting Boardroom Dynamics
The role of Atairos and its board appointees—most notably Michael Angelakis and Sarah Watterson—has become central to the club’s strategic overhaul. Since acquiring a minority stake in 2024, the American investment group has pressed for sharper commercial discipline and data-driven performance benchmarks across departments.
Vidagany, by contrast, was known for his more traditional, people-oriented management style—a philosophy that had previously served him well at Valencia and Villarreal.
“There was a culture clash,” said a former Villa staffer. “The Americans want numbers, dashboards, KPIs. Damian believed in relationships and the human side of football. In the end, that difference cost him.”
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Monchi Ascends
With Vidagany out, Monchi will temporarily assume full control over football operations—a consolidation of power that some see as a natural progression, and others view with concern.
Monchi’s technical brilliance is well-established, having shaped successful squads at Sevilla and Roma, but his leadership style has not always meshed easily with peers. His task now includes managing not only transfers and scouting but the broader integration of Villa’s academy system and long-term squad planning.
Names being floated as possible replacements for Vidagany include Víctor Orta, formerly of Leeds United, and Oscar Arias, Monchi’s longtime collaborator at Sevilla.
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Fans Demand Answers
The news has landed with a thud among the Villa faithful. While some supporters see the move as a sign of ambition, many have expressed concern over the increasingly corporate tone at the club and what some are calling a departure from its core identity.
On social media, #VillaVisionLost began trending within hours, with fans urging the club to maintain the values and culture that have defined its resurgence under Emery.
“Damian was the glue behind the scenes,” one user posted. “This isn’t just a staff change—it’s the unraveling of what made Villa feel different.”
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Looking Ahead
As Aston Villa fights for a top-four finish and navigates the final stretch of European competition, the timing of Vidagany’s termination could prove critical. The club’s official statement described the split as mutual and professional, but the noise around it suggests anything but.
Behind the closed doors of Villa Park, the internal crisis is real—and the consequences could stretch far beyond one man’s
