KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Houllier set for Villa

Former treble winning Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier is set for a dramatic return to English football with Aston Villa.

The Frenchman, who has been out of work for three years, has held talks with Villa owner Randy Lerner about succeeding Martin O'Neill.

And reports today claimed that Houllier is now the number one target for the Midlands club.

Alan Curbishley, Sven Goran Eriksson and caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald have all been interviewed following the club's 1-0 victory over Everton last Sunday.

But Houllier is now hot favourite - although it remains unclear whether Villa want the 62-year-old to be a manager or Director of Football.

Houllier suffered serious heart problems during his time at Anfield and it seems highly unlikely that Villa would want him to take over as manager and expose him to the considerable pressure that would accompany that position.

A much more plausible scenario would see Houllier work in tandem with caretaker bos Kevin MacDonald, who is regarded as an excellent coach but has failed to convince that he is management material during the five games he has spent in charge.

Villa owner Randy Lerner and his chief executive Paul Faulkner were mindful that several of Martin O'Neill's staff followed the Irishman out of the exit when he decided to call time on his four year stay at the Birmingham club.

O'Neill's staff - including assistant John Robertson, coach Steve Walford and chief scout Ian Storey-Moore - all quit at the same time, leaving Villa with a huge gap to fill just five days before the start of a new campaign in the Barclays Premier League.

Caretaker boss MacDonald and Everton boss David Moyes were tipped for the post earlier this week

But Moyes was never in the running while MacDonald has consistently stated that he wasn't certain he wanted the post permanently.

Houllier left Liverpool in 2004 after first assuming control with Roy Evans as part of a dream team that was put together to thrust the Reds back towards the top of English football.

Houllier's joint managership lasted just four months and he oversaw a complete overhaul of their squad after his first season at the club, signing seven new players and letting 10 go.

Paul Ince and Jason McAteer were victims of the new regime and Steve McManaman left when his contract expired, indicating that the Frenchman is unafraid of dramatic change.

Houllier spent more than £100 million during his time on Merseyside and was criticised for the quality for his later signings, but his finest moment came in 2001 when he landed a cup treble of the Worthington Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup in the same season, adding the Charity Shield and European Super Cup for good measure.

Although there are funds available to spend at Villa Park, the transfer window has now closed but at least the lure of a recognised top name would satisfy Villa's supporters as the club's shortlist was resoundingly shy of star quality following O'Neill's walk out.

There were suggestions last night that Villa would make an appointment today but club officials have indicated a decision is not imminent.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/media-watch/houllier-set-for-villa

he will do ok there might win them something steady pair of hands .

am just glad his not coming bk to us. i do worry abt all the new zidane and figos of this world playing for villa

nice person houlier but signed a lot of sh1t but won stuff in 2001 so did well and also left on very good terms and if my memory served me right he held a press confrence when he left unlike rafa.

Would put Benitez slightly ahead of him as the worst boss for me, my most unhappy times watching the club were under the Frenchman as this man as his teams played the most boring, tedious one dimensional football I have witnessed supporting my Club. The only thing which puts him ahead of Benitez was he was not as dark or devious as the Spaniard and never tried to pull the wool over fans eyes as much, having said that he became a laughing stock when he did try as the " Rigobert Song eating grass " episode proved.

Haha that was funny

Houllier is a nice man and a good manager. He came back way too soon when he was ill and it clearly affected his decsion making. Regardless of some of the bad signings, he DID leave the club on nice terms AND in 4th place. Benitez wouldn't have won the CL if Houllier hadn't have managed this the season before. Just remember that. Beats 7th eh?

yea houllier lefyt us with 4th but do u really think liverpool would have finished 4th that season if tottenham had the team they have now or if city had billions they have? i think the answer is a big fat no. i would have rafa over houllier any day

the villa fans will hate him after about a week i really hope he goes there he can insult villa with 'top youngsters' like pongolle and cheyrou (next ZZ makes me sick that someone said that)

Just heard Gerard has been offered the job,best of luck if it's true and he accepts.