Houllier set for Villa job

Frenchman to be offered Villa Park role

Last updated: 6th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Houllier set for Villa job

Houllier: Set for Villa

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Sky Sports News understands Gerard Houllier is set to be offered the manager's job at Aston Villa.

Houllier, who was in England for Jamie Carragher's testomonial on Saturday, was staying coy on the rumours when asked about the Villa job over the weekend.

However, it is believed Villa chairman Randy Lerner has offered the Frenchman the chance to replace former boss Martin O'Neill.

O'Neill resigned at Villa Park just before the start of the season with Kevin MacDonald being placed in caretaker charge.

The likes of Alan Curbishley, Sven Goran Eriksson and MacDonald have been linked with the role, but it appears former Liverpool chief Houllier is in pole position for the post.

Houllier, who left Liverpool in 2004, is believed to have impressed Villa's board in the interview process and could be unveiled as the new manager in the next 48 hours.

Comments (39)

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Mike Clarkson (Aston Villa fan) says...

Well i think if Mr Lerner has gone mad, Gerard Houllier is too old and well past being a manager in the premiership, Villa should offer the job to Alan Curbishley or someone else but not Houllier he''s not the right man, but if he dose get the job all the best to him and alot of Irish Luck to him.

Posted 20:36 7th September 2010

David Grant (Liverpool fan) says...

I think it will be a decent appointment for Villa. Sure Martin O Neill is a great manager, but who else can Villa really attract, I certainly would prefer this over Bob Bradley. He did well in his time at Liverpool, definitely brought us on from what Roy Evans had achieved, came close to winning the league once and won several trophies. I do not think he will worsen the club in any way

Posted 19:15 7th September 2010

Peter Hill (Aston Villa fan) says...

GH wouldnt have been in my top 3 but you have to give the guy a chance. He has the experience to do the job and has been successful. I was a massive MON fan but feel very let down by him and don''t buy all this ''wasn''t allowed to do his job properly''. Lerner backed him to the hilt. O''neills constriction was that of his own making. Not changing tactics, playing people out of position. And walking when things got tough. I welcome this appointment if it happens and have complete trust in the man with the club crest tattooed on his ankle, the best foreign owner in the prem-Randy Lerner. (oh and @The Bear ''Cowboy outfit''??? excuse me but after well over 100 years tell me, what exactly is the point of your club??)

Posted 17:13 7th September 2010

The Bear (Birmingham City fan) says...

We''re rubbing our hands with glee! Couldn''t happen to a nicer club! Nice to see Old Randy has got tinkerman into run his cowboy outfit!

Posted 16:32 7th September 2010

Daniel Walby (Chelsea fan) says...

Ok villa fans, here it is.. if this is posted please stop moaning if GH takes the job. One reason, MON is gone now get over it, GH has won more trophies and has a bigger understanding or what it takes to win at a higher level. MON clings on to success at Celtic and buys average English players. Villa were not going to finish higher than 6th this season with him in charge he took them as far as he could and won nothing. At least GH will be backed by Lerner and he signed players which did not work out at Liverpool but that was a long time and people learn from their mistakes... You fans need to back him instead of moaning even when he hasn''t picked a team yet. Where would Villa be without the money Lerner has spent? Let Lerner decide as its hes made an investement and felt MON took the club as far as he could, at the end of the day you who do you Villa fans think you are going to get? Sven? Curbs? who is actually interested in the villa job? lol

Posted 16:29 7th September 2010

Chris Heap (Manchester United fan) says...

Oh my! I feel sorry for Villa. Houllier is not the right man for the job, they should go for Martin Jol or even Bob Bradley. At Liverpool Houllier sold Robbie Fowler and replaced him with Diouff, said Daio was the new Vieria, said Cheyrou was the new Zidane, bought Igor Biscan, Titi Camera, Eric Meijer, Djimi Traore, Gregory Vignal, Emile Heskey all of which are Crap! He let Mcmanaman leave on a free and also flogged Brad Fridel! Great management! Only good signing he made at liverpool was Hyypia. Judging by this history Villa fans expect a Young + Agbonlahor + cash swap deal for some crappy over rated young French piece of turd!

Posted 16:02 7th September 2010

Majid Akram (Aston Villa fan) says...

i grow up in Aston, listening to the Villa chants echo into my mums garden, all my life i''ve supported the Villa, i think Randy Lerner needs to think this one through a bit longer, two years now me and my son haven''t reniewed our season ticket, same old, same old dissapointment, we need a classy striker at Villa park not a classy idiot. !!!

Posted 16:01 7th September 2010

David Hoppitt (Aston Villa fan) says...

Anyone who''s won any sort of treble with any team deserves a chance at Villa, and for all the people saying he''s ruining French football - really ?! An entire established footballing country is being brought to their knees by one indivdual, some people need to stop reading the gossip columns and wake up! I think he''s exactly what Villa need, knowledge of European players that can add flair and something different to an already strong team of English players.

Posted 15:39 7th September 2010

Adam Bothwell (Liverpool fan) says...

Was never a big Houllier fan while he was at Liverpool due to his negative style of play. Like to defend deeply and counter- attack. Was crap to which your team defend for ninety minutes. However, I still think he could do well with his experience. He wasn''t all bad - helped develop Danny Murphy, Michael Owen, Gerrard, Carragher etc. Made some good signings - Hyypia, Marcus Babel, Hamann, Henchoz and Riise. Its also worthy to note that he had a technical role with France when they won world cup in 1998.

Posted 14:19 7th September 2010

Fred Evans (Liverpool fan) says...

this is apalling news for villa fans!!!!! This coach brought so many poor players to liverpool ( diao, diouf, le tallec,cheyrou,pongolle,heskey) and ostracised robbie fowler when he was at his peak. Yes he won trophies in 2001 but he never kicked on and we went badly backwards. the style of football was boring and at best can be described as counter attacking! I hope for you villa fans he doesn''t get the job god help you!!!!

Posted 14:10 7th September 2010

Rafa B (Liverpool fan) says...

He wasn''t that good at Liverpool...

Posted 13:34 6th September 2010

Bumbles Lawnmower (Manchester United fan) says...

An attacking team employing a defensive coach... hmm. Ah well, one less team to worry about and at least it might get Phil Thompson off our screens every Saturday if Houllier drafts him in as an assistant.

Posted 13:23 6th September 2010

Justin Walker (Aston Villa fan) says...

Our aspirations of midtable mediocrity will once again be fulfilled with this limp, insipid and ill-judged appointment... If we finish in the top 6, I''ll eat my corked hat

Posted 13:20 6th September 2010

John C (Aston Villa fan) says...

Gutted Martin Oneil has gone, the best manager we have had in years. and we are about to appoint Houllier!!!!!! do me a favour!! he signed Heskey when he was at Liverpool, and I do not know one villa fan who Likes Emule! and the last player he signed at Liverpool was Djibrle Cisse for 14million, and now Randy Learner is being tight with the cash, any money we have on transfers, do we really trust Houllier with it, eh No! I can see us on a downward spiral. we have proved yet again we are a small club that lasck ambition, as so many ex villa manager and players have said before. My season ticket has been sent back, I''m disgusted with the treatment Learner has given Martin Oneil.

Posted 12:02 6th September 2010

John Steele (Aston Villa fan) says...

This is a terrible appointment and a terrible disappointment. Houllier''s brand of football is a cure for insomnia. Ashley Young and Stephen Ireland will both want to leave the club in Jan because they''ll be tired of watching the ball go back and forth over their heads. This is NOT the way forward for Villa. Please please please, Mr Lerner, reconsider and buy Martin Jol out of his contract at Ajax.

Posted 11:44 6th September 2010

Craig Stylist (Aston Villa fan) says...

As a Villa fan im not sure this is what we need. I see this as a very un Aston Villa like manager. The facts are MON left as he was not allowed to do his job , one that he was doing very well. Do not think for one moment that GH will be given more funds and time than MON , he wont. He will simply sell our good English talent and buy young foreign talent. Its clear as day. I warn my fellow Villa fans this is not going to be a good time for the club. MON was the high of this decade believe me. God help us................ GH what a joke .......

Posted 09:58 6th September 2010

Mark Bevan (Aston Villa fan) says...

OMG...This is not good for the Villa...This man is a complete and utter shambles...I do NOT want a bunch of over paid none English player bein bought in to my club...He will so this and is NOT the way forward...To all you Liverpool supporters who have commented, Why was Houillier not in the fram to become the Liverpool manager when Rafa left??? Because even the quality of chairman you have could see this is a backwards step. Leave him in Frace to continue to distroy French Football !!!!!

Posted 09:07 6th September 2010

Ricky Ricardo (Aston Villa fan) says...

Last time villa had a manager who wasn''t English or Irish things didn''t go so well. Jo Venglos anyone? That said i''m sure in this instance lightning won''t strike twice. Houllier will do a decent job. He should at least be able to source talent from abroad at least equivalent to those brought in by MON who didn''t seem to have a scouting network. Why pay 10m for Curtis Davies for example. The mind boggles!

Posted 08:36 6th September 2010

Jon Rowe (Stoke City fan) says...

Please sign Houllier as manager! He is useless!! and his first game is at the mighty potters so it will be an easy 3 points for us!! GGGOOOAAARRRRNNNN STOKE!

Posted 08:28 6th September 2010

Barrie Vesty (Liverpool fan) says...

If this is true then Villa have in my view replaced one of the best managers I have ever known (MON) with an absolute ledgend!!. Gerard Houllier is in my view a GOD!! I think I speak for every LFC fan when I say Houllier has a very special place in our hearts and he will be excellent for Villa. Im sure we will sing his name when he visits Anfield!! as long as we beat his team of coarse!!

Posted 01:03 6th September 2010
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