Houllier considering offer

French tactician weighing up Villa job

Last updated: 6th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Houllier considering offer

Houllier: Villa offer

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Gerard Houllier is currently considering whether to take the vacant managerial position at Aston Villa.

The former Liverpool boss has been offered the job at Villa Park following Martin O'Neill's decision to step down shortly before the start of the season.

Houllier, 63, is currently technical director of the French Football Federation (FFF) and is weighing up a return to the Premier League after an absence of six years.

The Frenchman was interviewed for the job last week as owner Randy Lerner looks to make an appointment sooner rather than later, and caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald and Alan Curbishley are also in the frame.

However, it is Houllier who is expected to take the reins of the Midlands outfit after stepping down from Lyon in May 2007.

He was initially thought to be considered for a director of football role at Villa, but has confirmed that he has been offered the manager's job with a decision expected this week.

"The club took the initiative," he told France Football.

Houllier was present at Anfield on Saturday for Jamie Carragher's testimonial, but remained tight-lipped on his future.

He is thought to welcome a change in his current role with the FFF, after coming under criticism following Les Bleus' disastrous World Cup campaign.

Lerner wants to get a man in place before the match with Stoke next Monday, and the experienced tactician who led Liverpool to a Uefa Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001 is set to be appointed.

Comments (13)

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Alex Jones (Aston Villa fan) says...

This is what i dont get with villa fans, i myself am one and have no problem with Houllier, everyone saying its a backwards step etc. why dont you give te guy a chance? he has won trophys everywhere he has been. yeah he might not be everyones choice, but i would rather have him than curbishley or sven. if he is appointed i will judge him at the end of the season, and then decide if its a backwards step or not. the league has got alot harder so i am not expecting us to finish in the top 5, 6 will be if we are lucky. however give the guy a chance, dont just condem him before he has started!

Posted 14:29 6th September 2010

Robert Hupston (Aston Villa fan) says...

I think he could do a great job. Villa badly need some foreign players in to compliment the Brittish players already there and our scounting system needs sorting and he could be the man to help that. He has a good record and has won things with other clubs. Lets just get behind him and support the club.

Posted 14:18 6th September 2010

Tom Allen (Aston Villa fan) says...

I think he would be a good manager for Villa. He''s got experience at the top level & knows how to win cups. Hopefully he''l have money to spend in Jan. Personally though I feel sorry for whoever takes over the job because Villa can play the best football you''ve ever seen for 85 mins & then play bad for 5 mins & all the Villa fans will want the manager to get the sack!

Posted 14:12 6th September 2010

Brian Cook (Aston Villa fan) says...

The appointment of Gerard Houllier is acceptable ONLY if Kevin McDonald is part of the ''Management Team''. With both their experiences, GH Premier League and Contacts etc and KM with his knowledge of the Aston Villa Board, Players & Staff this would work well. KM could be groomed to take over in the future like the Liverpool ''Boot Room'' scenario.

Posted 13:37 6th September 2010

Colin Inett (Aston Villa) (Aston Villa fan) says...

Backwards step, all our own UK players will now take a backseat as loads of French rejects come in. All the hard work O''Neill did in bringing in young British talent will get destroyed and we will go back to the days of ODreary. We would have been better off waiting for Jol and keeping McDonald as a caretaker boss until Xmas, (we cannot buy any players yet anyway).

Posted 13:12 6th September 2010

Phil G (Aston Villa fan) says...

Lerner: So, Mr Houllier - as previously stated, I''m looking for someone with current Premiership experience. When did you last work in the Premiership? Houllier: 6 years ago. Lerner: Err, OK, what happened after that ? Houllier: Well I was at Lyon, but that wasn''t too successful. Lerner: So tell me about your recent successes then. Houllier: Well, I was heavily involved in the French World Cup campaign... Lerner: Any health issues? Houllier: Next question? Lerner: When can you start? Doesn''t sound quite right does it? I know we aren''t spoilt for choice, but this appointment will not excite too many Villa fans or boost season ticket sales. Why couldn''t Lerner buy some time and give McDonald this season to prove himself (possibly with a good old Villa favourite to assist and advise - someone like Big Ron??) If it didn''t work out there would probably be a better choice of managers at the end of the season. Sorry, I have never been negative about any Villa manager before they started - but I am over this one, if it happens.

Posted 12:58 6th September 2010

Anthony Mcaleenan (Celtic fan) says...

Talk about taking a massive backwards step. You cant replace a world class manager which martin o`neil certainly is with a mediocre manager. The premier league is alot tougher than when he was liverpool manager. bad decision

Posted 12:44 6th September 2010

No so cheery Villian (Aston Villa fan) says...

When I first heard this news - my heart literally sank ! I do not associate Houllier as being a success story - no matter what my boyfriend tells me (L''pool fan) Come on Learner - how can you expect to be considered a top 6 + team when you go for bit part manager like this - why rush ? Macdonald is doing an ok job - too many clubs are rushing in to appoint managers, then realising that they are not as good as they thought ... thus sacking them and causing more unrest to the team and distrupting the season!

Posted 12:35 6th September 2010

Steve Davies (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

All I can say to Villa is THINK!!!! look at the state of Liverpool - He was no innocent party in the way Liverpool have declined

Posted 12:18 6th September 2010

Philip Helen (Aston Villa fan) says...

With all respect to Mr. Houllier.....but no.

Posted 11:24 6th September 2010

David Berry (Aston Villa fan) says...

Please let this be a joke!

Posted 11:24 6th September 2010

John Salter (Aston Villa fan) says...

If GH is appointed I will be far from happy as a Villa fan. He''s run French football into the ground, not managed for over three years, is 63 and has health issues! Ontop of that he''s reportedly going to bring Phill Thompson with him! Come on Mr Lerner where''s the future in this? Kevin MacDonald has given Villa 15 years loyal service and won everything with the reserves, the choice is obvious!!!

Posted 11:18 6th September 2010

Jon Lucas (Aston Villa fan) says...

I think Houllier will do a good job at the villa if appointed. He had a decent record with liverpool and i think must have been promised funds to spend in january (milner money). All villa fans should get behind the new gaffer whoever it might be..

Posted 11:17 6th September 2010
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