Houllier takes Villa reins

Frenchman returns to Premier League

Last updated: 10th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Houllier takes Villa reins

Houllier: Back in Premier League

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Aston Villa have confirmed the appointment of experienced French tactician Gerard Houllier as their new manager.

The club have been without a permanent boss since Martin O'Neill surprisingly resigned last month, with Kevin MacDonald taking over on a temporary basis.

MacDonald was one of several names to be linked with the full-time role, along with the likes of Sven Goran Eriksson, Bob Bradley and David Moyes.

Houllier later emerged as the leading contender as Villa stepped up their search, and they have now secured the 63-year-old's services after he was freed from his role with the French Football Federation.

Having worked as National Coaching Director with the FFF since 2007, it has come as something of surprise to see Houllier return to management.

Houllier nevertheless has a wealth of experience in the dugout and worked in England with Liverpool between 1998 and 2004.

There had been speculation that Houllier would try to bring Phil Thompson with him to Villa as assistant manager, but his former No.2 at Anfield turned down the offer.

Houllier has also spent time at the helm of France, Paris St Germain and Lyon, and is now looking forward to his latest challenge at Villa Park.

Happy and proud

"I am very happy and proud to join this great and historic club," he said.

"It was a very difficult decision for me to leave the FFF, but I could not turn down the opportunity to manage a club whose approach, both on and off the pitch, I have long admired.

"Aston Villa is one of England's biggest clubs and has an amazing set of fans.

"This is a tremendous challenge and one I am very much looking forward to taking on."

Villa begin life under Houllier with an away game against Stoke on Monday as they look to build on an inconsistent start to the season.

Villa have collected six points from their opening three Premier League games, although their one domestic defeat was a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Newcastle and they were also knocked out of the Europa League by Rapid Vienna.

Qualities

Chief executive Paul Faulkner is confident Houllier can take the club forward and has asked the fans to give him their backing.

He told the club's official website: "Two of the key qualities we identified as being of crucial importance were experience of managing in the Premier League and a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our current squad.

"Gerard Houllier comfortably satisfies these criteria. In fact, he stands out as a football man who understands the ethos of our club and shares our core values.

"We look forward to working with Gerard and supporting him.

"We ask our supporters to get behind the new manager and the team as we look to build on the progress we have made over the past four years in all areas of the club."

Comments (44)

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Tom Mooney (Liverpool fan) says...

The fact that he turned Steven Gerrard in to one of the best players in the game, Carra from a midfielder in to the best central defender England has had in the last 10 years and Owen was a world class player in his time under Houllier, suggests that if the English players are good enough and have the right attitude at Villa then he can help them develope in to world stars. Wether he can progress Villa or not will be down to Lerner allowing him to keep them when the other clubs come knocking, even still, Villa will never challenge for the title without serious investment as us Liverpool fans know only too well!

Posted 05:56 9th September 2010

Russell Phillips (Aston Villa fan) says...

Its time to get behind our new manager! What ever anybody thinks about him, its no good moaning we have to be united to move forward which I am sure we will do under Houllier. Bring in the good times..... COME ON THE VILLANS!!!!!!

Posted 05:24 9th September 2010

Mark Wood says...

I hope this works out for villa, i really do but im not sure. Im a Liverpool fan and i personally cant stand this guy. Some of the worst players in Liverpools history were given a shirt by this guy. He will be looking to buy foreign players and other cheap rubbish, but hopefully he doesnt tinker too much as villa already have a good base of young english players, set up by martin o''neil. Good luck to villa

Posted 04:23 9th September 2010

Tony Margetts (Aston Villa fan) says...

i would like to welcome gerard houllier to aston villa football club and wish him all the best in his new role and hopefully do the same for the club that he did at liverpool UTV

Posted 03:23 9th September 2010

Colin Menzies (Aston Villa fan) says...

Let''s give the man a chance. I just hope he continues to bring through the youngsters and avoids the choices he made at liverpool by removing all width from the team. we have wide players so lets keep using them.

Posted 02:03 9th September 2010

Christopher Woods (Aston Villa fan) says...

Why did the mighty Villa appoint a manager who has clearly past it! But at least its not Curbs or Errickson. We should have given MacDonald a chance. Randy get the check book out!

Posted 01:34 9th September 2010

Alan Westwell (Liverpool fan) says...

Having suffered houllier for 5 years i can honestly say GOOD LUCK VILLA!! your going to need it.....he is a very defensive manager, doesnt know where or how to play players and will be all foreign.......he always looks to place blame elsewhere making it impossible for him to see his own mistakes. yes he won 5 trophies, but that was in one season out of 5......and we never did anything in any of the rest!!........ashley young, agbonlahor etc etc will all be played out of position and will soon want to leave......

Posted 01:31 9th September 2010

Cale Cunningham (Aston Villa fan) says...

Definately remember that 12 month period he won 5 trophies for Liverpool and always had respect for him, both in terms of success and also attitude and respect for the game. I do hope we continue to bring the youth through and build on this, and yes KMD should be offered more prominence if he wants it. I did have initial scepticism but I am slightly dizzy after watching us yo-yo for 27 years lol!! But I wish him success and hope that we continue in the right direction. VTID :)

Posted 01:16 9th September 2010

Bob Cirjanic (Aston Villa fan) says...

The debate is over. He is one of us. Let''s get behind him and give him our full support. Give him 3 years and then if he hasn''t imrpoved us, we can debate it then. For now support him and the team.

Posted 01:02 9th September 2010

Bob Frog (Aston Villa fan) says...

I dont know a single Villa fan who wants him here, including myself!!! I can see the posters now!!! Its a shame O''Neil put his own interests infront of the clubs!!!

Posted 00:44 9th September 2010

Kurt Vann (Aston Villa fan) says...

Not to sure at the moment how I feel about the decision but I will try not to make judgment to early and give the new manager time to settle in to hopefully what will be a positive start with the club. I just hope that he doesn''t ruin all the hard work Martin O''Neill put in to the advancements with home grown players as I believe this to be ! of our strongest assets. Best of luck Gerard.

Posted 00:39 9th September 2010

Jim Murray (Aston Villa fan) says...

Kev Mac should have been given a chance at the job. We''re gonna lose our best players, Ashley Young will go to Spurs, Brad Fiedel & Stephen Warnock hate Houllier from their time at Liverpool & others will follow them out the door. We''re gonna end up another middle of the road mid-table foreign ridden club. Houllier is done, hasn''t managed a club since 2007 Lyon where he asked to be released from his contract because he needed a break. He''d only been there two years!!! Given the fact that he''s 63 & has had a heart attack during his managerial career we can expect a short stay. Good luck Villa, well done. We''ll never make it anywhere near the top four again.

Posted 00:18 9th September 2010

Mick Smith says...

Great appointment. Well done Randy. I am sure he will use his vast experience to take the younger players into a higher level. Kevin McDonald to be assistant and after 2 years take over the reigns. Houlier will bring discipline and I certinaly think we wont be losing 5-0 to Liverpool, 7-1 to Chelsea & 6-0 to Newcastle as we did over the last couple of years with O''Neil & more recently with McDonald. Agbonalahor to be the star of this season!

Posted 23:59 8th September 2010

Matt Wood (Aston Villa fan) says...

I don''t know why all Villa fans seem to be moaning?, he is a great manager in my opinion and has a hell of a lot of honours to his name. He has been more successful than o''niell and has proven himself in England. He is better than anyone else we could have chosen, Mac Donald has no previous prem experience and when you look at the other options such as Sven or Curbs he has got to be ten times better than either of these. I think all Villa fans should stop being so fickle, get over o''niell and just get behind Houllier and the team.

Posted 23:48 8th September 2010

Ryan Orr (Liverpool fan) says...

Houllier is a great appointment. Look what he done for stevie G and Jamie Carragher''s carreers. Made a few dodgy signings, but look who he brought in, Hyypia, Hamman, Henchoz, Babbel and Gary Mac. Could do wonders for Gabby, Ireland, Downing and co. Good luck Gerard, and good luck Villa.

Posted 23:45 8th September 2010

Robert Tams (Liverpool fan) says...

Roy Clewes (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan) says... No good at Liverpool No good at Villa No good in English football What are you talking about? The man did wonders at Liverpool, winning a lot of silverware in his time here. Let''s not forget Rafa used Gerard''s squad to win the Champions League also. Get a clue!

Posted 23:41 8th September 2010

Emer Shovlin (Aston Villa fan) says...

i am a massive Villa fan like everyone else i was shocked and dissapointed to see O''Neill go but we have got to move on maybe there were better manager choices out there but look at what Houlier did at Lverpool before you start trowing stones and calling him names which i think is a disgrace to call yourself a Villa fan and start being nasty to him give him a chance to prove himself if he fails then unstandbly you can voice your opinion remember we are all equals in this world so no one is better or worse than anyone else

Posted 23:37 8th September 2010

Stuart Willcox (Aston Villa fan) says...

This is a disaster, he is so far out of the loop of English football it is untrue, but as usual a business man thinks he knows more than he so called football advisors, well done RL.................and you want a return on your investment..............remind me how are going to do this with this clown ! A very poor mans Wenger !

Posted 23:35 8th September 2010

Lewis Tyler says...

I think this could be very good for Aston Villa. I think some fans really underestimate his standing as a manager in the game. He has vast experience of many elements of the game from management to directorship at higher levels. I really don''t know what these "better canditates" are. All those who interviewed clearly didn''t do well enough and everyone else was taken. Jol was not leaving Ajax, he explained why when he turned down Fulham. As for this nonsense about him selling all the British players to bring in foreigners. He couldn''t even do that if he wanted to and with his experience in youth development, I''d have though Villa fans would be more optimistic about what he could bring to our own youth system. If we are to move on, we need new ideas and he should have plenty. As for knocking some of his previous signings 10 years ago, I don''t recall all of MON''s being stellar either. It happens. Lets give Gerard a chance!

Posted 23:16 8th September 2010

Kamaal Abdi (Chelsea fan) says...

He is a fantastic manager gerard can do well i wish him all the best

Posted 23:02 8th September 2010
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