Premier League - Villa close to appointing Houllier

PA Sport - Sun, 05 Sep 12:21:00 2010

Aston Villa hope to appoint Gerard Houllier as successor to Martin O'Neill in the next 48 hours.

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Houllier is spending the weekend deciding whether to return to Premier League management after a six-year absence. He has emerged as the number one option for Villa owner Randy Lerner who is keen to make an appointment sooner rather than later.

Houllier was interviewed for the post last week - along with the likes of care-taker boss Kevin MacDonald and former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley.

The indications are former Liverpool boss Houllier would not be against joining Villa in a traditional managerial type of role, but reserve team chief MacDonald's coaching skills are highly rated by Lerner - and the Villa players - and he could have a role with the first team.

Houllier gave little away on his future when questioned after attending Jamie Carragher's testimonial at Anfield on Saturday. He is currently France's technical director but has come under fire after their disappointing World Cup campaign and may welcome a change.

There have been question marks raised over Houllier's health after he suffered heart problems during the latter part of his time with Liverpool, but he has apparently assured Villa they would have no cause for concern in this direction.

Lerner wants to bring a new manager in sooner rather than later to give them time with the players when they return from international duty before the match at Stoke on September 13.

Houllier, who was 63 last week, left Anfield six years ago and has been employed as his country's technical director since parting company with Lyon in 2007. He led the Reds to a UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001.

Villa believe he has the resume to keep them progressing in the right direction after three successive top six finishes in the Barclays Premier League.

Houllier also enjoyed title success with Paris St Germain and spent a decade overseeing the development of French football before moving to Liverpool.

PA Sport

Comment 18 - 37 of 37

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  1. Firstlt, Martin O'Neil not talented - wake up. The­ guy saved the club after the disaster that was David­ O' Leary or have you forgotten the before and the­ after - Let me remind you O'Leary destroyed the­ talented youth set-up and took Villa to the brink of­ relegation. O'Neill took Villa to three consecutive­ top six finishes and a return to European football.­ Fact. And as for Houllier being not talented I think­ you will find he won was it five or six trophies during­ his time at Liverpool and a cup treble. Anyone who­ thinks he disappointed in France should check his­ record for Lyon where I think you will find he won two­ titles - as for the World Cup shambles the only­ disgrace for France was a manager who was past it and­ super rich glory boy players who think they are bigger­ than their country.

    So, here and now I say that­ Houllier would be good for Villa and as a Villa fan of­ some 35 years I say if he does accept we get fully­ behind him.

    From rees_70, on Mon 6 Sep 8:01PM

  2. Why does it always have to be a foreign man - Villa­ have prided themselves on having plenty of UK­ players.
    There must be somebody from home waters that­ could do the job?

    From debbie, on Mon 6 Sep 3:02PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Villa are pish

    From Melvin W, on Mon 6 Sep 1:30PM

  4. Let's be honest, the PL six years ago as compared­ to today is 2 different dimension altogether. Back­ then, the rest of the league had to only fight the big­ 4 - and he was in charge of one of them.. Now, the­ teams have to compete against blood money (from the­ increasing sale of oil prices at the livihood of every­ human being's expense), and Houllier is not even in­ charge of any big 4 teams... My verdict is still out on­ Houllier... the least he can do, to even prove himself­ a still capable coach/manager, is to lead villa to at­ least an improvement in league standings or even win­ the barest minimum cup - the league cup.

    The only­ respite he has is that he has got a club without much­ financial worries... that's about all

    From Everything is connected to a Bar Bee, on Mon 6 Sep 1:17PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    homer simpson got interviewed for the villa joby! he­ is the runner-up to get the hot seat ! looking forward­ to that

    From jonny be good, on Mon 6 Sep 12:32PM

  6. Post # 35.

    ""be good for villa, was bad at­ liverpool done well in­ france""

    Was bad at­ Liverpool?

    F.A Cup?

    UEFA Cup?

    2 x League­ Cups?

    European Super Cup?

    Premier League Runners­ Up?

    That's "bad"?

    Aston Villa would­ LOVE to have had a record like that at any time these­ last 25 years.

    Houllier also took Liverpool to within­ 4 minutes of a Champiosn League semi final in 2002.

    If­ that's "bad" then it says alot about the­ mentality of modern armchair so called football fans.

    From Kim, on Mon 6 Sep 11:51AM

  7. As a Liverpool fan i have only praise for Houllier. 2­ League cups an FA Cup, a Uefa Cup, European Super Cup­ and was sacked for finishing 4th. Houllier built are­ team that Rafa won the Champions League with the­ following season with the exception of Alonso and­ Garcia. He will be a great manager for Aston Villa and­ i really wish him well if he gets the job. He is a top­ manager who got Liverpool from 6 trophyless seasons to­ treble winners in 2001. I hope he gets the job, it will­ be great to see him back in the premier league.

    From Mark L, on Mon 6 Sep 11:49AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    There is only one Frenchman worthy of the villa job­ step forward Raymond Domenach

    From macca, on Mon 6 Sep 11:04AM

  9. be good for villa, was bad at liverpool done well in­ france

    From R, on Mon 6 Sep 10:04AM

  10. Owen played his best years under this guy. Villa should­ bring both of them.

    From justin, on Mon 6 Sep 8:20AM

  11. its goot for Villa. MON will be hard to replace, but­ they have to start somewhere...

    From Mr. Villas Boas, on Mon 6 Sep 7:57AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Please Houllier keep them in the bottom half.

    From Jagged Face, on Mon 6 Sep 4:45AM

  13. Donney Mcclain are you a spak

    From upthevilla, on Mon 6 Sep 1:41AM

  14. @KucaKucai - Which young players did he bring in that­ are in the starting 11? Ashley Young and that's­ about it! All the rest, Albrighton, Abonglahore, Clarke­ etc.. were all from the Villa youth squad. He did bring­ in a few good players, but he also bought in a lot of­ dross which is bench warming at the moment - some of­ them don't even make the @#$% bench!

    Face facts,­ MON was not really talented in the old Transfer­ department.

    From Steve, on Mon 6 Sep 1:35AM

  15. i heard a rumour today learner has interviewed keegan

    From buddy, on Mon 6 Sep 12:06AM

  16. Villa fans must be delighted

    From thomas, on Sun 5 Sep 11:45PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    treble? 2 tin pots and the spawniest champions league­ vistory ever?

    From Chris, on Sun 5 Sep 11:33PM

  18. "there may be rouble ahead, but while there's­ moonlight and music and love and romance, let's­ face it lerner, you f^cked up!"
    Houllier, could­ be the next O'Leary if he improves alot.

    From kopite, on Sun 5 Sep 9:34PM

  19. after make a disater in france he come in england no­ houiller

    From bnn, on Sun 5 Sep 9:08PM

  20. Almost feel sorry for Villa. At least you won't­ have to get beat down by Rapid Vienna in the qualifying­ round of the Europa League next you as you won't­ even finish in the top 10.

    From Olly, on Sun 5 Sep 8:44PM
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