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Ex-Liverpool coach Houllier dies at 73
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Former France manager Gerard Houllier, who rebuilt Liverpool from English Premier League underachiever into a cup treble winning side in 2001, has died aged 73, his former club said yesterday.
RMC sport and sports daily L鈥橢quipe said Houllier, who also coached Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique Lyonnais and Aston Villa, died after having a heart operation in Paris.
鈥淲e are mourning the passing of our treble-winning manager, Gerard Houllier,鈥 Liverpool said on Twitter.
鈥淭he thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with Gerard鈥檚 family and many friends. Rest in peace, Gerard Houllier 1947-2020.鈥
Houllier had a long history of heart problems, dating back to when he was rushed to hospital at halftime of an EPL game between Liverpool and Leeds United in 2001.
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who scored two goals to win the 2001 FA Cup final against Arsenal when Houllier was in charge, was among many leading figures in English football to pay tribute to the Frenchman.
Owen wrote on Twitter: 鈥淎bsolutely heartbroken to hear that my old boss, Gerard Houllier, has sadly passed away. A great manager and a genuinely caring man. #RIPBoss鈥
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher added: 鈥淎bsolutely devastated by the news about Gerard Houllier, I was in touch with him only last month to arrange him coming to Liverpool.
鈥淟oved that man to bits, he changed me as a person & as a player & got @LFC back winning trophies. RIP Boss.鈥
After an insignificant playing career in France鈥檚 lower leagues, Houllier began coaching in 1973, earning his first big job with RC Lens before taking over at Paris St Germain.
He became France鈥檚 assistant coach in 1988 and then manager in 1992 but had a short, unsuccessful spell in charge.
He resigned after failing to take the team to the 1994 World Cup in the United States following shock home defeats by Israel and Bulgaria, losing the latter game, which it only needed to draw to qualify, 1-2 after a goal in added time.
Houllier described the defeat by Bulgaria as 鈥渢he most catastrophic scenario imaginable鈥 and focused on youth coaching immediately after the debacle.
He rebuilt his reputation at Liverpool, however, joining as co-manager with Roy Evans in 1998 before assuming full responsibility and leading the team to a treble of the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup in 2001.
Although he was unable to lead the club to the EPL title 鈥 that would have to wait until this year under German coach Juergen Klopp 鈥 Houllier was loved by the Anfield club鈥檚 supporters.
He also had success back in France with Lyon, leading the club to back-to-back Ligue 1 titles.
He returned to management after taking a break in 2010 with Villa but left the role less than a year later following further heart troubles.
More recently, he worked as the head of global football for the Red Bull group, which owns RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls, as well as advising Lyon.
UEFA paid tribute to Houllier at the start of the UEFA Champions League draw in Nyon, Switzerland, yesterday.
鈥淗e greatly contributed to European football,鈥 UEFA deputy secretary general Giorgio Marchetti said. 鈥淥ur thoughts are with his family and the whole of French football in these difficult times.鈥
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