Best of luck to the man, great to see him back in the prem. He did a great job with us for the first 3 years and then couldnt make the next step. Similar to rafa really, but that is an agument for another day. Best of luck Mr Houllier
Welcome back gerard.Unfortunately his dilemma is much like ours.Keeping his top players from the big spenders ie young agbonlahor and a greedy yank owning the team.Interesting what warnock will make of this I would love him to come back to us.
Mate of mine from Liverpool says this is pure BS as 3/4 of his kids don't even live with him anymore.
Gerard Houllier is yet to finalise his contract with Aston Villa and will not take charge until next week. It is understood that the Frenchman, who agreed to take the reins on Wednesday, still has to tie up a few loose ends before his arrival can be made official. That means he will not be in the dugout for Monday's meeting with Stoke City, as was first anticipated, but will still hold his first press conference at 2pm on Friday afternoon. The former Liverpool boss has shaken hands on a three-year deal with Villa owner Randy Lerner and is arrival is imminent. However, Villa supporters will have to wait until a home date with Bolton on 18th September before seeing their new coach on the touchline. Plans Houllier has returned to English shores six years after leaving Anfield, during which time he has taken in a two-year spell at Lyon and spent three years as the French Football Federation's national coaching director. His absence from proceedings at the Britannia Stadium on Monday means caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald will take charge of his sixth successive game. Houllier is set to meet with MacDonald on Friday to discuss his plans for taking the club forward. He is looking forward to taking the hot-seat, as he spurned several other offers in order to return to the Premier League. Interesting Houllier said: "It was really starting to tickle me. I wanted to go back pitchside. "I had, of course, other proposals but this one seemed to be the most interesting in terms of working conditions and environment. "Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest. "It's a club that according to me has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League. "But, above all, it's a historic club which has won the European Cup. It's a club which has got good infrastructure and a fine team which is after one thing - to improve year on year."
My father in law is a Villa supporter, as is some of the family. They are all not happy with him. Many were big MON advocates it's worth noting.
Going back up in my estimation anyway! Delusions of grandeur from so many clubs, need to be relaistic, just like we are now a 4-5th place team, 6th would be a great season for them.
I can't understand why he is held is such high regard - as a manager he was dreadful. He bought some real rubbish in his time at LFC and let some really good players go. I don't have fond memories of his time here (apart from winning the UEFA cup !!) and think he was always a bit of a bull**it artist. Rant over ....... all the best GH with the Villa, i'm sure they are deelighted ;-)
Gary McAllister has left Boro to become Houllier's assistant at Villa.It's an excellent move for him.