Aston Villa confirm Gerard Houllier as club's new manager

Former Liverpool boss back in Premier League...

8 Sep 2010 20:57:00

More On :  Aston Villa, Gérard Houllier
Gerard Houllier (AFP)
Gerard Houllier has become Aston Villa boss after leaving his post with the French Football Federation [FFF] and replacing Martin O'Neill.

The former Liverpool manager is back in the Premier League six years after leaving Anfield, where he won a cup treble in 2001 - the FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup.
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He told Villa's official website: "I am very happy and proud to join this great and historic club.

"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."

Kevin MacDonald's position at the club has not yet been clarified - the former reserve team manager stepped into caretaker roll for the first team after O'Neill's departure. It is reported that Houllier's former No.2 Phil Thompson has turned down the opportunity to team up with the Frenchman again.

Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner added: "Two of the key qualities which we identified as being of crucial importance in our search for the new manager were experience of managing in the Premier League and a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our current squad, and 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 and 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."

Houllier's last coaching stint in club football was with French giants Lyon in 2007, winning Ligue 1 twice.

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