The English club Liverpool FC paid tribute on its Twitter account to Gérard Houllier after the announcement of his death at the age of 73, on Monday. The former coach of the Blues had coached this legendary club, six-time winner of the Champions League. “We mourn the death of our manager who had achieved the treble (in 2001), Gérard Houllier, the statement said. The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with Gerard’s family and many friends. Rest in peace. “
Jürgen Klopp, in an interview with “L’Equipe”, paid tribute to the career and the course of the French technician. “He is quite simply one of the legends of Liverpool FC,” said the current Reds coach. Because he is one of the most influential coaches in the history of the club. People are obsessed with trophies, with the winners. But, when we take stock of the passage of a manager in a club, we must also take into account the long-term action, which is not always visible. Gérard was not content to manage the daily life of the team. He had also started a work of transforming Liverpool FC, in the way the team played, but also by launching for example the renovation of Melwood (the LFC training center), which I was able to benefit from in my arrival (in 2015). “
Former international striker Djibril Cissé, who had been recruited by the English club thanks to Houllier before the latter left the Reds, reacted on Twitter. “Coach, Today I am very sad. Thanks to you, I was able to play in this wonderful Liverpool club. Many thanks for everything you have done for me. Peace to your soul. Thank you, Mr. Gérard Houiller. “
A new lease of life in 2001
The French technician left his mark on Liverpool FC. After the victory of the Blues at the 1998 World Cup, Houllier left his post of national technical director (DTN) at the French federation to join the English team which had been dying for ten years. He breathed new life into it during an exceptional year 2001 when Liverpool won the two national cups (the FA Cup and the League Cup) and the UEFA Cup after a success at the end of the suspense in the final against the Spaniards of Alavés ( 5-4 ap).
That same year, he also won two additional trophies with the Charity-Shield and the European Supercup. Gérard Houllier had notably relied on players from the training center such as Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen, Ballon d’Or 2001.
Victim of an aortic dissection on October 13, 2001 during a match against Leeds, the former coach of Lens and PSG must then undergo urgently a major vascular surgery and suspend his duties in Liverpool. During his absence, his assistant Phil Thompson takes over. Houllier made a triumphant return to Anfield a few months later in a Champions League match against AS Roma. That season, his team finished 2nd in the Premier League. Despite another victory in the Coupe de la Ligue in 2003, Gérard Houllier’s adventure with the Reds ended in 2004 at the end of his contract, in particular because of Liverpool’s performance, below expectations.
Article original de: www.leparisien.fr
