Gerard Houllier is looking forward to the ‘tremendous challenge’ of trying to take Aston Villa to the next level (9/1 Premiership Top 4 Finish) after the club confirmed him as their new manager.
The 63-year-old former Liverpool manager will return to the Premier League following a six-year absence after ending his current position as technical director for the French Football Federation. And Houllier he is now aiming to carry on helping Villa progress from Martin O’Neill’s reign in which time he guided them to a regular top-six finish and Europa League football.
Houllier said in a statement: “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 [French Football Federation].
“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.”
It is not known who will become Houllier’s assistant after his former Liverpool number two Phil Thompson ruled himself out of the running in order to stay working as a television pundit.
The future of Kevin MacDonald, who took over as caretaker manager when O’Neill quit Villa a month ago, is also uncertain as Houllier might want to bring his own backroom team in to Villa Park.
However Villa are delighted to have secured Houllier’s services with chief executive Paul Faulkner revealing that the Frenchman met their requirements of managing a Premier League club and having ‘a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our current squad’.
He added: “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.
“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 first game at the Villa helm will be on Monday when they travel to face Stoke City (Stoke 7/5, Villa 9/5, Draw 9/4 – 90 Minutes) in the Premier League at the Britannia Stadium.
Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.