The former coach and coach of the France team Gérard Houllier died on the night of Sunday 13 to Monday 14 December, at the age of 73, at his home in Paris, after being hospitalized for a new operation in the aorta, several media reported, information confirmed by two of his former clubs. He had notably managed the Blues from 1988 to 1993. Gérard Houllier had coached prestigious clubs, from Paris-Saint-Germain (1985-1988) to Liverpool (1998-2004) via Olympique Lyonnais (2005-2007).
Born in Thérouanne, in Pas-de-Calais (northern France), Gérard Houllier was never a professional footballer, but he had a remarkable career as a coach and manager of Lens in the 1980s, at Aston Villa at the end of his career, in the early 2010s.
After having worked as a teacher, then as an English teacher, Gérard Houllier first trained the US Nœux-les-Mines team (1976-1982), until the Second National Division, in his native department of Pas-de-Calais.
He subsequently offered Paris-Saint-Germain his first French league title, in 1986. Gérard Houllier also distinguished himself at the head of the Liverpool Reds for his quintuplet, in 2001: UEFA Cup, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup.
“France loses a great trainer”
Houllier was less successful on the benches of the France team, whether as an assistant to Michel Platini from 1988, then as a no 1 in 1992, for only 12 matches at the head of the selection and a historic non-qualification for the 1994 World Cup during the fiasco match between France and Bulgaria in 1993, which will be remembered in all memories: the one in which a goal from Emil Kostadinov deprived the Blues, in the final seconds, at the Parc des Princes, qualifying for the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Gérard Houllier’s name will also remain attached to the French Football Federation, where he served as national technical director (DTN), and to that of Olympique Lyonnais, where he was still advisor to the president, Jean-Michel Aulas. , several years after winning two French league titles as Lyon coach, in 2006 and 2007.
Tributes began to rain after his death, which occurred a few hours after the match Paris-SG – Lyon (0-1), between two of his former clubs. “In shock at this sad news”, wrote on Twitter Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar. “Today I am very sad. Thanks to you, I was able to play in this wonderful Liverpool club. A big thank you for everything you have done for me ”, for his part wrote, on the same social network, the former striker Djibril Cissé.
“With the disappearance of Gérard Houllier, France loses a great trainer, and football, a technician recognized all over the world”, also reacted on Twitter, the French Minister for Sports, Roxana Maracineanu:
With the disappearance of Gérard Houiller, France loses a great coach and football, a technician recognized by… https://t.co/xg4GqzY7M4
