Football: French coach Gérard Houllier died at 73 (former clubs)

Frenchman Gérard Houllier, in 2019. AFP - LOIC VENANCE

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

4 min

Gérard Houllier died on December 14, 2020 at the age of 73.

A modest player, the Frenchman made himself known above all as a successful coach, whether at the head of Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais (France) or Liverpool (England).

His time at the head of the France team was especially marked by the non-qualification of the Blues for the 1994 World Cup.

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He was one of the few French football coaches to have won abroad.

This December 14, 2020, Gérard Houllier died, a few days after having undergone an operation on the aorta.

The native of Thérouanne (northern France) was a modest amateur midfielder during the 1970s. But, as a technician, he gradually rose through the ranks.

First, by leading small clubs in his region, such as Le Touquet AC and US Nœux-les-Mines.

Then by accessing one of the flagship clubs of the North and even of the country.

An RC Lens (1982-1985) which he drives in the European Cup.

Convinced by the quality of his work, the management of Paris Saint-Germain entrusted him with its first team.

Under his leadership, PSG thus managed to win the title of champion of France in its first (1985-1986).

Cataclysm at the head of the France team

If he was dismissed by the Parisian club during the 1987-1988 season, he bounced back quite quickly.

He was assistant to Henri Michel, then above all to Michel Platini, coach of the France team from 1988 to 1992. A period marked by good results in friendlies and in qualifying but which ended with a bad Euro 1992 (elimination in the 1st round).

The French Federation (FFF) then decided to give him the Blues, with a view to qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. A campaign without a hitch until a staggering double defeat at home against Israel and Bulgaria which deprived the French selection of the Global in the United States.

Furious, Gérard Houllier designates one of his players, David Ginola, as responsible for the fatal setback against the Bulgarians.

But he resigned after this humiliating failure and focused on his position as National Technical Director and coach of France's youth teams.

A comeback for Gérard Houllier and Liverpool

After this period of transition, surprise, in 1998, Gérard Houllier crossed the Channel to manage one of the most legendary clubs in the world: Liverpool.

The English club quickly crossed the desert since the early 1990s. The Reds are therefore counting on their new strong man to find the heights.

During the next six years, he did not completely succeed in the English Championship, facing fierce competition from Manchester United and Arsenal.

Nevertheless, the Liverpuldiens had an exceptional 2000-2001 season, with five titles (including the UEFA Cup, ancestor of the Europa League) and a Ballon d'Or for their star player Michael Owen.

A rebound in Lyon

In 2004, the adventure ended with Liverpool.

After a break of a few months, where he played television consultants, Gérard Houllier found a sideline: that of an Olympique Lyonnais (OL) then in full domination of French football.

With OL, he chained the national titles and narrowly misses the qualification for the semi-finals of the Champions League 2005-2006 against AC Milan.

At the end of the 2006-2007 season, he left Lyon and found a DTN position at the FFF.

A complicated period during which he accompanies the failures of Raymond Domenech, the coach of the France team during a bad Euro 2008 and a cataclysmic 2010 World Cup (Knysna strike, in particular).

In 2010, Gérard Houllier decided to leave his post.

He found work in England on the side of Aston Villa.

But the adventure came to an end and Gérard Houllier, who had notably experienced heart problems in the past, put his career on hold.

A deep mark on French football

Subsequently, Gérard Houllier mainly occupied supervisory positions, including that of advisor to Olympique Lyonnais.

His contribution to French football is measured by the many messages of condolence relayed on social networks.

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