Gerard Houlier dies

Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has died aged 73. The Frenchman managed the Reds for six years between 1998 and 2004, winning six trophies in total, including a treble in 2001.

RMC, in France, reported that Houllier passed away on Monday morning with the cause of death as of yet unknown. Houllier initially took charge as joint-manager with Roy Evans in an experiment that lasted less than six months before he was given the job outright in November 1998.

The former school teacher was credited with dragging Liverpool into the 21st century with regards to their approach to training and preparation, bringing in more modern techniques that moved the Reds to the cutting edge of the game. Houllier’s best year with the Reds came in the 2000-2001 campaign when he guided them to League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup successes before sealing a place in the Champions League for the following season.

The coach also had a profound impact on the development of a young Steven Gerrard at Anfield, handing him the captain’s armband from Sami Hyypia in 2003 at the age of 23.

Houllier underwent heart surgery in October 2001 after being rushed to hospital midway through a game against Leeds United at Anfield. An 11-hour operation to correct an aortic dissection helped Houllier live a further 19 years after it was claimed he had less than 48 hours prior to the emergency surgery.He would return to manage Liverpool for a further two years after making an emotional comeback to Anfield for a Champions League win over Roma in March 2002.

Houllier left Anfield in the summer of 2004 and went on to manage Lyon and Aston Villa.