Gérard Houllier
In place since last September as head of Aston Villa, Gerard Houllier is expected to no longer coach the Villans starting Wednesday. The French national puts an end to his Premier League adventure due to health problems.
Having suffered a heart attack in late April, Houllier increasingly felt he could no longer lead a team of Aston Villa’s caliber. The Birmingham Mail revealed in one of its columns that Houllier and the club had reached an agreement for the coach to leave by “mutual consent.” Recent medical tests performed on the former Lyon coach supported his decision. These tests indeed showed there was cause for concern.
Gary McAllister, Houllier assistant, said the coach seemed eager to resume his post before learning that the pressures of leading a Premier League team could put tremendous strains on an already fragile health. Houllier had already undergone heart surgery in 2001 when he headed Liverpool, which was the year of the coronation of Reds in the UEFA Cup.
Already absent in the last games of the season, Houllier will further not be able to finish his contract which tied him to Randy Lerner’s club until 2013. At age 63, the native North-Pas de Calais is not yet known whether he will be able to return to coaching. But even if that would occur, there’s little chance he would coach outside France.
An announcement will be made this Wednesday to make Gerard Houllier’s departure official.
