Aston Villa is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former manager Gérard Houllier.
Gérard, who managed the club during the 2010/11 season, has sadly passed away at the age of 73.
The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Gérard’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
Gérard’s spell at the club was relatively brief but he left a lasting impression as manager.
The amiable Frenchman was in charge for less than nine months – seven, if you take into account that he unfortunately missed the end of the 2010/11 campaign following heart problems.
But during that time, Villa briefly challenged for a top-four spot, endured a relegation battle and ultimately finished a respectable ninth in the Premier League.
And apart from the team’s rollercoaster ride, he was also a smashing bloke. As Gary Lineker has said, he was “one of football’s smartest, warmest and loveliest people”.
I wholeheartedly endorse that sentiment. During my time as editor of the Villa News & Record I was a regular visitor to Bodymoor Heath in search of player interviews. On one occasion, Gérard spotted me sitting on a chair, awkwardly tapping away at my laptop.
“You don’t look very comfortable,” he said. “Why don’t you use a desk in one of the offices. In fact, you can use mine.”
I politely declined, simply because I was about to head back to Villa Park, but that thoughtful gesture said everything about the man. He treated everyone with respect, whether you were a player, a coach, a programme editor or a turnstile operator.
Andy “Turnstile” Ullah tells me he borrowed a friend’s camera to take a few snaps at the club Christmas party that year – and Gérard showed him how to use it!
Houllier arrived at Villa at a difficult time. Martin O’Neill had resigned just a few days before the start of the season, with Kevin MacDonald taking over on a caretaker basis for the first few games.
The club turned their attention to the man who had led Liverpool to a League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup treble nine years earlier.
The announcement of Houllier’s appointment was made on September 8, 2010, although his commitments with the French Football Federation meant that it was later in the month before he took charge, with former Liverpool midfielder Gary McAllister arriving as his assistant.
It was a tough period for the club. Villa were hit by a succession of injury problems, mustering only 20 points by the halfway stage. A home defeat by Sunderland in January left them in the relegation zone, and the manager acted swiftly to stop the rot, taking full-back Kyle Walker on loan from Tottenham before smashing Villa’s transfer record for Sunderland striker Darren Bent.
It was a remedy which worked perfectly, Bent scoring the only goal on his debut against Manchester City and netting eight more as Villa not only avoided the drop but secured a top-half finish with wins over Arsenal and Liverpool in the last two matches.
By that stage, sadly, Houllier was no longer in the dugout himself. After overseeing consecutive wins over Newcastle and West Ham, which considerably eased the club’s relegation worries, he was admitted to hospital with heart problems.
McAllister took charge for the final five games and at the start of June, Houllier’s reign as boss came to an end when he stepped down due to his health issues.
He will be fondly remembered by everyone at Villa Park and throughout the footballing world.
Rest in Peace, Gérard.