By FRANCO PANIZO
Aston Villa appears to have found its next manager.
According to reports, former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier will be named as the Villans' coach sometime this week. Currently the French Football Federation's technical director, Houllier most recently coached Lyon in 2005-2007. He also coached Liverpool during a six-year term that ended in 2004.
Houllier will succeed Martin O'Neil, who quit in August, just days before the start of the season.
Here are more stories from Monday:
Kuyt injures shoulder, will miss Euro qualifier
Dirk Kuyt has picked up a shoulder injury and will miss the Netherlands' Euro 2012 qualifier against Finland on Tuesday. Kuyt fell awkwardly in training and may have torn ligaments in his shoulder. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but Kuyt could miss several weeks.
Gomez claims loan to Liverpool was blocked
Bayern Munich forward Mario Gomez claims the club blocked him from a loan move to Liverpool on the final day of the transfer window. Gomez has struggled to cement a place in Bayern's starting eleven, and despite being open to a loan deal, the Bundesliga champions insisted to him that he has a role with the team this season.
Roma rules out Mexes sale
AS Roma has ruled out any potential sale for defender Philippe Mexes as the club looks to sign him to an extension. Mexes' future with the club had been in doubt after he admitted he was unsure about staying, but Roma insists it wants to see the 28-year-old remain.
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What do you think of Houllier as Aston Villa's manager? Still expecting the Netherlands to dispose of Finland? How do you think Gomez would have fared in the EPL? Think Roma should let Mexes go?
Share your thoughts below.
Exactly. Not sure why all the bitter feelings about Houllier from LFC supporters. Rafa won his CL trophy with mostly Houllier’s squad.
Not quite, Paul. They were 7th when he took over and he completely changed the team, won a bunch of trophies and got them up to 2nd before falling off to 5th in his last season.
well think of it this way, his ignorance of Friedel allowed Blackburn to pick him up on the cheap and he turned them into a top table club. I doubt Friedel would have ever enjoyed much success with Liverpool, better that he became a LEGEND at blackburn.
He also transformed Liverpool from a title contender to a useless piece of junk.
And they hack phones.
The bbc is saying that he is heading to wolfsburg, and the link the provide also says schalke and bremen are interested
he sold friedel to blackburn and loaned out warnock to coventry
…if you believe an anonymous source as reported by News of the World.
What’s wrong with Houllier – did Friedel and Warnock have problems with him at Liverpool?
He still has a big jaw?
is there anyone besides Lerner that IS thrilled about Houllier?
Any news on jay?
Apparently Freidel and Warnock are not to thrilled….