Gerrard backs Houllier for Irish job

It was fitting that Steven Gerrard chose Paris to throw his weight behind those calling for his former manager Gerard Houllier to replace Steve Staunton as the manager of the Republic of Ireland.

The Frenchman, 60, has refused to comment on the link with the Irish job but is thought to be keen on the idea and the FAI will be interested to hear such a leading figure in the game giving his old boss a glowing reference in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower yesterday.

Gerrard agrees that Houllier taking sole charge of Liverpool in the closing stages of 1998 was a situation not dissimilar with the current state of the Irish national team and the England midfielder believes Houllier is an ideal candidate to inject new life into a team that failed miserably to qualify for next year’s European Championships in Austria and Switzerland.