Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has died

Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has died. He was 73.

Houllier also had stints in charge of Aston Villa, Lyon, and PSG, and was manager of the French national side.

The Frenchman arrived in Liverpool in 1998, initially as joint-manager alongside Roy Evans before taking sole charge in the November of that year.

He steered the club to an FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup treble in 2000/01 and reclaimed the League Cup two years later.

French media said that Houllier underwent aortic aneurysm surgery three weeks ago and was discharged from Paris hospital and returned home yesterday.

“We are mourning the passing of our treble-winning manager, Gerard Houllier,” the Premier League champions said on Twitter.

“The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with Gerard’s family and many friends. Rest in peace, Gerard Houllier 1947-2020.”

Houllier left day-to-day management after departing Villa in 2011, and more recently worked as the head of global football for the Red Bull group which owns RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg, and the New York Red Bulls, as well as advising Lyon.

Houllier had suffered with heart complications during his career.

In October 2001, he fell ill at half-time during Liverpool’s match against Leeds and was diagnosed with an aortic dissection which required emergency surgery and led to a five-month spell out of the dugout.

Houllier suffered further health problems while with Villa. He was admitted to hospital on April 20 2011 after falling ill, and would not return to work before stepping down by mutual consent on June 1.

Gary Lineker tweeted: "Oh no! Gerard Houllier has passed away. One of football’s smartest, warmest and loveliest people."