BREAKING NEWS: Former Liverpool and Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier dies aged 73 after a long history of medical problems
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has died at the age of 73.
The Frenchman had a long history of medical problems but the cause of his death remains unknown.
A fan favourite at Anfield, Houllier suffered a life-threatening vascular problem during a Premier League match against Leeds in 2001.
He was quickly rushed to hospital and later needed 11 hours of open-heart surgery after suffering a heart conditions known as ‘dissection of the aorta’.
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has sadly died at the age of 73
He led Liverpool to a unique treble in 2000-01, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup
Houllier arrived at Liverpool in the summer of 1998, initially as joint-manager with Roy Evans before taking sole charge just four months later.
He oversaw a major rebuilding of the first-team squad, signing the likes of Sami Hyypia, Dietmar Hamann and Vladimir Spicer.
Houllier’s methods quickly brought rewards as the Reds won a unique treble in 2000-01, as well as a third-place finish in the Champions League.
Gary Lineker was among the first to tweet his sympathies, posting: ‘Oh no! Gerard Houllier has passed away. One of football’s smartest, warmest and loveliest people. #RIPGerard’.
More to follow.
