%#!$^$*$ Gerard Houllier Leaves Lyon!!!!

By: Inara | May 25th, 2007

OMG.

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!

/end nonsensical exclamations.

We all knew this was coming, with other managers already abandoning ship across Europe. But now that it’s finally happened, I don’t know whether to jump for joy or freak out.

After being linked with every open job out there (DTN, Austrailian NT, US NT, Newcastle, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, burger flipper, etc), it turns out that Gerard Houllier has handed in his resignation to club president Jean-Michel Aulas.

He had one more year on his Lyon contract, but amidst all the chaos that Lyon has been going through, I guess Houllier decided that he might as well throw in the towel.

There were several indications that this was going to happen, despite the club saying otherwise. Juninho’s sudden proclamation that he wanted Houllier to stay tipped some people off as well.

It was inevitable, really. Too many players and staff were unhappy with his management, and I guess Houllier was tired of fighting with every person inside the club, from Bernard Lacombe down to the players and the ball boys.

Resigning now instead of later means that Lyon can take their time looking for a replacement (though I imagine they have someone lined up already), and this new coach will have the entire summer to get to know his players and help plan the transfers. This also means that many players tipped to exit the Stade de Gerland this summer may change their minds, as most of the drama was with Houllier.

Le Divorce, part deux.

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I’m not Houllier’s biggest fan, but he has brought a lot to Lyon. Under his management, Lyon won two more domestic titles even more impressively than before, were CdL finalists, and were in the quarterfinals and the round of 16 in the Champions League.

For any other manager, this is an impressive prize list, but after Lyon’s early exit from the only competition that mattered (the CL), everything spiraled downhill, not just for Houllier but for the players. Coupled with the pressure of working with a man like Bernard Lacombe, Lyon’s “Special Adviser,” I imagine Houllier decided that he had enough. He’s the third Lyon manager to leave since the club began dominating the league.

I wish Houllier the best of luck, as I know he has a lot of options.

So who do you think will be the next OL manager?

Category: Jean-Michel Aulas, People, Team News and Rumors, Transfers

Tags: Bernard Lacombe, Gerard Houllier, Jean-Michel Aulas, Lyon, People, Team News and Rumors, Transfers

« Juninho (FINALLY) Extends His Contract | Home | Who Will Replace Houllier? »

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Comments  

• Chris |  May 25th, 2007 at 8:29 am

  
  
  

  Houllier leaving is a good thing. Ask Liverpool how it turned out for them.

  My money’s on Didi Deschamps.

  Posted from United States

  

• Joffrey |  May 25th, 2007 at 10:26 am

  
  
  

  Claude Puel (Lille’s Manager) is often quote in the sport press, in here. But Michel Seydoux (Lille’s president) said today that the departure of Houiller will have no consequences on his club. I guess Didier Deschamps will stay at Juventus… So, we’ll probably have a foreigner coach…
  Why not Sven Goran Eriksson ??? I know he’s searching a club to manage, even in France… But I’m not sure Aulas/Lacombe/Eriksson is something possible…
  Wait & See !
  I’ll be tomorrow at Gerland… that will be an extraordinary match… the last play of many people !

  Posted from France

  

• Mat |  May 25th, 2007 at 10:42 am

  
  
  

  Houiller really helped improve the tactical level of the team, but his management of the players have been not so good…always the same starting team (even when the mondialists like Malouda were really tired…)…and the atmosphere since January…
  For the next one:
  Deschamps states that Juventus was his priority, Claude Puel doesn’t seem interested to leave Lille…so I think that Alain Perrin (he was already announce after Santini left) would be pick up because Aulas wants announce the next manager before the end of the next week…

  Posted from United States

  

• Chris |  May 25th, 2007 at 11:04 am

  
  
  

  ‘Twas inevitable….

  http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may25o.html

  To clear it up I wasn’t referring to the tactical Houllier, I was referring more to the player management Houllier that won’t be missed.

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  May 25th, 2007 at 11:18 am

  
  
  

  I think a lot of the unhappiness started with the Cacapa situation and the way Houllier handled that. There were rumors of Brazilian discontent, but it also affected many of the other players. Cacapa was a well loved player at the club, in fact he was the captain, and Houllier just kind of pushed him out. Didn’t even give him a chance. Obviously Squillaci is better than he is, but Cacapa could have still have played more than he has this year.

  Then the way the mercato was handled – both Fabio Santos and Baros, neither of which were really wanted but purchased on a whim (like Diarra). Lacombe had a role in all this too. The players are closer to Lacombe, who empathizes with them more, and before anyone realized it, there were factions in the dressing room.

  And when Clerc admitted in an interview a while back that the players “smiled less”…It was ultimately going to be Houllier or the players.

  But I don’t know if Deschamps is the answer. He’s having the same problems at Juventus that Houllier is having at Lyon, and I can see DD continuing Houllier’s battle with Lacombe. Puel is also too independent.

  I also think Perrin is the best bet. Aulas admitted today that he was still following his progress, and that great European experience wasn’t a necessary qualification for the post (more on that later).

  Joffrey: You are sooo lucky to be there tomorrow. I can’t even watch the match because it’s not being broadcast here.

  Posted from United States

  

• Joffrey |  May 25th, 2007 at 11:24 am

  
  
  

  Marcello Lippi seems to be the favorite, now ! wow wow wow Lippi is a bad souvenir for me, and all FFF (french footballs fans)

  Posted from France

  

• Corey |  May 25th, 2007 at 12:54 pm

  
  
  

  I like Puel, but he is unlikely. Perrin is my tip, he plays attacking football, my only thing is he signs really strange players, they usually gel into decent teams except for Portsmouth (eeek). The thing is, Lyon signs quality players, not journey men, so if he signs strong players and promoted the youth team I will be happy. European domination is inevitable if we keep up like this, be patient.

  Posted from United States

  

• Thomas |  May 25th, 2007 at 2:13 pm

  
  
  

  Lippi is being said to be the current favourite, and according to L’Equipe he tried to contact Lacombe on his own. I’m for.

  I’ll be there too tomorrow and ready to clap both Ged and Claudio as loud as I can.

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  May 25th, 2007 at 4:03 pm

  
  
  

  Here is an article (in Italian) saying that DD has already resigned and will most likely come to Lyon while Lippi will takeover at Juve. Don’t know how reliable it is though. However, the Juventus Offside blog hasn’t reported anything.

  Posted from United States

  

• Laurie |  May 25th, 2007 at 4:14 pm

  
  
  

  Where’s Martha when you need her? Her ability to suss out anything Italian is uncanny. (She even understands Google translations.)

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  May 25th, 2007 at 6:18 pm

  
  
  

  I just checked her blog and she says she’ll be gone for a few days. *cries*

  Just when things are heating up! With both DD and Lippi linked with Lyon, it looks like the club might land a foreign trainer (though I still think it might be Perrin).

  Posted from United States

  

• Chris |  May 25th, 2007 at 6:43 pm

  
  
  

  Didi just resigned. He’ll coach tomorrow then clean out his office. I wish I had bet on this.

  http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may26f.html

  Posted from United States

  

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