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Thoughts on Houllier

July 4th, 2006 | By: Matt | 23 Comments »

It has been known for a long time now that Gerard Houllier is at the top of the FFA’s list of managers to take over the Australian head coaching role. However, now that our World Cup is over and Hiddink has left for Russia, the real discussion will begin. There were articles published in British newspapers yesterday saying that Houllier had already been signed. The FFA quickly made it public that this wasn’t in fact the case and nothing had been agreed. Though nothing has been confirmed as yet, there is talk amongst football circles that there are better options out there to lead Australia. The prospect that Houllier will in fact become our manager is quite possible with the FFA stating nothing has been completed ‘yet’.

For those who are unaware of Houllier’s pedigree, his career boosting performance at a managerial level and that which he is acclaimed for is his role as technical director at France when they won the World Cup in 1998. Prior to this he had spent seasons at PSG in France and won the U-19 Football Championship with the French side.

His work in helping France to World Cup glory led Liverpool to sign him as their manager the same year. His best performance at Liverpool was most notably the treble of the FA Cup, Uefa Cup, and League Cup. Houllier left Liverpool in 2004 due to poor results, poor purchases in the transfer market, and discontent from the fans. In 2005 he took over top French club Lyon and since he has been there he has won the French title each year. Many people put this down to the already set foundations at Lyon and prior purchases as a reason for their success rather than Houllier himself. Lyon was already league champions before Houllier’s arrival.

While Houllier has proven he can producing a winning side, myself among many believe that Hiddink’s shoes are too big for Houllier to fill. Some feel that the huge pay packet required to lure Houllier to Australia could be better spent elsewhere on someone who can do just as good job at half the price. Others believe Houllier is simply not up to the task of taking the reins and building on the foundations Hiddink has set.

Are we on the right track with Houllier, should we be looking elsewhere, or is the answer in our own backyard?

Tags: Australia, Coaches, Gerard Houllier, Guus Hiddink

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Comments

By BOB | July 4th, 2006 at 8:26 am

pop

Posted from Australia

By BOB | July 4th, 2006 at 8:28 am

sorry, just a male instinct to be the first one to comment…hahaha

i think the australian team in general has learnt a massive amount from Guus…it will be interesting to see how they use it, and if Houllier can build on it.

Posted from Australia

By Diane | July 4th, 2006 at 9:02 am

Why did Guus have to go?

Posted from Japan

By Matt | July 4th, 2006 at 9:11 am

He was only signed short term for the World Cup. He was offered a contract with Russia and took it.

Posted from Australia

By John Howard | July 4th, 2006 at 9:23 am

you see, that is why I changed the industrial relations laws to suit employers. i was trying to prevent Guus from signing for Russia.

but the unions got involved and now we’ve lost Guus. blame it on the unions.

PS: stop chucking sickies to watch the games, or else i’ll change more laws to sack the lot of you!

Posted from Australia

By AF | July 4th, 2006 at 9:45 am

A big sticking point for me as regards Houllier goes to these protracted reported negotiations. It just seems to me that he doesn’t really want the job here. Surely the last thing we want to do is get someone whose heart just isn’t in it by offering them a large enough paycheque.

Posted from Australia

By Hector | July 4th, 2006 at 9:54 am

FFA were looking to get Houllier before we got Guus. We didn’t get him then, what’s changed that he now wants to do the job? More money? Most likely. That’s not the guy you want running the national team program.

I don’t know what the answer is, but I’m pretty sure it’s not Houllier.

Posted from Germany

By Matt | July 4th, 2006 at 10:53 am

Yeah that is a fair point.

Posted from Australia

By troy | July 4th, 2006 at 11:31 am

if australia is going to move forward from this cup they need a coach that will demand 100% commitment from his squad like hiddink did. before hiddink kewell and viduka only would play in the big game against the south american sides and arrive only 3 days before the games. this time hiddink demanded his squad and they came and played against the soloman islands as well. to me that was outstanding. houlier must demand that if you want to play with australia you must be willing to play and make yourself available as often as possible regardless of where you are playing in the world. you must put the jumper before your club. every other top ranked country (excluding brazil which has an old aussie attitude to squads) has a top line squad nearly every game. asia 2007 should be the goal and be engrained into every australian football player that we should win it. i think houllier should be that man as long as he isnt just bringing his name only. the ffa must demand a good showing in asia for him to continue and not sit on the name.

Posted from Australia

By simon | July 4th, 2006 at 11:43 am

Question - Can anyone tell me what Big Phil Scolari is doing after this world cup, that’s after he gets Portugal their maiden world cup title ? Wouldn’t he make agood coach. Last time i heard he refused the Poms’ offer. That’s a nice attitude for starters.

Posted from India

By Toast | July 4th, 2006 at 12:02 pm

simon:

Apparently, he will be preparing Portugal for the Euro

Posted from Portugal

By marco | July 4th, 2006 at 1:00 pm

Ok first of all why is every one saying that the next coash has huge shoes to fill?? What because Australia won the WC or got to the semis or somehintg like that?? Gimme a break, he got them to the second round.

With regard to Houllier, i dont think hes that good. I could be wriong but i think he won the champions league with Liverpool, but that was a complete fluke (just like wnen the greeks won Euro). And with france in 98 he was an assistant coach or waht ever so that does not count. And as foer Lyon well its the same thing as going to coach PSG .. i mean any coach can win the title at thoes clubs .. I mean lyon has won 9 out of the past 10 league cups (so just shows how any one can do it) … I think the 4 men australia should put the money down for is either Ancheloti (AC MILAN), CAPELLO (JUVETUS) jose Murinio, or how ever you spell it (ChEALSE) or Venger (ARSENAL) .. personally i think Murinio should go to italy after the WC .. but Australia should get Venger, because is is the best in the world at spotting out young talent and making them into champions .. and seeing that 80% or more of the present team wont be going to the next WC (Due to retirement, age and being no good any more) he is the best man for it, as Australia is lacking in new young talent and hes the man who could go aroun Australia, find the nations 40 best players and hopefully develop 20 of them to be top breed players and beeing good to play in eurpoes top teams and therefore creating a strong starting 11.

Posted from Australia

By marco | July 4th, 2006 at 1:05 pm

Also Hector .. why do you think hiddink coached Australia for .. you think he really cared for the country or did it to earn a little more (I mean at the time they appointed him his club team was in champions league and was looking at winnign the league title again)

Posted from Australia

By Matt | July 4th, 2006 at 1:20 pm

marco, Benitez won the Champions League with Liverpool.

As for the managers you mentioned, Mourinho, Wenger, Capello etc, they are not realistic options.

Capello is likely to go to Real Madrid within the next few weeks.

Posted from Australia

By Kevin K | July 4th, 2006 at 1:29 pm

I would prefer Martin O’Neill over Houllier.

Posted from Australia

By marco | July 4th, 2006 at 1:35 pm

Matt why are they not realistic options … clearly my post makes sense and if the head of the FFA has any brains he will put inbig money to get one of thoes coaches .. .. i mean the FFA got like a couple mill just for going to the second round co i think they have the money, but in football in australia they like to waste there money on buying players like York who do nothing for the sport (and mind you i think he signed a multi million dollar deal) and is career is over as well .. so as i said on my post Wenger is the best option for Australia

Posted from Australia

By troy | July 4th, 2006 at 1:48 pm

all i ask is the ffa dont let someone walk all over them. they should only have a performance based contract and not do a straight 4 year deal. because i think the only reason hiddink agreed to coach was for the dollars and it was convenience. he is a good coach dont get me wrong and he was good for proffesionalising the national team and bringing them up to world standard. but we need a coach that will hang around and do the job required and not use player absences and rebuilding as excuses if we have poor performances. if houlier isnt available for another year too me its a waste of time if we sign him and wait around for a year, we should find a coach who is available now who meets the international experience the ffa desire. waiting a year for a name is too risky and could damage chances for the asia cup next year. as a growing team we need to push for recognition in asia now and try and win an asian title to be taken seriously when the next world cup comes around. the sooner a winning culture is developed the better soccer in australia will be.

Posted from Australia

By troy | July 4th, 2006 at 1:59 pm

i think wenger would be a good coach. that was sydney fc who bought york. not the ffa. i would rather not have a league dominated by foreigners playing but have foreigners coaching. the more aussie players playing in the a league the better our development will be. especially experienced european/south american coaches who can develope skillful sides. no need for has-beens in the new league. i think a cap on number of international players would be benificial otherwise i can just see the league playing mostly second rate foreigners and has-beens who can no longer cut it in the european leagues and turn into a second rate premier league.

Posted from Australia

By DT | July 4th, 2006 at 6:04 pm

Houllier’s the coach who failed to bring France to the 1994 World Cup.

Liverpool was such a boring team to watch when Houllier was the manager. Houllier likes defensive football. This will not suit us.

We need someone who likes attacking football. We need another Dutch coach. Do we have the budget to bring in Frank Rijjkard or Louis Van Gaal?

Posted from Australia

By Maverick | July 5th, 2006 at 2:30 pm

if u want a coach to create some attacking football in a team than i say we should go for the german coach Klinsmann.
germany play compleetely differently this world cup to the way they played in 2002

Posted from Australia

By Tuan | July 6th, 2006 at 3:18 am

Scolari’s contract with Portugal expires this month. Get him! His track record is better than Houlier’s!

Posted from Australia

By aussie | July 7th, 2006 at 2:38 am

MARCO, I LOVE YOUR POSTS. ITS LIKE SPECIALS KIDS THAT CANT READ OR WRITE.

Posted from Australia

By Livostrikesback | July 26th, 2006 at 5:59 am

Houllier is hopeless no offence to the FFA. Should try and get another dutchman if possible, everyone knows they produce the best coaches and Hiddink proved that they fit in beautifully with Australian culture and spirit as well.

Posted from Australia

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