9:16am Thursday 9th September 2010
GERARD HOULLIER admits he found it impossible to turn down the chance to return to the Premier League as Aston Villa’s new manager.
Houllier has resigned as technical director of the French Football Federation (FFF) to take charge of the Midlands club in succession to Martin O’Neill.
The 63-year-old is expected to be unveiled to the media at a press conference in the next 24 hours.
He said: ‘‘I am very happy and proud to join this great and historic club.
‘‘It was a very difficult decision for me to leave the FFF.
‘‘But I could not turn down the opportunity to manage a club whose approach, both on and off the pitch, I have long admired.
‘‘Aston Villa is one of England’s biggest clubs and has an amazing set of fans.
‘‘This is a tremendous challenge and one I am very much looking forward to taking on.’’ Houllier becomes Villa’s 25th manager in their 126-year history – six years after his reign as Liverpool boss ended – and has a hard act to follow in O’Neill, who guided Villa to three consecutive top-six finishes in the Premier League.
The Frenchman is only their second ever foreign manager after Czech Jozef Venglos, who had an ill-fated spell at the club two decades ago.
Houllier fits the bill in terms of having the experience of managing in the Premier League and won a UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001.
But he has enjoyed success throughout his 37-year managerial career with Lens, Paris St German and Lyon.
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