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Houllier forced to call time on management career

Gerard Houllier celebrates victory after the final whistle © PA Photos

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Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has admitted his management career is over, as he continues to recover from the chest pains that forced him to quit Aston Villa last season.

Houllier, who required open-heart surgery while manager at Anfield in 2001, returned to the Premier League to take over from Martin O'Neill as Aston Villa manager in September last year - but was forced from the sidelines in April due to a re-emergence of problems with his heart, leaving him unable to oversee another game before agreeing to leave in June.

The Frenchman reveals he is still not fully recovered from the scare even now, and admits in order to try and preserve his long-term health he will never return to the dugout.

"I've got to admit the fact that, probably, I won't go back into management," Houllier told talkSPORT. "I'm practically 85 per cent. I'm still getting there. I need maybe a couple of months.

"It was the dissection of the descending aorta and it was probably not as urgent but it's a bad thing.

"Obviously, the profession that I used to have was not the best to keep in good health because of what I have."

Houllier, who previously had a technical role with the France FA but will now concentrate on punditry work, was the subject of criticism from one of his former players last week, with Gabby Agbonlahor bemoaning his management and questioning assistant manager Gary McAllister's training methods.

"I was a bit surprised that one of the players was having a go at his training sessions," Houllier said. "Because, truly, he is a modern, very up-to-date and very good coach.

"In fact, some players really improved. We could see some progress in Ashley Young and Stewart Downing in the way they played and the way they even increased their technical abilities."

Downing moved to Liverpool in the summer, and Houllier believes his former club have the ability to qualify for the Champions League this season - despite a 4-0 humbling against Tottenham on Sunday.

"I think they'll finish in the top four," he said. "I believe in them. Don't forget Steven Gerrard is not playing and, when he comes back, he'll make a difference."

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