24 May 2004

Liverpool parts company with Houllier

The Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has parted company with the club after six years in the Anfield hotseat.

Twelve days after securing the league's final Champions League place, Liverpool announced at a press conference today that Houllier was to move on by mutual agreement.

The Frenchman told reporters that he would have been happy to continue on in the job, but he decided to move on as the "excessive pressure" put on both he and the board would have affected the players going into next season.

"I thought it could jeopardise their performances and achievements and that is why we agreed to come to this decision. The club comes first. As I have said many times, I am not here for myself," he said.

"There is no bitterness today but there is huge sadness. I will always remain a fan."

Among those tipped to take over are Charlton's Alan Curbishley and Rafael Benitez of Valencia. Martin O'Neill is still in the running according to the bookies, but commentators believe that he is not under consideration.

The former French international manager, who had life-saving surgery following a heart attack in October 2001, said that he was "in good shape", and his departure was "in no way down to health reasons". Houllier added that he was still enjoying his football and would not be retiring from the game.

Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry said that this was not a day for "anger, recrimination or speculation" – it was a day for "dignity and respect".

"We always said we would review our position at the end of the season and that is what we have now done. Although we have reached the Champions League, that is a minimum standard and not a goal. For a variety of reasons the Board decided that change was necessary if we were to realistically challenge for the title next season," he said.

"Gerard changed things off the pitch too, bringing back both our pride and self-respect and instilling discipline and professionalism throughout the club.

"Whatever has happened today, he will always be a friend of the club and welcome at Anfield. Now we start the search for a new manager - today is the end of a chapter and tomorrow the start of another."

During his six-year tenure, Houllier led the Reds to six trophies. The 2000-2001 season was Houllier's best, as Liverpool captured the Eufa Cup, the FA Cup and the Worthington Cup – the Reds took the League Cup again in 2003. Liverpool also qualified for Europe three times, and won 50 European games and lost only seven. He has also been awarded the Legion D'Honour and the OBE for his services to football.

However, Houllier's signings and tactics have come under fire from supporters. On the field, many supporters complained that Liverpool lacked the passion and attacking guile the side had once been renowned for.

Since 1998, over £120 million was spent on around 30 players. Houllier was responsible for creating, arguably, the league's most formidable centre back pairing in Sami Hyppia and Stephane Henchoz. The signing of Dietmar Hamman from Newcastle in 1999 was also a success. But many players – like Traore, Camara, Pongolle, Diao, Diouf, Cheyrou, Abel Xavier and Nick Barmby - simply did not make the grade.

(gmcg)