Houllier in demand?

April 27th, 2006 | by: Chriso |

Gerard Houllier current Lyon coach and formerly with Liverpool and the French national team is one of the targets for Australia after the World Cup when Guus Hindink leaves his job.

Houllier has one year left on his Lyon contract and is a friend of Frank Lowy , chairman of the Australian FA.

Lowy has said regarding the new Aussie manager ‘we are looking for an internationally renowned coach’, and Houllier has that kind of experience but I can’t see there would be much attraction in the Australia job from a football point of view.

Four years until the next World Cup, the difficulty of getting a squad together when they’re all over Europe and Houllier must believe Lyon have a good chance in next season’s Champions League. From a lifestyle point of view the Australia job could have a lot going for it but I believe Houllier still thinks he can achieve success at the top level in Europe so I can’t see him leaving for down under just yet.

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Houllier’s name was bandied about as Australia’s ‘Director of Football’ before Guus got the job so they’ve scouted him before and not gotten him. After seeing the struggles he had winning anything of note with a semi-talented Liverpool side I don’t really see him doing much with an Aussie team that gets to train together very infrequently. He’s been gifted a Lyon side that’s been the best in France for several years so he’s be a fool not to cash in on that success to pad his resume.
Ashton Taylor-Taylor

Look here is the thing. Australia in terms of football is finally making some noises and as a die hard football fanatic. Tops must be given to Lowy and his management for finally restoring some status quo into the running of football.

However, as Craig Forster one of SBS chief analyst likes to so vainly express (which I hardly oblige), that we need not a foreign big name coach that is just going to provide a quick fix.

But, rather like many SBS commentators including the late, great Johnny Warren has so passionately voiced. The problem with Australia is that if we are to ever break out and be really respected. This whole notion of a big name is just pure bollocks and what we in this country really need as OUR MAIN PRIORITY is to look long term.

By, long term with have already established this tall order in terms of gaining more competitive challenge of Asian oppenents and acceptance in Asia.

Now, I believe that unless we set up a system like those in Holland and France like Ajax and etc who continue to produce your Van der Vaarts and Arjen Robbens to replace those who get shipped to bigger European clubs.

I can’t see the A-league or the Socceroos surviving in the feist competitive football environment for long unless we have implemented a long term plan!

As I can say this without a gasp that the Houllier’s in this world come and go. But, talent and technical ability never fades!!!