French champions Lyon are looking for a new coach and could be set to give the role to Gerard Houllier.
Current boss Paul Le Guen has already announced that he’s leaving the club this summer and so Lyon have started the search for a successor. Le Guen has brought Lyon three of their four consecutive leage titles, so there will be a lot of expectation for ex-Reds boss Houllier should he be offered the job.
Also in the running for the job are Jacques Santini, who was in charge in 2002 when they won their first French title, and current Rennes boss Laszlo Boloni.
Houllier has been keeping busy with television work for the French TV companies, but would relish the chance to take a managerial role on again. He’d previously managed Paris St Germain and the French national squad before moving to Anfield.
57-year-old Houllier was speaking in Saturday’s Le Parisien and when asked about the Lyon role said: "I will not lie, that’s true, Lyon contacted me. And I am very flattered by it. My desire to coach is stronger than ever, especially at Lyon. I have a lot of admiration for what was done in that club."
If Houllier does take the role he’d be involved in the Champions League again next season, and he says he likes the city: "Lyon is also a fantastic city where the club has great supporters. But for now I can’t say more."
Earlier this week Lyon’s chairman was quoted as saying that his club were interested in Liverpool’s Harry Kewell and Milan Baros, but that both were too expensive. Houllier signed both players and would be aware of any buy-out clauses in their contracts. Kewell seems to be getting a fresh chance under Benitez after a run of injuries, but Baros has perhaps now complained a little too much to the press to be given any chance of staying on at Anfield now. Unfortunately for Baros, he wasn’t use as much under Houllier as he would have liked either.