Houllier linked to Aussie coaching role again

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Houllier back in Roos frame

From Guy Hand in Bangkok, Thailand
July 11, 2007

GERARD Houllier is likely to find himself linked with the Australia coaching job once again after knocking back a major European club.

The former France and Liverpool coach, a long-term target of Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy, has rejected an offer from Ukraine giant Dynamo Kiev, which will contest the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League, saying he will decide his future soon after the Asian Cup.

Houllier quit as manager of French club Lyon two months ago, after guiding it to a second Ligue 1 title, saying he needed to take a break from football.

The Frenchman is a close associate of Lowy, and his decision to reject Dynamo's overture has revived speculation that he may finally be in a position to accept a job to which he has been linked over the past three years.

"I will not move over there," French newspaper L'Equipe quoted Houllier as saying about Dynamo.

"I am going to wait one or two months before deciding what I am going to do, but you will not find me in Kiev."

The one- to two-month timeframe Houllier mentioned, allied with his wish for a break, could tie in perfectly with the end of the Socceroos' Asian Cup campaign and the commencement of their 2010 World Cup qualifiers which aren't expected to kick off until mid-2008.

Current Socceroos coach Graham Arnold's tenure finishes after the Asian Cup, and it is generally accepted that his side has to win the tournament if he is to have any hope of keeping the job towards South Africa 2010.

The Socceroos started their Asian Cup campaign sluggishly, with a lethargic 1-1 draw against Oman, leading to criticism of Arnold and the team in Australia.

FFA officials have refused to comment on the coaching position until after the Asian Cup.

Houllier, first linked with the Australia job in 2004, when Frank Farina was in charge, was also floated as a candidate ahead of Guus Hiddink's appointment.

Plans for him to take on the Socceroos job following Hiddink's departure after last year's World Cup finals were scuttled by the remaining year on his Lyon contract.

As well as Dynamo, Houllier has been linked with the job as French Football Federation technical director and the vacancy at English Premier League club Manchester City.

The Sky Blues appointed former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson as coach last week.

Two other coaches regularly mentioned as possible Socceroos bosses - Dutchmen Dick Advocaat and Leo Beenhakker - both have jobs.

Advocaat is coaching Russian league leader Zenit St Petersburg, while Beenhakker is in charge of Poland.

But former Glasgow Rangers coach Advocaat could still be a candidate for the Australia job.

"I have a contract with Zenit till the end of the year, then I'll decide where to go next," Russian media quaoted him as saying last week.

AAP

[Rodger-k]

Houllier or Advocaat........wow either or.

I'm leaning towards the frenchman Houllier only because of his back ground in helping to take the French game from nothing to world cup glory.

"Houllier is renowned as one of the most knowledgeable managers in the game and has talent in moulding players to their potential.[citation needed] He assisted Aimé Jacquet in the 1998 World Cup and played a role in developing players such as Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès and David Trézéguet. Houllier was part of UEFA's and FIFA's Technical Committee, in the 2002 and 2006 World Cup finals."

but then again Advocaat is no slouch either.

[keeperman]

i don't realy care who coaches us, as long as they aren't from australia. Hullier would be fantastic. The man has done some great things.