‘Heartbroken’ Michael Owen leads the tributes to former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier after ‘a great manager and a genuinely caring man’ dies at the age of 73
Michael Owen led the tributes for French football manager Gerard Houllier, who has tragically passed away at the age of 73.
The former Liverpool boss, who guided the Reds to the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup treble in 2001, had a long history of medical problems.
Owen, who played under Houllier for six years during his time at Anfield, said: ‘Absolutely heartbroken to hear that my old boss, Gérard Houllier, has sadly passed away. A great manager and a genuinely caring man. #RIPBoss’
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has sadly died at the age of 73
He led Liverpool to a unique treble in 2000-01, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup
Michael Owen was ‘heartbroken’ to learn of his former boss at Liverpool Houllier’s death
Houllier arrived at Liverpool in the summer of 1998, initially as joint-manager with Roy Evans before taking sole charge just four months later.
He oversaw a major rebuilding of the squad, signing the likes of Sami Hyypia, Dietmar Hamann and Vladimir Spicer, and bringing through Owen, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher from the youth-system into the first-team.
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker was also among the first to tweet his sympathies, posting: ‘Oh no! Gerard Houllier has passed away. One of football’s smartest, warmest and loveliest people. #RIPGerard’.
More to follow…
Gary Lineker was among the first people to speak of their sadness at Houllier’s passing
