Gérard Houllier - The Caring One

Afternoon lads,

There are certain times when a persons passing hurts that much harder. This is definitely one of those times for me.

It’s only when people are no longer with us that we truly reflect on the mark they left - In Houllier’s case, on our City and football club.

What’s clear from all the tributes is just how caring the man was. Football has too few of these men.

As to his story, In 1998, Liverpool appointed Gerard Houllier as joint manager alongside Roy Evans - the latter leaving in the November.

What followed was the sort of transition that Liverpool had been desperately seeking since the title was last seen at Anfield. The club has been left behind on all sorts of levels and needed a new vision that would allow them to compete with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

Before long, Liverpool had a team worthy of the shirt.

2001 will always be a special year in the history of Liverpool Football Club. Spearheaded by Houllier, the club went on to lift 3 cups. With unexpected signings like McCallister and Nick Barmby, Liverpool had a team that blended experience with promise (namely in the form of Michael Owen).

Steel was added in the pairing of Hyppia and Henchoz and of course the wonderful Marcus Babel. Liverpool football club were a competitive team once again.

The title unfortunately eluded Houllier but make no mistake, his place in Anfield lore is forever forged.

I posted an article not long after we’d won the title and reflected on how the 30 year wait wasn’t hard to endure for the real joy of being a football fan is in the journey and Gerard Houllier gave Liverpool fans memories that will last a lifetime. For that alone, I want to say a personal thank you to a man who gave everything to the club and lifted the spirit of the City to levels not seen for over a decade.

My lasting memories are the return against Roma and who can forget his reaction to Gary Mcallister's derby goal.

YNWA Gérard