Former Liverpool Boss Gerard Houllier: Rafa Benitez Wasn't As Successful As I Was At Anfield, And The Players Agree
But Frenchman is confident Roy Hodgson is right man for the job...Gerard Houllier says pal Roy Hodgson can make Liverpool great again by restoring their 'Boot Room tradition'.
The 63-year-old Frenchman won six trophies with the Merseysiders before being cruelly axed in 2004 and there have been rumours Hodgson could bring him back to Anfield.
The two men got to know each other whilst serving on UEFA and FIFA technical committees.
Houllier was certainly not holding back on criticism for the man who has just vacated the Anfield hotseat, Rafa Benitez.
“After Rafa Benitez left this summer, Champions League victory with the club in 2005.one of the players sent me a message: 'Boss, he hasn't beaten you'," Houiller told the Evening Standard, before recounting how some players lauded him after Benitez's
“When I came into the changing room in Istanbul some of the players said: 'Boss it's your team'," Houiller recalled.
“Twelve out of 14 in Istanbul were players I had signed or developed. I left Liverpool with a team and in the Champions League. But when you finish seventh with Torres and Gerrard...”While critical of Benitez, Houllier believes new manager Hodgson can restore the 'Boot Room mentality' of Liverpool's great sides in the 1970's and 1980's.
The Frenchman highlighted the importance of appointing a manager supporters will be familiar with. He said: “Bill Shankly was followed by his assistant Bob Paisley, then Joe Fagan, then Kenny Dalglish then Graeme Souness then Roy Evans. My arrival was greeted with, Gerard who?”
Houllier also added that the Football Association need to look at the problems created by the Premier League's wealth of foreign stars to solve England's recent international woes.
“The recruitment of overseas players has not damaged English football but it's true that you're losing some positions," he noted.
“Goalkeepers for instance, England needs to have a school for goalkeepers.
“You need to train them a different way because, out of the 20 teams in the Premier League, you don't have five English goalkeepers.”
