Klopp's predecessor dies at 73: Liverpool mourns his triple coach

Klopp's predecessor dies at 73
Liverpool mourn their triple coach

Gerard Houllier leads Liverpool FC to great success at the beginning of the millennium, in 2001 he won what is probably the most extraordinary Uefa Cup final in the long history of the competition with the club. Now one of Jürgen Klopp's predecessors has died at the age of 73.

Former successful football coach Gerard Houllier, 2001 UEFA Cup winner with Liverpool FC, died at the age of 73. Houllier was the French national coach from summer 1992 to December 1993, he won the national championship with PSG (1986) and Olympique Lyon (2006, 2007).

Houllier had his most successful time in Liverpool. In the 2000/01 season he won the Uefa Cup with the Reds with a 5: 4 in the final of Dortmund against Deportivo Alaves – the first international title for the club in 17 years. "We always have to remember that we should try to make people happy," Houllier said before the game. It was not until the 117th minute that the fans in Dortmund were finally made happy after an intoxicating final – with a game-winning own goal.

In the same year, Houllier led Liverpool with the German national players Dietmar Hamann and Markus Babbel to success in the FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Supercup. Even at that time, Houllier repeatedly complained of heart problems and had to undergo operations, and for health reasons he missed several games. "The night he made his comeback after a serious heart operation against the Roma in Anfield will forever burn itself into the minds of those who were there and heard," Houllier recalled in an obituary.

"This was a man of intellect and sophistication, with passion and energy, who never sought more recognition than he deserved, who did not even seek the recognition he was entitled to. But that night, in those 90 minutes, belonged this roar, this wall of noise, him alone. Nobody deserves it anymore. "

. (tagsToTranslate) Football (t) Liverpool FC (t) Jürgen Klopp