Houllier leads Red revival

Gerard Houllier is masterminding Liverpool's new era

BBC Sport Online's Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty examines the Liverpool revival under French manager Gerard Houllier - and asks whether the Red Army is on the march again.

Gerard Houllier arrived at Liverpool almost by accident - but has left nothing to chance as he carefully plots the revival of England's most successful club.

It was summer 1998, and Houllier looked destined for Celtic when he received a surprise phone call of congratulation from an old friend at Liverpool.

Former chief executive Peter Robinson admits he was "fishing for information" when he rang Houllier to wish him well on his proposed new job.

The conversation took a twist when Robinson suggested any club he joined would be the wrong one - unless it was Liverpool.

Houllier left the door open for a Liverpool approach, and the wily Robinson had no hesitation walking through.

It was a fateful phone call that now appears to be leading Liverpool back to a promised land they have all but forgotten for the last decade.

Robinson persuaded Houllier

Liverpool's hierarchy swiftly flew to Paris, and a job that was Houllier's destiny since his younger days as a teacher on Merseyside was finally his.

Houllier knew Robinson from those early teaching days - and Robinson knew Houllier would not resist Liverpool's call.

And now his passion for the club, as well as its history and tradition, is even prompting comparisons with the man who led the club when Houllier first stood on The Kop, Bill Shankly.

It is symbolic that Houllier will lead Liverpool out for The Worthington Cup Final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium next month - because he has been at the forefront of shaping the club's long term future.

Houllier was initially tainted with the stigma of his ill-fated arranged football marriage alongside joint manager Roy Evans.

It was a well-meaning but ultimately misguided gesture by the Liverpool board, keen to inject the France Technical Director's know how into an under-achieving team.

But his partnership with Evans could never work.

There was no point of reference for players, confusion as to who was the decision maker.

Heskey was £11m buy

Evans recognised it and fell, tearfully and emotionally in the Anfield trophy room, on his sword.

Since that day Houllier's changes - he dislikes the phrase "revolution" with all its French connections - have been carried out on both psychological and football levels.

Houllier prefers the buzzwords "constructive progress", and it is a fitting term for his work at Anfield.

He rid the club of its "Spice Boys" tag, gleefully attached to a group of talented young players who enjoyed a little too many slices of the good life.

Houllier dispensed with a damaging lager culture amid some sections of his squad, where a well-known catchphrase among the players was "win or lose - hit the booze."

He knew that booze was all too often following lose in those dark days.

And he ruthlessly weeded out those he felt did not fit in with his new look Liverpool.

Houllier's major victim was captain Paul Ince, who failed to produce his best at Anfield and was told in no uncertain terms by his manager that his services were no longer required.

It earned him a savage verbal assault from the self-styled "Guv'nor" - but also the respect of supporters who realised Houllier was at Liverpool for the long haul, and no passengers would be allowed on the ride.

Gerrard has emerged

Houllier then brought in his so-called "foreign legion", men like Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz, who have been the bedrock of his defensive formation.

He received criticism when Liverpool missed out on a Champions League place last season, especially when goals dried up after his £11m purchase of Emile Heskey.

But he stood by Heskey, and blended him with an emerging group of outstanding English youngsters led by Steven Gerrard, as well as sensible additions like the vastly-experienced Gary McAllister.

He also added - in highly controversial circumstances - £6m Nick Barmby from Everton.

The results have occasionally been inconsistent, but Anfield is now awash with the feeling that a sleeping giant of the English game is stirring.

Houllier will see The Worthington Cup Final as a starting point. He wants the title back at what he regards as its rightful home at Anfield.

He has met criticism with a knowing smile, although he has occasionally been angered by detrimental words from ex-Liverpool players who he believes should be more loyal to the cause.

McAllister - old head

Houllier is an avid student of Liverpool's history, making him aware of the expectations of the club's worldwide support.

He even made a point of living in the city - rather than joining many players on the outskirts - because he wanted to hear what Liverpool fans were saying, and sense what they were feeling about the club at close quarters.

Houllier cannot get enough of football. Liverpool fans can rest easy in the knowledge their manager will not miss a coaching trick - wherever it happens.

He was a Uefa technical advisor during Euro 2000, and is on friendly terms with almost every high profile coach in world football.

Houllier is putting all those theories to the test at Anfield - and the evidence suggests it is making Liverpool Football Club a force to be feared again.