Should Houllier quit football?

Leeds boss David O'Leary has advised Gerard Houllier not to return to the management following heart surgery.

Should Houllier put his heart first?

Houllier underwent emergency heart surgery after complaining of chest pains during half-time of his side's game against Leeds at Anfield in October.

Despite being told to rest since, the Frenchman has still kept a keen eye on events at the club and is expected to return to the hot-seat in March.

But O'Leary, a close friend of Houllier, believes that the Reds boss could endanger his health by coming back.

Would Houllier be right to retire, or do Liverpool need him back in the helm?

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I am sure an active role as LFC manager will aid his recovery rather than hinder it

Alan, UK

The man is old enough and wise enough to make his own decision. If he and the doctors agree he can come back, then the choice is up to him. After all, Souness and Kinnear both had heart problems (one a Quad bypass, the other a heart attack) and they seem to be coping with the pressures alright.
Craig Miller, UK

Houllier should return. What people forget is that football is his life. It may do him more harm than good to stay away. Those that are trying to recover from serious surgery and illness always need a goal and purpose, otherwise they can start to regress.

I am sure an active role as LFC manager will aid his recovery rather than hinder it. Houllier also knows that he can place more workload on Thompson now, after the great job he has done while he has been away.
Alan, UK

The pressures of modern management role are such that he would be foolish to come back. Your health is far more important than any football club.
John, UK

Having spent well over £70m on players David O'Leary should consider his own job before commenting on a manager who won three trophies last year.
Hugh Delaney, Scotland

His life has to come before football

Lizzie, age 13, England

I expect he will try his hardest to come back, even if it is not the best thing for his health. Football is a hard thing to walk away from, especially when you've done as well as he has, but not quite finished the job.
Graham, England

As a fan of football in general, what Houllier has done at Liverpool has been outstanding. Every job, every pursuit and every hobby in life can involve stress and pressure. It just depends on the way in which it is approached.

Given what has happened to Gerard, he will look at the job in a totally different light and approach it in a different way. It may make him an even better manager, who knows? There is no reason why he should not return if he wants, it is a choice, which he has earned.
Greg Wenzerul, UK

After being given a 20% chance of surviving open-heart surgery, Gerard surely has to quit. His life has to come before football.
Lizzie, age 13, England

Whatever Houllier chooses to do, his name will be sung at Anfield for years to come. The only other manager afforded this honour is Shankly. Houllier deserves his place of honour.
Paul Ainsworth, Liverpool

It would be a crying shame if he were to leave

Nimsky, England

How selfish certain Liverpool supporters are to ask GH back to the stressful manager job. If he were one of your beloved family members, would you want him to run the risk of another heart attack? No, you wouldn't.

Like Jordi Cruyff protested the link of his weak-hearted father to Dutch national coach post, I believe GH's family should stand up and say no to Liverpool if the doctors think GH's heart could not sustain the level of stress.
Jacob Lee, Malaysia

Gerard has done an amazing job as far as I am concerned when it comes to Liverpool FC. He brought us out of the 'wilderness' and led us to a wonderful season last year. If he were to step down, I doubt there would be any true fan of Liverpool who would look down upon him.

I believe however, that this decision should be left to him and his family. Whichever path he takes, I for one will never forget what he has done for us. We need more dedicated people like him in football; people who are passionate about what they do and it would be a crying shame if he were to leave.
Nimsky, England

Many in the football world seem to say that Gerard should quit. I think the bottom line is whether the doctors who are specialists are of the opinion that he will be able to resume managing Liverpool FC. If they are, and Gerard has the desire to finish the wonderful job he has started, then he should come back. If they are of the opinion he is not medically fit to ever return then he should not.
Riaz, Singapore

I don't think he should quit

Rhys Jaggar, England

Since Gerard has been at Liverpool I have noticed one thing: he is a man who is not satisfied until he has the job done. I feel he will not leave Liverpool until they win the Premiership. If he leaves he will regret it. I think with doctor's advice he should return to the job again.
Dermot Brennan, Corcaigh, Éire

Let's face it, however much we want Gerard to return we must ask him to be ready to step aside. Gerard, I know that Bill Shankly said that football was more important than life and death, but when it comes to your family.... children, grand children.... you must give your all to their needs, not to us shallow fans.

Remember, we will call for YOUR head, come what may in a bad season, your family won't! Well done David O'Leary, for voicing the concerns of all of 'us' Liverpool 'fans' and I hope you are 'runners up' to us this season.
Gareth Rouse, Australia

I don't think he should quit. If a man gives up his greatest joys without having completed the job in hand, it is far more likely to lead him into further illness e.g. depression, than coming back and adopting slightly different working practices.

He should put aside regular periods for getting away from football, doing something totally different and relaxing. In fact, his boss and his doctors should make it a condition of his continued employment.

By accepting his greatest weakness (namely, his heart) and working around it, he can still be a great manager. In fact, he might make the profession a healthier one, too.
Rhys Jaggar, England