Gerard Houllier, the French coach who won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble with Liverpool, has died aged 73, two of his former clubs said on Monday.
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Paris Saint-Germain and Lens confirmed the death of Houllier, who managed Liverpool from 1998 to 2004.
He was also in charge of the French national team from 1992 to 1993, overseeing their failure to qualify for the 1994 finals in the United States.
Houllier died overnight on Sunday after undergoing heart surgery in Paris.
His career was blighted by health problems and he had to take a break in his time at Liverpool to recover from heart issues.
He played an important role in shaping Liverpool after the club that had won the league title consistently throughout the 1980s lost its way.
LIVERPOOL ‘DEEPLY SADDENED’
Meanwhile, Premier League champions Liverpool said they were “deeply saddened” by the loss of their treble-winning manager after his death was announced on Monday.
“The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with Gerard’s family and many friends,” the club said in a statement.
“Rest in peace, Gerard Houllier 1947-2020.”
Houllier, 73, who recovered from life-saving heart surgery during the 2001/02 campaign to return to the dugout, later guided Liverpool to a second League Cup triumph.
He left the following year after overseeing 307 matches and successfully re-establishing the club as a modern force.
