Gerard Houllier, the man who helped lead Liverpool to a UEFA Cup in 2001, said he will only return to managing on the sidelines if he gets clearance from doctors first.
The 63-year-old has battled health issues throughout his coaching tenure. In 2001, while coaching the Reds in a match against Leeds United, Houllier felt sick in the locker room during halftime and was rushed to the emergency room. It was discovered that Houllier was suffering from a serious heart condition that forced him out for five months. Upon returning to the sideline, he and caretaker manager Phil Thompson helped lead Liverpool to a second-place finish in the Premier League.
On April 20, 2011 while managing Aston Villa, Houllier was again admitted to the hospital with more heart issues and did not make another managing appearance for the remainder of the season. On June 1 he stepped down from his position at Aston Villa.
Despite his medical troubles, Houllier said he would like to return to the game, but only if he gets the OK from his doctors.
"I will definitely still be linked with football — it is my life," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "But I will follow the doctors' advice and if the advice is not to get back into management, I won't."
Houllier said he discussed with Aston Villa officials a scenario in which he step down and allow Gary McAllister to fill in until September when Houllier could return, but the club declined to go that route.
"We left on good terms, no acrimony, no bitterness," Houllier said of his departure from the Lions.
Never out of the loop of football news, Houllier said he believes Villa can challenge for a top six spot in the Barclays Premier League even without Stewart Downing.
"I would have done everything to keep Downing, but when a player wants to leave you can't do much about it in modern days," Houllier said. "All you can do is try to find a replacement."
