Houllier in happier times
Tommy Docherty (1968-70):
Installed by Doug Ellis in 1968 after the local travel agent had assumed control of the club's new board of directors. Docherty saved second division Villa from relegation in his first season at the club after replacing Tommy Cummings. However, the Villans were relegated the following season Ellis sacked Docherty.
Vic Crowe (1970-74):
In Crowe's first season at the club Villa reached the League Cup Final but missed out on promotion to Division Two. The following year they were Division Three champions but Crowe's failure to take them any further up the League saw Ellis in action for the second time.
Ron Saunders (1974-82):
The longest surviving Ellis appointment, which may have been due to Sir William Dugdale taking change in 1975. Under Saunders, Villa returned to Division One, won two League cups, and a League Championship in 1980-81. Saunders resigned in 1982.
Tony Barton (1982-84):
Ron's assistant was promoted into the job and took over where Saunder's left off, presiding over the winning of the European Cup in 1981-82. But was ultimately sacked as well by Elli.
Graham Turner (1984-86):
Appointed on the strength of his reputation for miracles at Shrewsbury. But found the pace of the top-flight tougher and with Villa bottom of the table in the autumn of 1986 Ellis made the call yet again.
Billy McNeil (1986-87):
The Scottish legend could not halt the slide that begun under Turner and Villa were relegated with handed his marching orders in 1987.
Graham Taylor (1987-90):
Taylor led Villa back to the top-flight, whereupon they were nearly relegated immediately. However he steadied the ship with the purchase of Paul McGrath and the emergence of David Platt, finishing championship runners-up in 1990. Taylor then left to manage England.
Jozef Venglos (1990-91):
Impressed by the studious Czech's stewardship of his national side at Italia'90 Ellis hired him, and earned him the Nickname “Dr No” with the fans due to his reluctance to sign anyone. Venglos resigned after just one season at the club in which Villa came 17th.
Ron Atkinson (1991-94):
Left with no manager Doug played safe and went for an old hand and the partnership lasted three years with a second place League finish and a League Cup win - 3-1 over Manchester United. But not enough to save Big Ron from the sack from Ellis.
Brian Little (1994-98):
A short-lived revival under the stewardship of the former Holte End favourite, including a League Cup win over Leeds at Wembley. But the pressure became too great and Little resigned after a miserable run of results.
John Gregory (1998-Jan 2002):
Gregory failed to win any silverware but did enjoy a protracted spell at the top of the premiership in 1998/99 and again briefly in 2001/02. In December 2000 he publicly criticised Ellis as being "stuck in a time-warp", adding "the chairman's door is always open but his wallet is firmly closed". Gregory then walked out.
Graham Taylor (Feb 2002 to May 2003).
Taylor came down from his job as Director of Football to take temporary charge to the end of the season. Villa missed out on UEFA by a couple of places and went into the Intertoto. And reached the first round of the UEFA Cup. Taylor accepted a two year tenure and presided over an inconsistent side that finished 16th in 02/03 after which he called it a day of his own accord – leaving behind a strong set of youth teams.
David O'Leary (May 2003 - July 2006)
Only took two weeks after Taylor's O’Leary took up the job finishing sixth and missing out on Europe by goal difference the first season. The following two seasons saw finishes in 10th and 16 place.
Martin O'Neill (July 2006 - 2010 )
With a new chairman, Randy Lerner, there were high hopes with O’Neill, and he was introduced to press in August 2006.
It started well and for a while Villa had the year's longest unbeaten start of any Premier League side in 2006–07 (9 games). In the end the club finished 11th, 5 places higher than the previous season. The club missed out on a UEFA Cup spot on the final day of the 2007–08 season. In the 2008–09 season the club finished 6th, repeating the same in 2009–10.
Aston Villa reached a final under Martin O'Neill, the first in 10 years, in February 2010 against Manchester United in the Carling Cup- losing 2–1.
On 9th August 2010, Martin O'Neill resigned reportedly unhappy about the funds available for transfers, departing five days before the start of the new season.
Gerard Houllier September 2010 – June 2011
Aston Villa appointed Houllier as their new full-time manager on 15th September, with his first match in-charge the League Cup a week later. In April, Houllier was admitted to hospital after falling ill during the night, where his condition was said to be stable.
When he was not able to attend any subsequent matches, Gary McAllister took charge of all first team affairs. On 1 June, Gerard Houllier stepped down as manager of Aston Villa by mutual consent.
On Tuesday Aston Villa confirmed they will meet the former Birmingham City manager, Alex McLeish, for talks on the current vacancy.
With thanks to www.brown.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment