Soccer: Liverpool retain hope that they can still lure the Porto coach Jose Mourinho to Anfield as successor to Gerard Houllier, who yesterday became the first manager sacked by the club in almost half a century.
An emotional Houllier departed Merseyside after a six-year reign which yielded four major trophies, though it was his failure to claim a first league title since 1990, and the perception that that would not be achieved over the final year of his contract, which prompted the club to act. The board's decision was unanimous, with the Frenchman to pick up around £1 million in compensation.
While progress in the appointment of a successor will have to wait until the chief executive Rick Parry returns from a holiday in Barbados at the end of next week, Liverpool have already earmarked potential candidates for the position. That short-list includes the highly-rated Mourinho, whose representatives had tentatively contacted the Merseysiders earlier this year to sound them out.
That approach was rejected, with the board backing Houllier at the time, though Liverpool will now attempt to deflect Chelsea's interest in the Porto manager in a bid to lure Mourinho to Anfield after all. Should Mourinho, whose Porto side compete in the Champions League final against Monaco tomorrow, sign the proposed four-year contract on offer at Chelsea then the Anfield board will turn their attentions elsewhere.
The Valencia coach Rafael Benitez, Alan Curbishley and Gordon Strachan are all leading contenders.
The prime criterion will be: "Who is most likely to make us become challengers," said Parry. "Track record will be important, but that's not to say that they must have managed in the Champions League or we'd be ruling out any English contenders.We want to see someone who has a passion for success."
A decision on the new manager is anticipated early next month with Houllier's successor expected to mount a more coherent title challenge next term. "It's about getting closer to success and getting the fans believing we're closer," said Parry.
"We're in the Champions League, but that was always a minimum standard rather than a goal in itself. In points' terms, this season has been worse than Roy Evans's final season back in 1998.
"That puts it into perspective, but it was still a decision made with the head rather than the heart. We asked ourselves whether we felt we would be challenging for the title next season without a change. The bottom line is that we didn't feel we would. A change was necessary."
Houllier disputed that assessment at the private meeting with the chief executive where he learned of his fate, though he admirably maintained his dignity both on discovering the board's decision and at his Anfield farewell yesterday. By a twist of irony, he undertook his last duties as manager in the trophy room he had helped to stock in recent years.
There was no bitterness in his speech, though the emotion was clear as he was driven out of the stadium for the last time. "I had intended to carry on with my job, and I wanted to carry on with it," he said.
"But we have agreed to part company mainly because of the sudden excessive pressure on the board and myself. I thought it could be harmful for the players in next season's campaign."
Liverpool finished the season 30 points behind the leaders Arsenal with disillusion welling in the stands and discontent mounting just as steadily from influential players concerned that the club may be meandering.
The backroom staff - Phil Thompson, Christian Damiano and Sammy Lee - will remain at the club, though their retention would need to be sanctioned by the Frenchman's successor.
"The club has considerably improved, both on and off the field," added Houllier. "It must keep on developing. The club needs to understand that it cannot always have a quick fix, but it is in my heart."
Guardian Service
SoccerNews: page 2
