Source: Daily_Mail
How Gerard Houllier the Eurocrat won over Aston Villa while Sven Goran Eriksson failed to impress
Aston Villa will announce their new management team early next week with Gerard Houllier expected to link up with current caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald. The Birmingham club are expected to introduce the duo formally either on Monday or Tuesday after bringing their search for Martin O'Neill's successor to a close. Houllier, 63, is understood to favour becoming boss in his own right - although Villa want a directorial figure who can help plug the gap left by the walkout by O'Neill and his staff. Experienced: Former Liverpool and Lyon boss Gerard HoullierVilla owner Randy Lerner compiled a four-man shortlist, aimed at making a quick decision before Villa's next league outing at Stoke on September 13. Sven Goran Eriksson failed to impress and Houllier's greater experience and pan-European contact base were favoured over Alan Curbishley. No-gos: Alan Curbishley (left) and Sven Goran Eriksson were approached by VillaLerner was keen to hand MacDonald a job in the set-up, but it was the failure to progress in the Europa League - and not the 6-0 hammering by Newcastle - that cost him the chance to manage in his own right. It appears the ex-Liverpool midfielder, 49, will be given first-team coaching duties with the Frenchman directing from above. Houllier set for job with Aston Villa as ex-Liverpool boss returns to EnglandAston Villa re-sign veteran Marshall after goalkeeper's summer exitFiring Line: Breakdown between board and boss leaves McLeish on edgeASTON VILLA FC