If you thought former English Premier League (EPL) star Jermaine Pennant signing on to Tampines Rovers was the end to the S.League’s luck, you thought wrong — another former EPL heavyweight is set to help local football out of its passionless ditch.
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is set to join five-time S.League champs Tampines Rovers as its international ambassador, TODAY reports. The 68-year-old former France national coach is said to be visiting Singapore later this year to help out in the Rovers’ youth development programmes and offer advice on how to improve local football.
Tampines chairman Krishna Ramachandra however has mentioned that the aim of bringing Houllier in was not just to help Tampines Rovers — his mind, experience and advice will be readily accessible to all S.League clubs.
“Everyone can come and learn from Gerard,” he said. “The aim is the development of football in Singapore, not just for Tampines Rovers.”
Houllier’s experience in the footballing world — despite its negative publicity — is of course pretty colossal compared to anyone in Singapore. He played a part in France’s spectacular World Cup win in 1998 when he was an assistant coach. He took over the managerial duties at Liverpool in 1998, but left in 2004 after spate of unsuccessful signings, poor youth policy, one-dimensional tactics and just unattractive football.
His failure to gain an efficient footing would prove to be the same in fruitless stints as manager of French side Lyon and English club Aston Villa. He has been Head of Global Football for Red Bull since — and soon will have his fingers in Singapore football.
