Gérard Houllier dead: How did former Liverpool boss Gérard Houllier die?

Gérard Houllier has died at the age of 73, it was confirmed on December 14. Tributes have flooded in for the former Liverpool manager who won the treble while at Anfield by lifting theFA Cup,League Cup andUEFA Cupin 2001, as well as winning theUEFA Super Cup the same year.

Gary Lineker wrote: “Oh no! Gerard Houllier has passed away. One of football’s smartest, warmest and loveliest people.”

A Liverpool fan added on Twitter: “RIP Gerard, you will always be remembered in the history books for our amazing treble. Legend.”

Another posted: “So sorry to hear that one of Liverpool’s best managers, rip Gerard.”

A third said: “Will always be remembered for a treble-winning season to fill the trophy cabinet after a dry spell in #LFC’s history. Brought the club into the 21st century and paved the way for Rafa and number 5 in Istanbul. RIP.”

READ MORE: Gerard Houllier dead: Ex-Liverpool, Aston Villa boss dies at 73

How did Gérard Houllier die?

Houllier died just days after a heart operation. He suffered from a dissection of the descending aorta, which is when the inner layer of the aorta – the biggest blood vessel in the body – tears and blood then forces the aorta to separate.

The football legend has suffered heart issues throughout his career – even taking five months out of the game while in charge of Liverpool in 2001.

The Frenchman was rushed to Liverpool Royal Infirmary during Liverpool’s home league draw with Leeds United on October 13 for observation after complaining of chest pains.

A hospital spokesman said: “Mr Houllier is conscious, and he is sitting up in bed talking to the people who are giving him tests. He is comfortable and in our A & E department.”

After a life-saving operation at Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool, a club statement said he was taken off the ventilator, suggesting an improvement in his condition.

The report said: “We stated yesterday that the next significant step would be for Gerard to be taken off the ventilator and we are delighted to say this has now happened and we are encouraged by this positive progress.”

Houllier returned to Anfield five months later but acknowledged he was fortunate to have survived the trauma.

He told the Liverpool Echo in his first interview since emergency heart surgery: “Physically, I felt something was wrong, but I did not show that to my players. If you show you are weak, the team will be weak. In my mind, I could not allow that to happen.

“At half-time, I felt something was wrong with my chest,” the 54-year-old Frenchman said, but he insisted on speaking to the players.