The former Liverpool and France football coach Gerard Houllier will return to the English Premier League after being name as Aston Villa manager.
The 63-year-old Frenchman succeeded Martin O'Neill who quit last month just days before the start of the new season.
Houllier has managed Lens, Paris St Germain, Liverpool and Olympique Lyon and has twice worked as technical director of the FFF, leaving that job to move to Villa Park.
He won five trophies with Liverpool in 2001, including the League Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup, and three French league titles, with PSG in 1986 and Lyon in 2006 and 2007.
Houllier underwent heart surgery in 2001 after being taken ill at a match, but returned as Liverpool manager after five months recuperation and stayed at Anfield until 2004.
Villa have made an erratic start to the season, winning two of their three opening league matches and being eliminated from the Europa League by Rapid Vienna.
Houllier's first game in charge will be against Stoke City on Tuesday.
