ACTUALITE |
15.10.2001
Houllier heart surgery shows strain on elite coaches
PARIS,
Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier was unconscious but in a stable condition on Sunday after 11 hours of open heart surgery in a case which provides a stark reminder of the pressure on Europe`s top coaches.
Houllier, a hard-working former French national coach with no previous history of heart problems, gave instructions to his players at half-time against Leeds at Anfield on Saturday, before quietly leaving the room.
Surgeons worked overnight Saturday on the 54-year-old, who was said to have a dissected aorta.
Survival rates for the condition are 95 percent, but will the man who has rebuilt the Liverpool team and who this year furnished the trophy room with the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup, now find that coaching in the high-pressure, multi-million-pound English Premiership and the European Champions League is effectively life-threatening?
Tellingly, he told his opposite number David O`Leary before the match of the strain he felt in nurturing the egos of players who can earn up to 30,000 pounds (45,000 dollars) a week./p
"He said that the job had changed, and that looking after 20 very rich people was bad for your health," said former Arsenal and Republic of Ireland defender O`Leary.
While football was not top of anyone`s thoughts, O`Leary saw Liverpool`s Danny Murphy cancel out Harry Kewell`s opener for a 1-1 draw, meaning Leeds remain top of the Premiership, a point ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United.
Despite resting seven first-teamers, United won 3-1 at Sunderland after Ryan Giggs and Andrew Cole added to a Stanislav Varga own goal.
Arsenal sunk Southampton 2-0, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry scoring.
Another coach feeling the strain was AS Roma`s Fabio Capello, who went into a rage on Saturday after his side drew 0-0 at Perugia.
Capello, 55, watched his reigning champions hang on for a draw after Brazilian midfielder Emerson was sent off but was unimpressed by referee Salvatore Racalbuto.
"It was one-way refereeing," railed Capello. "I was angry about Emerson being sent off and the booking for (Francisco) Lima. Before there had been similar fouls on (Francesco) Totti."
Inter Milan were held 1-1 by Udinese on Sunday but Hector Cuper`s side maintain their one-point lead in the Italian first division.
A second-half goal from Nicola Ventola looked likely to give Inter maximum points but then David di Michele`s penalty - fiercely disputed by the Inter players - allowed Udinese to grab a point against the depleted leaders whose French midfielder Stephane Dalmat was sent off for a wild tackle.
Inter, playing in the image of their dour Argentinian coach, are the only unbeaten side in the division and stay a point clear of Verona-based Chievo whose 2-2 draw at Brescia also saw them drop two points.
But the most exciting match of the day was at Turin, where Juventus lost a 3-0 half-time lead against Torino, who fought back for a 3-3 draw.
Vincente Del Bosque knows all about stress - as coach of Spanish champions Real Madrid he is subjected to daily scrutiny by an avalanche of media.
That is sure to intensify after Real, without 66-million-dollar man Zinedine Zidane and Brazilian Roberto Carlos, were held to a pitiful 0-0 draw by Alaves on Saturday.
Celta Vigo put an end to the surprising start of Spanish first division newcomers Real Betis on Sunday, beating them 3-1 in a masterful display of finishing to move second behind Deportivo La Coruna.
In Sunday`s glamour game, Barcelona and Valencia played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp, leaving the rivals fourth and fifth respectively.
Brazilian star Ronaldinho scored the first goal of his Paris Saint Germain career to snatch a point from a 2-2 draw against Lyon on Sunday.
The draw leaves Lyon third, two points behind new leaders Lille and one fewer than Lens, while PSG are eighth.
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