Houllier announces he will leave Lyon at end of season

Gerard Houllier is interviewed in Lyon, France, on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Club Gerard Houllier will leave six-time French champions Lyon at the end of the season, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas announced on Friday.

Aulas Houllier for the work he had done during the last two years to ensure Lyon continued to be one of Europe's top clubs.

"Gerard [Houllier] asked me on Wednesday night to let him leave so that he could take a sabbatical," Aulas said at a press conference. "On reflection, I accepted his decision to go."

Yesterday's match against relegated Nantes was his last at the helm of the team.

The former Lens, Paris Saint Germain and Liverpool manager led Lyon to two French league wins and to last year's quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Houllier said: "I have lived two exceptional years here which, in many ways, reminded me of the six years I spent at Liverpool. I think we have done very well but it has come to the point where I would need to commit for another three years and it doesn't feel right. I think it's better to leave now for a lot of positive reasons rather than to hang on."

Houllier been linked with a job as a technical director at the French Football Federation. He denied last week having been approached by Dynamo Kiev. He said he would not be going to another club.

"My decision to leave has nothing to do with people or my health," he said.