Patrice Bergues is set to join Aston Villa as new manager Gerard Houllier's No2.

The Birmingham Mail says Bergues worked alongside the newly-appointed claret and blue chief with the French Football Federation, at Anfield and again at Lyon after they hit it off at RC Lens in the mid-1980s.

At 62, Bergues is a year younger than Houllier and will provide the familiar face the Villa boss wants as he launches his French revolution at Villa Park as Martin O'Neill's successor.

Thirty days on from O'Neill's shock resignation Houllier was confirmed as Villa's new boss at 9pm yesterday after resigning his role as the French Football Federation's technical director.