Former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler has warned new Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier that it may be hard to walk back into a managerial position after a few years out of the game.
Fowler's Liverpool career was ended during the Frenchman's rein at Anfield and although they have since resolved their differences, the ex-England striker was cautious about Houllier's Villa appointment.
"I wish him well, I really do. It is hard for any manager who has been out of the game for a while to come straight back in and pick up immediately, but I'm hoping he'll have a great time at Villa," Fowler said.
Despite the warning, Fowler knows what type of manager Houllier is and is confident he can again succeed in the Premier League.
"I know he has been working with the French Federation and in a technical capacity with UEFA, so he's not been out of the game completely, but club football is obviously very different, and I'm sure he will not have taken the decision lightly," Fowler added.
"It's hard to come back because the game moves on, but maybe he feels he still enjoys working at the top level with top players.
"He has a highly successful record in England, and even though it went wrong at the end of his time at Liverpool, if he can repeat even a little bit of that, then he will do well at Villa."
