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'He's not my favourite man in the whole world' - Liverpool documentary reopens the Evans and Houllier rift

While everything at Anfield is looking good right now, the BBC's documentary on Liverpool's 30-Ye...



'He's not my favourite man in...
Soccer

'He's not my favourite man in the whole world' - Liverpool documentary reopens the Evans and Houllier rift

While everything at Anfield is looking good right now, the BBC's documentary on Liverpool's 30-Year Wait to win the league title illustrated the rift between their former co-managers, Roy Evans and Gerrard Houllier.

After Liverpool fell from their perch under the tenure of Graeme Souness, the club looked inward for his successor in 1994 when they hired Roy Evans.

Evans inherited a Liverpool side who were mid-table in the Premier League and out of contention for any major honours. However, the Premier League era was about to be dominated by the club's most fierce rivals, Manchester United.

In BBC's documentary, the filmmakers showed that while Evans' teams were good, they weren't good enough to give the fans what they really wanted, the league title.

Despite the white suits and the Spice Boys reputation, that Liverpool side including the likes of Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen played exciting football, but they never won the biggest prize in English football.

Ultimately, in 1998, Liverpool's longstanding Boot Room coach Ronnie Moran retired and was set to be replaced by Gerrard Houllier for the 1998–99 season onwards.

The club needed a change but what unfolded was unique for English football.

Liverpool Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier organises training

It was decided that Houllier would become joint manager to work alongside Evans. The arrangement was not a success and Evans resigned in November 1998, leaving Houllier in sole charge.

The Frenchman would remain at the club until 2004, winning the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup and League Cup treble in 2000/01, as well as the Charity Shield and European Cup Super Cup later that year, and the League Cup again in 2003.

During the recent documentary, both men talked candidly about their tense dynamic as co-managers and Houllier revealed that the unique arrangement was his idea.

"That was my idea initially because I thought that Roy Evans had done a good job and I thought (sacking him) wasn't fair. I said we can have some kind of joint management," said Houllier.

Steve McManaman, Gerard Houllier Gerard Houllier and Phil Thompson watch their Liverpool side play AC Milan with ex-player Steve McManaman watching also before his Real Madrid played Bayern Munich

When speaking about Evans' sacking, Houllier said that it wasn't due to a clash of personalities.

"It's not a matter of personality between Roy and myself, I think he's a very nice man and person. He's not somebody who would knife you in the back, really, it's just because the situation didn't fit."

On the other hand, Roy Evans has a slightly more aggrieved view of how the events unfolded.

"If you call people joint-managers, then from that start, you're going to have a problem. Obviously, he's not my favourite man in the whole world but that's life. I don't blame him in any way, shape, or form.

"In football, sometimes, it's a ruthless business and sometimes you've got to look after yourself and possibly, he was better at doing that than me," said Evans.

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30-year Wait Documentary Football Liverpool