A to Z: Houllier's revolution

[Getty Images] The eighth episode of BBC Radio Merseyside's A to Z of Liverpool focuses on the letter H - Alan Hansen, Roger Hunt and former manager Gerard Houllier. "It's a great story, Gerard Houllier and what he did for Liverpool," Mike Hughes said on the latest show. The late Houllier joined Liverpool in 1998, originally as a joint-manager alongside Roy Evans before taking sole leadership after 18 matches, and went on to haul five trophies including a treble in 2001. But before he brought success back to Anfield, and in what was coined the 'French revolution', Houllier was just a fan. "He stood on The Kop as a Liverpool fan and as a teacher, a trainee teacher at Allsop High, and went on to be a teacher in France before he moved into football," Hughes said. "What a dream to stand on The Kop and then be manager of the team that he loved in Liverpool. And he did revolutionise, he made Liverpool a serious footballing force, he wanted to abandon the notion – and it maybe it was overplayed – but the notion of the 'Spice Boys'." The 'Spice Boys' was a media nickname given to a group of Liverpool players. Players at the time included Jamie Redknapp, David James, Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler, and there was a perception the young stars lived flashy lifestyles and lacked discipline. But Houllier was the start of a change. "He took on some formidable figures at Liverpool to try and make his point and have his way and moving in, in his words - a new seriousness." Click play above to hear more about the Houllier revolution plus stories on Hansen and Hunt, or listen on BBC Sounds here