Gerard Houllier changed Liverpool's drinking culture and wanted the same as Jurgen Klopp
EXCLUSIVE: Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel talks about Gerard Houllier's time in charge at Anfield and the similarities between the Frenchman and current Reds boss Jurgen Klopp
Gerard Houllier changed Liverpool's drinking culture and wanted the same thing as Jurgen Klopp - success.
That is according to former Reds defender Markus Babbel, who has been reflecting on his time at Anfield under Houllier. The French boss brought Babbel to Merseyside in 2000, signing him on a bosman transfer from Bayern Munich.
The 49-year-old made an instant impact in his first season at Liverpool, making 60 appearances and helping the club to an FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup treble. Houllier helped bring the good times back after a barren spell without a trophy - and he did it by changing the drinking culture inside the dressing room.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Sport on behalf of bet365, Babbel revealed his sadness at Houllier's passing two years ago and opened up on the late Frenchman's huge impact at Anfield.
He said: "Of course, I was very shocked, he was a very important coach for Liverpool. He changed the club. It wasn't so professional before him; players went out for drinks all the time, and he brought professional standards back.
"He was a tough guy, very straight talking. He wasn't like Klopp who goes round hugging players, but he was so important in creating the new training ground. The old Melwood wasn't very professional, and he changed that completely."
Houllier won three more trophies at Anfield before getting the chop in 2004 - a sustained spell of success not matched until Jurgen Klopp arrived on the scene in 2015.
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Babbel's fellow German has lifted the Reds to a new level entirely, guiding them to the Champions League in 2019 and their first top division title since 1990 in 2020.
Although Klopp and Houllier are two different managers, Babbel believes they both want the same thing - success. He said: "Jurgen Klopp is a different type of person to Gerard but they both want the same thing. Maximum success and doing everything in their power to achieve success for the club."
Liverpool fans will be hoping Klopp can continue to work his magic for the rest of the season, with the Reds on course for an historic quadruple.
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