Houllier steps down to take break

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The former France boss' spell in charge of Les Gones will end on Saturday night after their final Ligue 1 game of the season, against Nantes at the Stade Gerland.

Houllier said he did not have "the time and the energy" to carry on as Lyon coach, and added he wanted to take a break from the game.

Houllier has been linked with a number of clubs throughout Europe, including English side Manchester City and Ukraine giants Dynamo Kiev, but showed little enthusiasm for a fresh challenge in the immediate future.

"I need a break, full stop," he added. "I will not go to another club in France and initially not to a foreign club. I am firstly going to take a holiday. I need a rest."

Houllier has been in charge of Lyon for two years, guiding them to their record fifth and sixth titles, as well as two Trophees des Champions successes.

But at a press conference on Friday evening, he claimed personal reasons would lead to him step down a year before the end of his contract.

"I have experienced two exceptional seasons," he said. "I have driven a Formula One car that had won four grand prix to at first its fifth, a record, and then to an historic sixth.

"We have progressed in these two seasons. I would like to thank the supporters, who have been truly great. It is uniquely for personal reasons that I am leaving, not for health reasons.

"It is the end of a coach's cycle at OL. I do not have the time and energy to throw myself into a longer spell."