Houllier leaves Lyon

Lyon have confirmed that Gerard Houllier has resigned as coach of the six-times Ligue 1 champions.

A statement on the club website said that Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had accepted a request from Houllier to be released from the final year of his contract.

Houllier had steered Lyon to their last two titles since succeeding Paul Le Guen at the Stade Gerland.

But he will leave the club at the conclusion of Les Gones' final game of the season, against Nantes on Saturday.

A statement on the club's website read: 'On Wednesday, at the end of the Champions League final, Gerard Houllier, the coach of Lyon, asked Jean-Michel Aulas to free him from the last year of his contract.

'The request was accepted by the president.'

Houllier has been linked with the coaching role at a number of clubs across Europe, including English pair Newcastle United and Manchester City and Ukraine giants Dynamo Kiev.

Newcastle have since appointed Sam Allardyce as manager, while Houllier denied he would be taking over at Dynamo for next season.