Aston Villa to appoint Remi Garde on three-and-a-half-year deal ahead of Tottenham clash

Remi Garde has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Aston Villa

REMI GARDE will be named as the new manager of Aston Villa today after agreeing a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club.

 

The 49-year-old former Arsenal midfielder will watch tonight’s game against Tottenham from the stands and will officially take charge for Sunday’s home match against Manchester City.

It will be his first managerial post outside France but the Villa hierarchy are convinced he can mount a revival, following the sacking of Tim Sherwood, and then build the club in line with their long-term vision.

He first established his reputation working under Gerard Houllier at Lyon, later leading the French club to two successive third-placed finishes in Ligue 1 as manager.

 

Tim Sherwood was sacked last month after just eight months in charge

And although Houllier, a former Villa boss, has admitted the club’s situation is a serious concern, he is convinced Garde has the qualities to enhance his reputation.

Houllier said: “Remi takes over a team in a state of urgency and his first job is to get the confidence back into the players.

“He has a task on his hands to save them from relegation but I fully expect him to be a success.

“There is already a lot of talk about how he has not managed in England before but the same applies to Jurgen Klopp, Rafa Benitez and even myself – and they didn’t do too badly.

 

“He has spoken to me about Villa many times over the past week and I told him they are a great club with excellent facilities, a very good fan base and a chairman that backs you.”

Garde will name Reginald Ray, who has been working at Bastia, as his assistant.

Kevin MacDonald will take caretaker charge for tonight’s game before returning to his post with the academy.