Updated at 17.13
FORMER ARSENAL PLAYER Remi Garde has been confirmed as the new Aston Villa boss.
Garde, who had been on a break from football after managing Lyon between 2011 and 2014, was heavily linked with the Villa hotseat ever since Tim Sherwood’s departure last month.
And reports in the British media indicate Garde will watch Villa’s Premier League game with Tottenham in the stands tonight, with the 49-year-old signing a deal at the club that will run until the end of the 2018/19 season.
“It is an unbelievable honour to be the manager of such an illustrious football club,” Garde said in a statement.
“I’ve had extremely positive meetings with both the owner, Randy Lerner, and Chief Executive Tom Fox. They have ambitious plans for the Club and I’m excited that they have turned to me to help them realise them.
“Obviously we have a difficult task in front of us but I’m looking forward to the challenge with the support of everyone who loves Aston Villa.”
Fox added: ”For the past year we have been working purposefully to transform the Club in order to build a successful organisation that can compete and succeed in the Premier League.
“Finding a manager who shares and believes in our vision and has the ability to bring it to life through performances on the pitch is essential. We are confident that Rémi is the manager who can deliver the best from the current squad and help set the club up for future success.”
Former Villa and Lyon boss Gerard Houllier is understood to have recommended the club to Garde, while Arsene Wenger confirmed that Fox got in touch with him to discuss the new manager.
Garde won the Coupe de France and the Trophée des champions during his time at Lyon, and guided the club to fourth, third and fifth place finishes in his three years at the Ligue 1 club.
He previously played for Lyon and Strasbourg, and won six international caps with France, but British football fans will best remember Garde for his short stint at Arsenal.
A defensive midfielder, Garde played for the Gunners between 1996 and 1999 during Arsene Wenger’s early days in charge, however injury problems and the emergence of Patrick Vieira limited his first-team opportunities, and he retired after departing the London club.
