WHEN Gerard Houllier walked out of Anfield on May 24 2004 he said: “I may have left Liverpool, but Liverpool will not leave me.”

The Frenchman left with dignity and respect after sitting alongside chief executive Rick Parry for a farewell press conference. After weeks of speculation few tears were shed when chairman David Moores and the board ended his six-year reign.

Having only narrowly achieved the club’s “minimum requirement” of Champions League qualification by finishing fourth, there was a general consensus that it was time for a change.

Houllier had failed to take that final step of turning Liverpool from contenders into champions and in his final two years they appeared to be going backwards.

Six and a half years on, Houllier will return to the Anfield dugout for the first time for a competitive match on Monday night.

The Aston Villa boss is guaranteed a warm welcome and when supporters rise to applaud him it won’t just be a sentimental tribute to a former loyal servant who nearly gave his life for the club.

It will be a salute to a vastly experienced and talented coach who gave fans some of their greatest days and left a legacy.

When Houllier took sole charge in November 1998 after an ill-fated short spell as joint manager with Roy Evans, the Reds were in disarray. Dumped out of Europe by Celta Vigo and off the pace in the Premier League, it was little surprise when they only finished seventh.

Houllier embarked on a revolution and wasn’t afraid to take tough decisions as he off-loaded what he perceived to be the disruptive influence of Paul Ince. He instilled discipline in terms of both diet and lifestyle. The drinking culture was eradicated and training facilities improved.

The signings of Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz provided some much needed defensive steel, while the likes of Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Danny Murphy blossomed.

The Reds took fourth spot in 1999/2000 but it was the following campaign which will never be forgotten.

The acquisition of talisman Gary McAllister proved inspired as Champions League football was secured with third place and Houllier landed an unprecedented cup treble.

Cardiff became like a second home with Michael Owen’s dramatic late double against Arsenal ensuring the FA Cup joined the League Cup in the trophy cabinet and there was even better to come.

It was Houllier who brought great European nights back to Anfield. During a memorable UEFA Cup run Roma, Porto and Barcelona were all brushed aside before an unforgettable night in Dortmund.

A golden goal own goal in extra time sealed a 5-4 win over Alaves in a match which would stand as the most remarkable European final of all time but for events in Istanbul four years later.

In the summer of 2001 there was a genuine belief Liverpool could finally win the title.

However, the landscape changed during the match with Leeds at Anfield on October 13 2001.

Houllier failed to emerge for the second half and was rushed into hospital for life-saving heart surgery. It would be five months before he returned to the dugout on an emotional Champions League night against Roma in March.

On his comeback Houllier declared his team were “10 games from greatness”. It didn’t happen as the Reds finished second to Arsenal and suffered a surprise quarter-final exit in Europe at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.

In 2002/03 Houllier masterminded a blistering start with nine wins and three draws in the opening 12 league games. But after a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough, when the boss was criticised for his negative tactics, the wheels came off.

Expensive summer signings El Hadji Diouf (£10.6m), Bruno Cheyrou (£4.5m) and Salif Diao (£5m) failed miserably.

The decision not to snap up Nicolas Anelka following his impressive loan spell from Paris Saint Germain returned to haunt him. Anelka scored twice for Manchester City at Anfield the following May to inflict a defeat which effectively wrecked hopes of Champions League qualification.

Out of the Champions League and then beaten by Celtic in the UEFA Cup, a League Cup final triumph against Manchester United briefly lifted spirits.

But in the summer of 2003 more mistakes were made with the signing of French flops like Anthony le Tallec. The Reds scraped into the Champions League places but it wasn’t enough to save his job.

Carragher, who is full of praise for the role Houllier played in helping him develop into a top class defender, has talked about how the decline could be traced back to the heart scare which nearly killed him.

Houllier himself has since admitted he returned to work far too soon.

“Illness cruelly deprived him of the sharp judgement that had led to swift early progress, but for three years he was a great Liverpool manager,” said Carragher in his autobiography.

“My memory isn’t tainted by the last two years of his reign. I appreciate what he did for me before his heart operation intervened, before the dark days. It was a tragedy for him. If he hadn’t fallen ill, he might still be Liverpool manager today.”

Houllier undoubtedly made mistakes but he also dragged Liverpool into the 21st century on and off the field.

The Frenchman re-ignited the Reds’ thirst for European glory which his successor Rafael Benitez took on to the next level.

Monday will be a special night for Houllier and his ovation will be richly deserved.