Perrin takes over at Lyon

Alain Perrin has been appointed as the new Lyon coach to replace Gerard Houllier, who quit last week after two years in charge.

Former Portsmouth and Olympique Marseille coach Perrin, 50, steered Sochaux to the French Cup title this season.

He replaces Gerard Houllier, who quit last week after two years in charge.

Perrin had said days ago that he had accepted an offer from Lyon but talks dragged on after Sochaux president Jean-Claude Plessis asked for financial compensation.

A deal was reached late on Tuesday with Lyon accepting to pay Sochaux around €350,000, Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said.

Other names, and notably former France captain Didier Deschamps, who has just left Juventus, had been mentioned but Aulas insisted Perrin was the man he wanted.

"He was our priority", Aulus told a news conference. "He nearly joined us five years ago and now he's coming. We count on his experience and his ambition. We believe he's the right man in the right place at the right time."

Perrin, who has signed a two-year contract, was obviously delighted to take charge of France's number one club.

"I am happy and proud to be joining Lyon," he said. "I'm joining with the mentality of a top athlete, of a competitor with a lot of ambition."

Former France and Liverpool manager Houllier, 59, said on Friday he was leaving Lyon after leading them to two consecutive Ligue 1 titles.

Under Houllier's guidance, Lyon failed to make an impact in Europe, falling in the first knockout round of the Champions League this season and in the quarter-finals last year.