Houllier is hoping to make a big impact with Villa

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has finally signed his three-year contract at the club.

The Frenchman agreed to take over from Martin O'Neill on 8 September and was in charge for the Carling Cup win over Blackburn on Wednesday.

He revealed earlier this week that he had shaken hands with club owner Randy Lerner on the contract and that signing it was merely a formality.

But the 63-year-old has now signed until the end of the 2012-13 season.

Houllier, who left his role as technical with the French Football Federation to take over at Villa Park, will take charge of his first Premier League game since May 2004 when Villa face Wolves at Molineux on Sunday.

606: DEBATE GH will work on the strengths and weakness of each player and mould them to his style of football chris

The former Liverpool manager watched from the stands as Villa drew 1-1 with Bolton on Saturday.

He had insisted earlier this week that there was nothing untoward in the fact he had still to put pen to paper.

"This is not important," he said. "I think at Liverpool, I didn't sign until November or December."

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