Gerard Houllier's reign at Liverpool brought about mixed success, but by the sounds of things it could have been even better.

The Frenchman was involved in a bizarre collaboration at Liverpool when he joined in 1998, initially being appointed joint-manager with Roy Evans.

He took full charge just a few months later following the Englishman's resignation, and he would later lead his side to a disappointing 7th place finished.

Liverpool's fortunes would reverse soon after, and he would lead the club to three consecutive top four finishes, as well as overseeing a treble-winning season in 2001.

However, after a few disappointing campaigns whereby Houllier was criticised for a variety of reasons, the Frenchman eventually left in 2004 and was replaced by Rafael Benitez.

SCOUT REVEALS IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER

Despite achieving some success, one of Liverpool's former scouts has now revealed that the club missed out on a number of high profile names during the Frenchman's reign.

Alex Miller, who was employed in a number of roles and spent nearly a decade at the club, revealed how he recommended both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gerard Pique to the club, but both ended up signing for bitter rivals, Manchester United.

"I looked at Gerard Pique and I tried to get him," Miller claimed in an interview with ESPN. "The Spanish delegation he was with at a youth tournament, I think it was his grandfather who was the delegate for the Spanish federation. Well he wouldn't give me permission because I think Man United were already in at that point.

"I brought Cristiano Ronaldo [suggested to Liverpool as a signing]. That's water under the bridge, [but] I recommended him and saw him at a youth tournament."

LIVERPOOL ALSO MISSED OUT ON TWO CHELSEA STARS

And Miller also revealed how the club were also perusing both John Terry and Petr Cech.

"I tried to get John Terry to come," the Scot said. "It was 2003 when Chelsea beat Liverpool for the last place in the Champions League.

"It went to the final day and they beat us at Stamford Bridge. After the game I went to speak to John Terry to try and get him.

"How I did it was, I went up to him in the corridor and asked him for his autograph. He said yes. As he was signing it I said: 'Could you put your mobile phone number? Gerard Houllier would like to talk to you.'

"He put his agent's number and said to talk to him. Gerard Houllier spoke to his agent on the bus. I think he just used us to get more money out of Chelsea.

"I also had Petr Cech, but at that moment in time we were trying to sign Chris Kirkland. I went to a game to watch Milan Baros and Petr Cech was making his debut.

"I then went to Argentina, I think it was in 2001, the Under-20 World Cup. You could have got him for a song. He was with Chmel Blsany and then he moved to Sparta Prague and then he moved to France [to Rennes]."

Houllier's sides of the early 2000's and Benitez's Liverpool all enjoyed some success, but just imagine what they could have achieved if Ronaldo, Terry, Cech and Pique were added to them...