BRAD Friedel has been described as the perfect role model by Gerard Houllier ahead of the Aston Villa veteran’s coronation as the club’s oldest ever player tonight.

Friedel is aged 39 years and 259 days today and if he takes to the field at Manchester United this evening will break 1940s defender Ernest Mush Callaghan’s record by two days.

And Houllier insists the American goalkeeper is a fine example for all professional footballers to follow, saying: “He should be a role model for everyone.

“He’s a top class professional who looks after himself and trains hard.

“People forget about that, the goalkeepers have to train hard.

He does, whatever his age, he trains hard and does even more in terms of his yoga and things like Ryan Giggs.”

Houllier is impressed that Friedel still retains his passion for football and an appetite for success.