Rafael Benitez will appoint an assistant manager following Alex Miller’s departure from Liverpool – with Sammy Lee a front-runner to make an Anfield return.
It was announced yesterday that first-team coach Miller is ending a nine-year association with the club to become manager of Japanese side JEF United Chiba.
Benitez has operated for almost the whole season without a right-hand man since the surprise exit of long-time associate Paco Ayesteran in August last year.
While the Liverpool manager will promote members of his existing staff to fill Miller’s vacated position, he concedes a new assistant to “share the responsibility” is a priority.
And that could mean a role for Lee, who was part of Gerard Houllier’s coaching staff before leaving for Bolton Wanderers a few weeks after Benitez arrived in June 2004.
Of Miller’s exit, Benitez said: “It is very positive news for Alex. This is a very good opportunity for him to coach in Japan, and I want to wish Alex all the best in his new job.
“It means we will be promoting some of the existing coaching staff and also over the summer we will be looking to bring in a replacement.
“I am considering new staff for the new season. We are checking some names and will be in contact with them and see what we can do.
“I think it would be good to have an assistant manager to share the responsibility with me.”
Miller is expected to arrive in Japan on Saturday to start work at Chiba and will attend their league match against Kyoto Sanga.
The 58-year-old former St Mirren and Hibernian manager joined Liverpool in 1999 as chief scout but became first-team coach following the arrival of Benitez in 2004.
Miller, who enjoyed a 15-year playing career with Rangers before earning his European coaching licence, has already managed in Asia with South China AA.
Chiba are bottom of the J League standings after collecting two points from 11 games so far this season, a run which led to Croatian coach Josip Kuze being sacked on Wednesday.
And Chiba president Hirotake Miki said yesterday: “We are convinced that Mr Miller is a wonderful person who can improve our team.
“We, as the whole club, would like to work together with our new manager to focus on our games for the rest of the season.”
It was announced yesterday that first-team coach Miller is ending a nine-year association with the club to become manager of Japanese side JEF United Chiba.
Benitez has operated for almost the whole season without a right-hand man since the surprise exit of long-time associate Paco Ayesteran in August last year.
While the Liverpool manager will promote members of his existing staff to fill Miller’s vacated position, he concedes a new assistant to “share the responsibility” is a priority.
And that could mean a role for Lee, who was part of Gerard Houllier’s coaching staff before leaving for Bolton Wanderers a few weeks after Benitez arrived in June 2004.
Of Miller’s exit, Benitez said: “It is very positive news for Alex. This is a very good opportunity for him to coach in Japan, and I want to wish Alex all the best in his new job.
“It means we will be promoting some of the existing coaching staff and also over the summer we will be looking to bring in a replacement.
“I am considering new staff for the new season. We are checking some names and will be in contact with them and see what we can do.
“I think it would be good to have an assistant manager to share the responsibility with me.”
Miller is expected to arrive in Japan on Saturday to start work at Chiba and will attend their league match against Kyoto Sanga.
The 58-year-old former St Mirren and Hibernian manager joined Liverpool in 1999 as chief scout but became first-team coach following the arrival of Benitez in 2004.
Miller, who enjoyed a 15-year playing career with Rangers before earning his European coaching licence, has already managed in Asia with South China AA.
Chiba are bottom of the J League standings after collecting two points from 11 games so far this season, a run which led to Croatian coach Josip Kuze being sacked on Wednesday.
And Chiba president Hirotake Miki said yesterday: “We are convinced that Mr Miller is a wonderful person who can improve our team.
“We, as the whole club, would like to work together with our new manager to focus on our games for the rest of the season.”
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