Sammy Lee heads back to Liverpool as assistant manager

May 9 2008 by Tony Barrett & David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ wants to make Sammy Lee his new assistant manager.

The Reds boss is looking to move quickly to add to his backroom staff after first team coach Alex Miller quit the club to take the manager’s job at Japanese side JEF United Chiba.

Lee, who served Liverpool with distinction as a player and a coach, is at the top of Benitez’s wish list and an approach could be imminent if approved by both Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Publicly, Benitez says there are several names under consideration for the role but privately he has already decided Lee is his best man.

And having not had an assistant since Pako Ayesteran left Anfield under a cloud earlier this season, he will take the opportunity to fill that position rather than making a direct replacement for Miller.

Should Lee be appointed it will go down well with senior members of the Liverpool playing staff who are known to have enjoyed working with him in his spell as a coach during Gerard Houllier’s tenure.

In an eight-year playing career at Anfield Lee amassed a glittering array of honours that included three League titles, two European Cups and four League Cups.

An infectious enthusiasm and unquestionable commitment made him a firm crowd favourite, before injury and loss of form saw some sections of the crowd turn on him and he moved on to QPR.

After spells at Osasuna, Southampton and Bolton, Lee returned to Anfield under Graeme Souness in 1993.

He impressed as reserve team coach and in 1999 was promoted to first team coach under Gerard Houllier.

His coaching potential did not go unnoticed by those at the FA, however, and in July 2004 he left Anfield a second time to become a full-time member of the England coaching set-up.

Handed his first job as full-time manager at Bolton in March 2007, he survived just 14 games and has been out of the game since then.

On Miller’s departure 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.

“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.”

Meanwhile, contrary to speculation, Liverpool have not received an offer from Inter Milan for captain Steven Gerrard.

And, as revealed in the ECHO earlier this week, the Reds have no interest in Barcelona left-back Eric Adibal.

Benitez confirmed rumours suggesting the French international is Anfield bound are totally unfounded.

He said: “I do not like to talk about players but he is not a player we are looking for.”