Sammy Lee returns to Liverpool as Rafa Benitez' Assistant

[solodee]

http://liverpoolfc.co.za/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1126051643/m/4771068305

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."
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This could turn out to be a good move for the good of Liverpool FC. Sammy Lee has had career with the club and may be well acquainted with the way things work here. We can only keep those fingers crossed and hope for the best.


See also:

http://www.thisisanfield.com/news/2008/05/2-departures-1-re-arrival-already/

[donrafael]

Should never have left.

Welcome back home Sammy.

[Court LFC]

Well Sammy ticks all the right boxes.

Spanish speaking.  Knows the club inside out.  Worked with the International side.

As don said, Welcome home.

[GERNS]

It seems Sammy has built himself a big reputation as a coach and with his Liverpool background sounds the ideal choice. However, how long will it be before his managerial asperations once again rise to the forefront. Will he abandon us if he gets a managerial offer?

[king kenny]

IF he does build asperations to manage again we just have to give him footage of them interviews he gave near the end of Bolton management career.  Never seen pressure so transparent in a manager before he was seriously under the cosh.

[7-King Kenny-7]

Just a matter of time until he came back to the club, he will probably re-join the club round the start of june. Be great to have him back!

[AJ]

Made me smile when I heard this, if there is anyone else you could have in your coaching team right now who knows Liverpool, what makes us push forward, where are weakness may lie and how to strengthen them it's Sammy.

[7-King Kenny-7]

Made me smile when I heard this, if there is anyone else you could have in your coaching team right now who knows Liverpool, what makes us push forward, where are weakness may lie and how to strengthen them it's Sammy.

Also Thommo but I cant see him leaving Sky Sports because then there will be no one to stick up for the team when Matt Le Tit starts being critical

[AJ]

Also Thommo but I cant see him leaving Sky Sports because then there will be no one to stick up for the team when Matt Le Tit starts being critical

Nah Matt's alright just a bit of banter and as a ex player/manager I know what role I'd prefer it will also give him a little lift after a disappointing spell at Bolton.

[crouchinho]

Agreed with everyone. As soon as I saw this I was upbeat about it all. In hindsight he is the perfect candidate and should get the job. He is a calm fella, relates well with the players and has a great prescence.

Also good for him to forget that time with Bolton. Rafa and Sammy - sounds good in'it?

[The Fallen Soldier]

Id still rather have Tommo!! But Mr Lee will do fine...

[crouchinho]

Id still rather have Tommo!! But Mr Lee will do fine...

Thought of Thommo too but I think Sammy will be more proffesional about it all. Just a feeling im getting I suppose.

[Billy1]

With Sammy Lee we get a man who was brought up in the Liverpool tradition and is as honest as you can get.Another name I would like to put in is Ian Rush,he has got his coaching badges and like Sammy I think he gets on well with RAFA.Any of those two will do just fine.

[CRK]

Great news when I read this!

Welcome home Sammy!

[bartman49]

It would be good to have Sammy back here again, his time away from us was well spent he worked under Sven for a few years and Allardice at Bolton and as we know he ended up being boss at Bolton only to be sacked after a small amount of games for trying to help Bolton with a change of football style, changing a way of playing from the long ball to the shorter passing game takes time and the board at Bolton panicked when they seen their team trying to play the ball along the ground, their loss will be our gain....

[artaylor]

Excellent, first name on my list of preferred men for the job. As has been said, he ticks all the boxes.

[Scouse pie]

Saw Sammy Lee at Goodison Park today on the tv, prior to kick off. You can draw your own conclusions from that...

[CRK]

Saw Sammy Lee at Goodison Park today on the tv, prior to kick off. You can draw your own conclusions from that...

That he's an out of work footy coach, probably punditing?

[ste_macca]

Will be great to have Sammy back. I cant see him saying no if Rafa offers him a role at the club. Always a good move having someone who is a fan and a local working around the club and working with the players.

[MsGerrard]

Do we know how definite it is that he is coming back?

[red1]

Apparently he's said yes providing we don't sell Torres to Chelski

[Shoelessboy]

I'd love to see Steve Coppel (unsure on spelling) come in as assistant manager. I doubt he would but I think it would be awesome to see him, I've always admired the man.

[paulrobbo]

Just reported on SSN that we're in talks with Sammy Lee about becoming Rafa's assistant manager! Looks like its going to happen 

[bartman49]

Good news to see Sammy back to give the Gaffa a hand.

[lil cisse]

Dont know much about his capabilities as an assistant manager but hoping he will prove a succesful one.

[king kenny]

Dont know much about his capabilities as an assistant manager but hoping he will prove a succesful one.

I think he does tick all the right boxes and has a lot of experience as an assistant.  Another important thing is sustainability for the position.  I do strongly believe that he will stick with Rafa.  He tried and failed at Bolton and personally from his body language and his latter interviews it seem to me that it was a nightmare.

[Court LFC]

Lee holding Anfield talks

Wednesday, 14th May 2008

Spanish speaking former Liverpool player and coach, Sammy Lee, is holding talks with the Anfield hierachy with the aim to filling the void as Benitez’ right hand man at Liverpool.

Speculation has been mounting for months that the former Bolton boss will replace Paco Ayesteran who left Anfield early in the season. Alex Miller, part coach/part assistant, also left Anfield last week to return to club management in Japan.

Sammy Lee has worked not only at Anfield but also for England at coaching level, although had a disappointing spell as manager of Bolton Wanderers.

With his experience of running the Liverpool reserve team he will also be a fine candidate to help Liverpool’s blossoming youth players move towards the first team squad

Well if JD says so. 

[RedWilly]

Will be great to have him back, knows us inside out, and I can imagine all the players getting on with him, he will be a very able assistant to Rafa.

Welcome home Sammy!!

[LFC9]

 
 
Lee was sacked as Bolton manager after just six months in charge
Former Liverpool midfielder Sammy Lee is in talks to become Rafael Benitez's assistant manager.

Lee has held discussions with chief executive Rick Parry after first team coach Alex Miller left to manage Japanese side JEF United Chiba.

The 49-year-old was sacked as manager of Bolton in October after taking over from Sam Allardyce.

He now looks set to return to the club where he has previously been reserve team manager and first team coach.

Benitez has been without an assistant since the departure of Pako Ayesteran last August.

 


Lee had an illustrious playing career at Liverpool, making nearly 200 appearances, before moving into coaching.

He formed part of the coaching set-up at Anfield under previous managers Graeme Souness and Gerard Houllier and has also been part of the England coaching team.

He was assistant manager at Bolton and was promoted when Allardyce left the club at the end of last season
 
Cant wait to welcome him back ,could be the best signing off the summer

[Court LFC]

Cant wait to welcome him back ,could be the best signing off the summer

Don't say that!!!