Sammy Lee has returned to Liverpool for his third spell at the north west club as assistant manger to Rafael Benitez. The number 2 spot at Anfield has been vacant all season since the departure of Rafa’s former best mate Pako Ayestaran. Lee left Anfield upon the arrival of Benitez but had been asked to stay at the time by Rick Parry and Paco Herrera but resisted the clubs overtures to take up an assistants position for England as he felt strongly allied to Gerard Houllier’s regime.

After a successful spell as Sam Allardyce’s assistant at Bolton, Lee stepped into the breach when Allardyce quit to take the reigns at Newcastle. Bolton slipped into the relegation places under Lee and he was heavily criticised by senior players like Kevin Nolan as he did not favour the negative style employed by Allardyce under which certain players like Nolan had flourished. Lee had remained jobless since his dismissal by Bolton but will see his appointment as Anfield no.2 as a validation of his quality and ethos.