GARY MCALLISTER HAS been revealed as Liverpool’s new first-team coach as Brendan Rodgers continues to restructure his back-room staff ahead of the new Premier League season.
The 50 year-old spent two years at Anfield between 2000 and 2002, making 49 appearances and scoring seven times. In 2001, he was part of the Liverpool squad that walked away with the FA Cup, Uefa Cup and League Cup and scored in the memorable 5-4 European final victory against Alaves from the penalty spot.
After his spell at Anfield, McAllister moved to Coventry as player-coach before taking over as Leeds manager in January 2008 but was gone by the end of the year. There was a brief coaching stint at Middlesbrough before he became Gerard Houllier’s assistant at Aston Villa in September 2010 but left Villa Park at the end of the season.
Speaking to Liverpool’s official website about his new appointment, McAllister said:
“I’m delighted. I’m really excited about the prospect of coming back. It’s fantastic and I’m really looking forward to it. I feel as if I owe Liverpool, getting that opportunity at the last stage of my career, at 35 and getting that opportunity.”
“This is similar, I feel the same as I did with that – that was a surprise phone call back then when I was given a chance to come and play at Liverpool as a 35-year-old.
“Right place at the right time, and I just hope it repeats itself. A lot of hard work and dedication… everything is there, Liverpool is a club where you can win things – that’s a fact.”
There has been plenty of changes to Brendan Rodgers’ staff since the end of last term. His assistants, Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh, were sacked in June while Sean O’Driscoll was announced as Rodgers’ new number two earlier this week. Dutch coach Pep Lijnders has also been promoted to the senior staff.
