Liverpool have confirmed the return of Sammy Lee as assistant manager to Rafael Benitez.

The former Bolton Wanderers manager, 49, helped Liverpool to three league titles and two European Cups during 10 years as a player.

"[Lee] has agreed to a third spell at the club as a replacement for first-team coach Alex Miller," the Merseyside club's website stated.

Miller left recently to take over as manager of Japanese club JEF United Ciba.

Lee has been out of work since he was sacked by Bolton in October after just 14 matches in charge.

Following the departures of assistant manager Pako Ayesteran last August and Miller last week, his recruitment will boost Benitez's backroom staff.

After he retired as a player he joined Graeme Souness's coaching staff at Liverpool in 1993, and remained at the club until 2004, having worked under subsequent managers Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier, to become part of the England set-up on a full-time basis.

Just a year later, he returned to club football to become Sam Allardyce's assistant at Wanderers, securing his first and only head coach role in April of last year following Allardyce's departure.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport