Alex Miller, Liverpool's first team coach, is to leave Anfield to become manager of a Japanese J League club.

The 58-year-old has been appointed manager of JEF United Chiba, and is expected to arrive in Japan on Saturday and will attend their league match against Kyoto Sanga. Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has confirmed he is looking for a replacement.

"We are convinced that Mr Miller is a wonderful person who can improve our team," Hirotake Miki, the Chiba president, said "We, as the whole club, would like to work together with our new manager to focus on our games for the rest of the season."

Miller becomes the second prominent member of Benitez's staff to leave the club this season following the departure of Pako Ayesteran, his assistant, last August. Benitez wished the former Rangers player well.

"It is very positive news for Alex," he said. "This is a very good opportunity for him to coach in Japan. It means we will be promoting some of the existing coaching staff and also over the summer we will be looking to bring in a replacement. We have some names and options but need more discussion first. I want to wish Alex all the best in his new job."

Chiba are currently bottom of the J League after collecting just two points from 11 games so far this season before Croatian coach Josip Kuze was sacked on Wednesday. Miller, a former manager of St Mirren and Hibernian, joined Liverpool in 1999 as chief scout but became first-team coach following the arrival of Benitez in 2004.

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