Kevin Keen.

Liverpool FC announced today that Kevin Keen is to join the Club as First Team Coach.

Keen has signed a three year deal and will join up with his new colleagues on Monday when the Liverpool squad report back to Melwood for the start of pre-season training.

Keen made over 600 appearances in spells with West Ham, Wolves, Stoke City, Macclesfield and Wycombe.

He was previously First Team Coach at Upton Park and has acted as Caretaker Manager for the Hammers on three separate occasions.

Team Manager Kenny Dalglish said: "I'm delighted that Kevin is joining us to work alongside Steve Clarke coaching the First Team squad. He has previously worked with Steve at West Ham and has a good reputation and a good manner about him.

"He is highly respected in the game and will be a great addition to our technical staff."

He's an experienced player and coach and looks like a good appointment to the coaching setup at Liverpool FC.

It also looks like Steve Clarke will become the assistant manager.

Your thoughts on the news?

 

Steve Clarke's assistant manager appointment is imminent following the signing of Kevin Keen as a first team coach. Someone who knows Steve is good because having worked alongside him before, he'll know what's required of him and Steve Clarke will fit in nicely as assistant to King Kenny.

Who knows, maybe FSG have already set a long-term plan for the managerial position. Jamie Carragher anyone? (Yes, jumping the gun by a fair few bit)

 

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said: 'I'm delighted that Kevin is joining us to work alongside Steve Clarke coaching the first team squad.

'He has previously worked with Steve at West Ham and has a good reputation and a good manner about him. He is highly respected in the game and will be a great addition to our technical staff.'

By that quote I wouldnt think Clarke is going to be asst manager. Maybe he has another person lined up for the asst job

 

Very good spot mate. But.. Who?

 

Perhaps Wilkins?

 

no idea.. as long as he doesnt try a rafa and have no assistant

 

I like the fact we are making a lot of changes. He have to distance ourselves as far away from the first half of last season as possible!

Lee will be back in 5-10 years no doubt.

 

Rushie has got his FA coaching badges and i put £5 on him being a part of Kenny's backroom staff next season(they only gave me 25/1),thank **** it was only a fiver.

 

Not too sure mate i wouldn't think we will now sign someone above Clarke when he's been an assistant manager before (best paid Assistant Manager in the league at W Ham) and has said he one day wants to be a manager himself. Don't think he would have signed a 3 year contract with us if our plan included immediately blocking his way up the ladder.

I'm not sure exactly what an assistant manager does, but i swear Sammy Lee is always in the pictures of training and stuff so Clarke may still be able to coach the first team and fulfill other duties?

I see Kenny being here for at least 3 more years, and then if there isn't a suitable candidate then Clarke may follow him into the job, with Carra joining the coaching staff. Carra is surely 10 years away from being manager.

I happen to think Steve Clarke will one day be one of the best managers around. Everyone who knows him speaks glowingly of him, his record of improving teams (particularly defensively) is excellent, and he comes across really well. There is of course also the X Factor- he's scottish. Was reading an article about the divisions at Chelsea and how Mourinho fell out with Terry etc, and even then Clarke was quietly claimed to be the real tactical/technical knowledge behind the end to their season, rather than Avram Grant.

 

Does every team have an assistant manager these days? back in my day, you had a manager and a first team coach, Paisley was the coach, not the assistant manager. it sounds like a glorified job title to me.

 

Steve Clarke was Assistant manager in everything but name since January.Maybe it was this that put Sammy's nose out of joint.I thought he would have stayed to be good cop to Steve Clarkes bad cop to be honest,similar to the old days with Ronnie Moran and Roy Evans.

 

Good luck to Sammy wherever he goes next and welcome Mr Kevin Keegan...I mean Keen...to Anfield.

...and for all those complaining about a "lack of transfers"...thankfully we seem to be trying to address all the issues at the club not just focusing on the playing staff at the expense of everything else.

Roll on next month