Liverpool FC Forum

[kazza]

Assistant Ayestaran leaves Reds 

Benitez is now working without an assistant manager
Liverpool have revealed Pako Ayestaran has stepped down from his position as assistant manager to Rafael Benitez.
Ayestaran, who has been linked with a return to Spain, remains contracted to the Reds until 30 June 2008, meaning he cannot take up another job until then.

Chief executive Rick Parry told the club website: "After talks between Pako and Rafael, it would be in everyone's best interests if Pako leaves his post.

"Pako, however, will remain under contract to us until next summer."

Do you think Rafael Benitez is doing a good job? 

Parry added: "The club want to thank Pako for his hard work and contribution to our success over the past three years."

Ayestaran worked together with Benitez at Tenerife and Valencia and they moved to Liverpool together in June 2004.


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I guess he was given time to clear his head and "back down" but this did not happen. It is a shame but life goes on. I hope that this closure means that the team moves on and starts playing good football.

Walk on

[Leonmc0708]

Changed the title of the thread, as it was a little ambiguous.

Gardening leave is not over, its on until June next year.

[tubby]

http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2007/10/19/Prem-Lee-set-for-Liverpool-talks/

Personally i wouldnt mind seeing him back at the club.

[Reg]

Sammy Lee, the human tennis ball in charge of fitness, very poetic!

Sammy´s got a heart of gold but I´m not sure he´s cut out for the top flight.

[NANNY RED]

Just read a good article about Pako by Jamie Carragher .
It must have affected Rafa a little bit though i mean they did  work toghether for 11 years


JAMIE CARRAGHER has dismissed suggestions the departure of Pako Ayesteran has contributed to Liverpool’s downturn in form – and believes anyone that does is “looking for excuses”.

Since Ayesteran left his post as assistant manager at the end of August following an irrevocable breakdown in his working relationship with Rafael Benitez, Liverpool have won just three of eight games and slipped to fourth in the Premier League.

Ayesteran’s exit was formally confirmed at the weekend, although the Spaniard will remain contracted at Anfield until the end of June next year to prevent him falling into the immediate clutches of any rival clubs.

But while Carragher believes Ayesteran was “outstanding” as Liverpool’s fitness coach, the centre-back has revealed the footballing side of training has remained unchanged since the departure.

And the 29-year-old has rubbished rumours Benitez’s methods have been adversely affected by the loss of his former trusted lieutenant.

“Gerard Houllier had the same thing thrown at him when Patrice Bergues left, and in that case I do think that had a big impact,” said Carragher.

“But the difference now is that Rafa Benitez is a coach, while Gerard Houllier was more of simply a manager and observed coaching rather than actually taking it.

“I got on great with Pako, he was superb at his job and he had a great relationship with the manager, but he was the fitness coach.

“Rafa is the coach. At the end of the day, we’ve lost a fitness coach, not a football coach, although it’s a fitness coach who was outstanding at his job.

“But it’s still the manager picking the team. Rafa is the football man and that hasn’t changed, and I’m sure the results since Pako has left is just a coincidence.

“I can understand why people might look at that. People are always looking for reasons why a team isn’t playing so well, but in the training sessions we are still doing the same things.

“If people do look at Pako leaving as the reason for our loss in form, I think they are looking for excuses really.”