Liverpool coach Miller to join Japan's Chiba

TOKYO (Reuters) - Liverpool first-team coach Alex Miller is to become the new manager of JEF United Chiba in Japan, the Premier League club confirmed on Thursday.

Officials at the struggling J-League side announced earlier on Thursday they had made an informal decision on appointing the 58-year-old Scot.

"Miller is one of our candidates. We have a match this weekend so we want to name the new manager as soon as possible. We should have more details in the next day or two," JEF United's Kentaro Shiga told Reuters.

Miller, who has spent nearly a decade at Anfield, became first-team coach in 2004 when Rafael Benitez became manager.

"It is very positive news for Alex. This is a very good opportunity for him to coach in Japan," the Spaniard told Liverpool's Web site (www.liverpoolfc.tv).

"I want to wish Alex all the best in his new job."

Japanese media reported that the J-League side, who sacked Croatian Josip Kuze in midweek, have offered Miller a salary of 500,000 pounds ($975,000) a year.

Chiba are rooted firmly to the bottom of the J-League first division without a win in 11 matches this season.

The Tokyo Bayside club have lost several top players in recent seasons, Japan internationals Naotake Hanyu and Satoru Yamagishi joining the exodus before the start of the 2008 campaign.

Miller managed Scottish clubs Hibernian and Aberdeen before joining Liverpool's backroom staff in 1999 as chief scout under then manager Gerard Houllier.

His departure from Anfield is a blow for Benitez, who has come under fire from Liverpool's owners about his team's failure to mount a serious title challenge.

"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," Benitez said. "We have some names and options but need more discussion first."

Miller, who famously played in the 1972 Scottish Cup final for Rangers with a broken jaw, finished out his playing career in Asia with Hong Kong side South China AA.

(additional reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Miles Evans)