The Argentine had been working as a youth team coach at Spanish club Valencia but will now move into the Anfield backroom team.

Pellegrino won the La Liga title under Benitez when the pair were at Valencia, but played just 12 matches for Liverpool during a brief stint in 2005.

Last season coach Alex Miller left the club to take up a management job with JEF United in Japan, while Pako Ayesteran also departed.

three children

"His role will be first-team coach, and he will also carry out specialist training sessions," Benitez told the club's official website.

"He can also work specifically with the defence, and also the reserves.

"Pellegrino has a winning mentality. He won the Inter-continental Cup before going to Spain with Barcelona and Valencia.

"He has a lot of passion. When I asked him to come he was very pleased, but first he wanted to find out if there was a school where his three children could play good football.

"He is a football man."


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