Gary McAllister has returned to Liverpool FC to take up the role of first-team coach in Brendan Rodgers' backroom staff.
The 50-year-old quickly became a fan favourite in his short two-year spell with the club between 2000 and 2002. After arriving on a free transfer as a 35-year-old, he won five trophies as an everpresent in midfield.
McAllister was handpicked from a shortlist of ex-players to come in and add some experience to the coaching team, with others like Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyppia also under consideration.
With coach Mike Marsh and former assistant manager Colin Pascoe having left the club at the end of last season, McAllister joins Sean O'Driscoll, who was brought in to replace the Welshman, whilst highly-rated under-16s manager Pepijn Lijnders was also promoted to the first-team.
Scot ecstatic to be back at Anfield
McAllister, who scored nine goals in 87 appearances across two seasons and insisted that he felt he "owes" the club for the opportunity they gave him over a decade ago.
"I'm delighted," he added. "I am really excited about the prospect of coming back. It is fantastic and I'm really looking forward to it.
"This is similar [to joining the Reds at 35]. I feel the same as I did with that because that was a surprise phone call back then, to be given the chance to play for Liverpool at that age.
McAllister, lovingly known as Gary Mac by the Liverpool fans, continued: "I am looking forward to working with the players. There have been some exciting signings and there are some fantastic players already at the club.
"There's definite quality there and I'm just looking forward to getting in amongst it."
Formerly a Scottish international, McAllister went on to be player-manager at Coventry City before retiring in 2004. After a four year break from football, he returned to manage Leeds United - where he managed a 50% win ratio, before being sacked for a poor run of results.
After taking a job as a first-team coach at Middlesbrough, he accepted an offer from Gerard Houllier to become assistant manager at Aston Villa - briefly taking over as interim manager when the Frenchman fell ill, but he was let go at the end of the 2010-11 season.
Rodgers hails McAllister's connection with Liverpool
McAllister is expected to join Liverpool on their pre-season tour to the Far East and Australia, with a 30-man squad flying out on Sunday.
There, he will work alongside the likes of Rodgers and his new-look coaching staff and the Reds boss could not his delight at announcing McAllister's return.
"Gary has a special connection with this club and its supporters," said the Northern Irishman. "When I met him I was struck by his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge for what we are looking to achieve here.
"He has experience coaching at the highest level and he is someone who can connect with the players and help them learn from his knowledge and understanding of representing this great club."