Rafael Benitez has appointed Mauricio Pellegrino, the former Valencia and Liverpool defender, as the first-team coach at Anfield.

The 36-year-old Argentinian, who made 12 appearances for Liverpool in 2005, joins Sammy Lee in a new-look backroom team following the departures of Alex Miller and Pako Ayesteran last season.

Pellegrino has been working as a youth-team coach at Valencia but will reunite with his former manager, with whom he won two La Liga triumphs at Valencia.

"His role will be first-team coach, and he will carry out specialist training sessions," Benitez said. "He can also work specifically with the defence and the reserves. Pellegrino has a winning mentality. He won the Intercontinental 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."

Liverpool had 18 senior players reporting for training today, with others who had been involved with their countries during the summer being given an extra week off. Non-internationals such as Jamie Carragher, Steve Finnan and Sami Hyypia all returned.

"We have about 18 back today," Benitez said. "Some of the internationals will be back in the next week. The four Spanish players should be back in three weeks."