Alex Miller ended 11 months out of football by making a surprise return yesterday, being appointed the new manager of AIK Stockholm, the Swedish champions.
Miller, 60, was last employed by JEF United Chiba in Japan, where he made a somewhat acrimonious departure after 14 months in charge in July 2009. Before that the former St Mirren, Hibernian and Aberdeen manager had spent nine years at Liverpool, where he was first chief scout and then first-team coach under Gérard Houllier and Rafael Benítez.
Miller, who had a 15-year playing career with Rangers, had made no secret of his desire to get back into football as quickly as possible, though a Scandinavian destination will surprise many, perhaps even himself.
Ironically, AIK have something of a Scottish tradition, having previously been managed by Stuart Baxter, now the manager of Finland and courted by Celtic recently for the role of technical director.
Miller has agreed to work in Sweden with Björn Wesström, the AIK assistant coach, and said that he was thrilled to land the job, even though AIK are having a disastrous season, lying third bottom of the Allsvenskan, the Swedish premier league.
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“AIK is a great club, with dedicated fans, and I share the club’s philosophy about playing football — not just kicking the ball — and their strategy to be an ambitious club where players can develop,” Miller said. “I look forward to lifting the club further with Björn Wesström and the others in management.”
It proved a swift introduction to the job yesterday — Miller actually conducted his first training session with his players in the afternoon. The Swedes are halfway through their 2010 season, but Miller faces the task of stabilising AIK and preparing them for a fresh assault next season. He is a figure who has felt a little aggrieved at his ostracism from the game over the past year, after doing what he felt was a good job in Japan.
Miller has applied for various jobs in Britain and, having become a No 1 again in Japan after his Liverpool years, he wanted to remain as a manager in his own right. He began his managerial career with a brief stint at Hong Kong’s South China club in 1983.
“I have always believed in my ability,” Miller said. “I think my record stands up to scrutiny, and I certainly think I did a good job with Chiba. The circumstances in Japan were very difficult, with a club owner who had his own problems to deal with, but I think I did a decent job there.
“I’ve got lots of experience and have worked with the best at Liverpool. I know how to manage a football club.”
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Miller was due to meet with AIK supporters for a fans’ forum last night at the club’s stadium, where he planned to outline his vision for the future.
Meanwhile, Mixu Paatelainen is closing in on being named as the new Kilmarnock manager. The Finn has held extensive talks with Michael Johnston, the Kilmarnock chairman, and could even be confirmed in the position today.
Paatelainen, if appointed, will surprise a few, having been sacked by Hibernian in May 2009 after 18 months in the job. Kilmarnock have approached various figures — Steve Kean, Thomas Haessler and Gus MacPherson among them — but appear to have settled on Paatelainen as the man to succeed Jimmy Calderwood.