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Alex MillerScottish football coach and player
Date of Birth: 04.07.1949
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Content:
- Playing Career
- Coaching Career
- St. Mirren
- Hibernian
- Coventry and Aberdeen
- Liverpool
- JEF United Chiba
- AIK
- FC Sibir Novosibirsk
- Return to St. Mirren
Playing Career
Willie Miller began his playing career with Clydebank Strollers before progressing to Rangers. He made 309 appearances for Rangers between 1967 and 1982, scoring 33 goals during his time at Ibrox. Coached by David White, he was moved into the first team and won his first medal in the Scottish League Cup Final in 1970. He impressed fans with his performance in the 1971 Scottish Cup Final against Celtic, despite playing with a broken jaw. However, under manager William Waddell, he was often a fringe player and was not part of the squad for one of the club's greatest triumphs, the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup Final triumph. It was only after Jock Wallace took over as manager that he began to feature more regularly, often as a substitute. As a regular from the mid-1970s, he collected an array of honors, contributing to three Scottish Football League Championships, three Scottish Cups (also losing in four other finals), and five Scottish League Cups.
Coaching Career
Managerial BeginningsMiller was appointed player-manager when he briefly played for South China in Hong Kong in 1983 but could not save the club from relegation. He then filled the same role at Morton during the early part of the 1983–84 season before joining local rivals St. Mirren, who were then in a higher division, in controversial circumstances.
St. Mirren
Miller managed St. Mirren from 1983 to 1986. He led the Paisley club to European qualification. One of their greatest nights came during that European campaign when Slavia Prague were knocked out after the Saints won 3–0 at Love Street in 1985. Miller formed the team which won the Scottish Cup Final in 1987 but left before that season finished.
Hibernian
Miller took over at Hibernian in 1986 and remained in charge until 1996, a "turbulent" period in the club's history when it battled financial problems. He guided them to Scottish League Cup success in 1991–92, beating Rangers in the semi-final (1–0) and Dunfermline Athletic in the final (2–0). Hibs qualified for the UEFA Cup, losing to Anderlecht on away goals, and reached the 1993 Scottish League Cup Final again but this time lost to Rangers (1–2). Hibs finished third in the league in 1994–95. Miller was dismissed by Hibs in 1996, with some observers accusing him of betraying Hibs' "unsectarian ethos."
Coventry and Aberdeen
Miller then moved to Coventry City, joining fellow Scot Gordon Strachan as assistant manager. A year later, unable to resist the lure of management again, he moved to Aberdeen, replacing Roy Aitken as manager. That job proved unsuccessful, though, and he was replaced by Paul Hegarty in 1998.
Liverpool
Miller joined English Premier League side Liverpool as director of scouting under Gérard Houllier in 1999. However, when Rafael Benítez was appointed Liverpool manager in 2004, he overhauled the scouting system. Miller then worked as a first-team coach, helping the club win the UEFA Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006. Miller left Liverpool in May 2008 to take charge of Japanese club JEF United Chiba.
JEF United Chiba
Despite Miller taking over when they had taken just two points from eleven games, he kept the team in the division. However, after a poor run of results the following season left the club in the relegation zone, Miller had his contract terminated by the club in July 2009.
AIK
Miller was appointed manager of Swedish side AIK in June 2010 as a replacement for Mikael Stahre and Björn Wesström, who had been a caretaker. When Miller took over, AIK were facing relegation, but they eventually finished 11th in the 16-team division.
FC Sibir Novosibirsk
Miller was appointed manager of Russian First Division club FC Sibir Novosibirsk in January 2012. Miller was the first British manager in Russian football. Miller left the club after just nine games.
Return to St. Mirren
Miller returned to St. Mirren on 3 November 2015 as assistant manager to Ian Murray. He became caretaker manager after Murray resigned in December.
