Lee takes full-time FA role

Lee will have wide-ranging responsibilities in his new role

England assistant Sammy Lee has given up his coaching job at Liverpool to join the Football Association's staff on a full-time basis.

Lee will continue as part of the senior set-up, as well as working with the coaches of the national youth teams.

"I am extremely excited by this chance to work with the best players in the country at various levels," said Lee.

"It was a wrench to leave Liverpool but the chance to take this new challenge was impossible to resist," he said.

He added: "I've had the privilege of working with Sven-Goran Eriksson and the senior team over the past couple of years, as well as the Under-21s before that, and I look forward to building upon these experiences."

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry paid tribute to Lee's contribution as player and coach.

"We are very sorry that Sammy has decided to leave, but he goes with all our very best wishes for the future," Parry told the club's official website.

"Sammy's been a wonderful servant to Liverpool as both player and coach.

"He should be proud of his contribution to the successes achieved at the club in recent years."