Arne Slot, the former Feyenoord manager who was confirmed as Liverpool manager on Monday, is known as a passionate leader who gets the most out of his player and demands a strong work ethic.
A fan of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Slot was a skilled attacker as a player with a reputation as an accurate passer – so much so that he has a move named after him.
Here are five key facts about the 45-year-old who will replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
– Arne slot pass –
Slot joined PEC Zwolle as a 17-year-old striker known more for his technique than his running.
“A lot of people thought Arne was lazy and phlegmatic. But that wasn’t right. You simply shouldn’t expect tackles,” his former coach Jan Everse told public broadcaster NOS.
“Silky” and “cultured” are words often used to describe his playing style, and PEC Zwolle still employs the “Arne Slot Pass”, said former teammate Bram van Polen.
The Arne Slot Pass is a slight deflection by an attacker with his back to goal that splits the defense and releases a winger running off the ball.
– Dressing room style –
When Slot’s name was linked to the Anfield job, Liverpool fans, looking for clues about their future manager’s style, widely shared a rousing talk he gave to Feyenoord players after a historic victory over Ajax.
“The reason we are where we are today is because you work hard every day. And that’s why you can beat this team in their own stadium, without our fans being here,” he said in the locker room.
“But it’s just a win. It’s a big win, but we have a bigger goal this season than winning for the first time in 17 years in Amsterdam,” said Slot to applause from the team.
– Spurs Links –
Liverpool were not the first Premier League club to show interest in Slot. He was heavily linked with Tottenham during their troubled search to replace Antonio Conte in May 2023.
As Spurs were on the verge of completing the deal, Slot left abruptly, signing a new contract with Rotterdam side Feyenoord.
“The decisive factor was playing in the Champions League… the fact that I was having a lot of fun privately and that I was able to enjoy the last two seasons”, said the Dutchman at the time.
Feyenoord’s Champions League campaign started well with a 2-0 home win over Celtic, but two defeats against Atlético Madrid sealed their fate and they finished third in Group E.
– Guardiola fan –
The British press has dubbed Slot the “Dutch Pep Guardiola” due to his high-pressing attacking style, much appreciated by Feyenoord fans.
In several interviews he has cited Guardiola as his role model, telling Algemeen Dagblad (AD) last year: “The players always look very good under him. And the same players look worse under the coaches before and after him.”
Slot certainly admires Manchester City’s legendary Spanish manager, but he will now face the task of trying to stop him from winning a fifth successive Premier League title next season.
– Run, run, run –
As a coach, Slot is known for a fierce work ethic, driving to Feyenoord’s camp before dawn, watching every training session and obsessively studying future opponents.
“I say to Feyenoord: you have to make sure you create four times as many chances as your opponent and work twice as hard,” Slot told AD.
“In every game we’ve won this season, we see in the data that we’ve run 20 or 30 percent more than our opponents. Games we haven’t won: just three or six percent more.”
“Every training, every meeting must be on time,” he said.
This led to results for Feyenoord, seen as a team with physically fit players who work hard for each other and often score late goals.
Slot appears to have cultivated this work ethic as a coach rather than as a player.
“He wants his boys to be in shape… he didn’t have that before. I don’t know if he’s ever seen the inside of a weight room,” said former teammate Van Polen.
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