Arne Slot said the opportunity to work at one of the biggest clubs in the world was “hard to ignore” after Liverpool confirmed on Monday that the Feyenoord manager would be their new manager.
Just 24 hours after Jurgen Klopp’s emotional farewell at Anfield, the Premier League club said in a statement that the Dutchman will take over as head coach on June 1, subject to a work permit.
The club did not specify the length of Slot’s contract, but it was widely reported in the British press that he had signed a three-year contract.
The new manager’s arrival was an open secret, with Liverpool reportedly agreeing a compensation deal worth up to £9.4 million ($12 million) with Feyenoord.
Slot, 45, confirmed Anfield will be his next destination in his final press conference ahead of the game at the Eredivisie club on Friday.
“It is certainly not an easy decision to close the door behind you at a club where you have experienced so many wonderful moments and worked successfully with so many wonderful people,” he told the Feyenoord website on Monday.
“But as a sportsman, it’s hard to ignore the opportunity to become a head coach in the Premier League at one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
Klopp, 56, announced in January that the 2023/24 season would be his last at Anfield and took charge of his final game on Sunday, a 2-0 win over Wolves.
In his farewell speech to the crowd, the German asked fans to fully support his successor, leading them in a chant of “Arne Slot, na na na na na”.
“You welcome the new coach like you welcomed me,” he said. “You go all-in from day one. And you keep believing and pushing the team.”
– Feyenoord’s success –
Slot, linked with a move to Tottenham last year, became Feyenoord coach in 2021 after impressing in his first management role at AZ Alkmaar.
He led the Dutch giants to the inaugural Europa Conference League final at the end of his first season, which they lost 1-0 to José Mourinho’s Roma.
Slot then handed only a second league title in 24 years to De Kuip last season before signing a new three-year contract.
Feyenoord have enjoyed a strong season, winning the Dutch Cup and finishing second in the league behind PSV Eindhoven.
Under Slot, Feyenoord delighted De Kuip fans with an attacking brand of football and Slot received praise from Klopp himself.
“I like the way his team plays football. If it’s him, I like that he wants it,” Klopp said last month.
“It’s the best job in the world, the best club in the world. Excellent work, great team, fantastic people. A really interesting job.”
Liverpool captain and fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk praised Slot’s attacking mentality, saying it would suit the Anfield philosophy.
Speaking about the future under new management, Van Dijk said: “It’s all about staying together and giving him the opportunity to show what he’s capable of with the other players coming in.
“He probably already knows, but everyone knows that our expectations are always huge and it’s about managing that in the right way and getting the most out of all our players.”
Slot has big shoes to fill at Anfield after Klopp restored Liverpool to the elite of English and European football during his nine-year reign.
Under his leadership, Liverpool won their sixth Champions League title and 19th league title, as well as numerous other trophies.
Initially, Bayer Leverkusen manager and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was the favorite to succeed Klopp at Anfield.
However, Alonso committed to staying at Leverkusen and led them to their first Bundesliga title.
Liverpool finished third in the Premier League, qualifying for next season’s Champions League, and won the League Cup in Klopp’s final season.
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