Replacing Jurgen Klopp is a tall order, but in Arne Slot, the Reds could find a solid solution to accomplish an unenviable task.
The Feyenoord boss has emerged as a strong contender to succeed Klopp at Anfield this summer, after fan favorite Xabi Alonso opted to stay at Bayer Leverkusen, while talk over Ruben’s prospects Amorim’s move from Sporting Lisbon has cooled off.
Slot is a man Tottenham fans will know very well, having looked set to replace Antonio Conte a year ago following his excellent work in Rotterdam. However, there was a twist to the story as the 45-year-old opted to stay at Feyenoord and sign a new contract.
Despite his success in Holland, Liverpool fans may have concerns about what he can bring to the table and whether he will be able to fill the big shoes left behind by Klopp. They will also take a look at their biggest rivals, Manchester United, and see how Erik ten Hag is currently struggling at Old Trafford after impressing at Ajax.
But Slot is a cutting-edge operator with an exciting brand of football, and could prove a smart appointment if the Reds make a successful move for him.
Arne Slot has become a strong candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Slot has impressed many with his work in Rotterdam, winning the Eredivisie title last season.
Filling Klopp’s boots at Anfield is a huge challenge, but Slot could be a smart appointment
His management approach is defined by energy, a high-octane pressing style that Klopp himself, with his ‘heavy metal’ style of football, would approve of.
Dutch football experts have also compared him to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, with Slot said to be a big admirer of the Spaniard.
A Dutch journalist said sky sports last year, before his failed move to Tottenham: “He is a very good coach.” I have followed Feyenoord for 40 years. Not since Johan Cruyff’s days at Ajax in the 1980s has there been such an attack-minded manager in the Dutch league. Cruyff only had a few disciples who followed him and one of them was Pep Guardiola.
“I would say that Slot is a Guardiola-style coach based on everything I have seen in recent years. Feyenoord fans cannot believe what they have seen during that time.”
Slot prefers to deploy a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system that is based on possession and would fit the current Liverpool team. His goal is to win the ball back as quickly as possible and his team leads the Eredivisie in tackles won in the opponent’s final third.
He likes his teams to play with two holding midfielders, while the attacking impetus is placed on the wide players to provide opportunities for the central striker.
Explaining his approach with Feyenoord, Slot told UEFA: “We are an attack-minded team that likes to have a lot of ball and we play with a lot of intensity.”
“When we don’t have the ball, we want to win it back as quickly as possible by being aggressive and pressing to regain possession. I think we are a difficult team to beat.”
Slot has been described as a ‘Pep Guardiola-style coach’ thanks to his work at Feyenoord
One person claimed they play the most offensive style of football seen in the Netherlands since the late Johan Cruyff (pictured) was coach.
Slot prefers to deploy a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system at Feyenoord with two defensive midfielders and a reliance on wingers to create opportunities for a central striker.
The Dutchman also has a reputation for developing youth players, something that will be integral for the Reds in the future given the number of youngsters coming through, including Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah, who have impressed since first stepping up.
The players like it. “He understands people, that’s his biggest strength,” a source told Mail Sport last year.
Although he has a charismatic charm and is well-liked by players, he was also described as someone who is “not necessarily easy.”
Another source said: ‘He’s a very friendly and nice guy, that’s what he uses. “Arne is a great coach, but it is not necessarily easy,” said a source. “He runs the entire Feyenoord club and has all the power.”
Slot previously impressed at AZ Alkmaar but was abruptly sacked in December 2020 after owner Robert Eenhoorn was informed that the manager attended a clandestine meeting with Feyenoord to replace then-manager Dick Advocaat.
Although he may be a challenging figure at Feyenoord, his success at the club is not in question.
The Eredivisie team has a rich history with players such as Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Robin van Persie and Henrik Larsson all previously playing for the club. They won the European Cup in 1970, the UEFA Cup twice and the Dutch title 16 times.
They had only won the league once this century before Slot led them to the title last season.
It even came after they had to deal with the loss of some of their great players, such as Tyrell Malacia, Luis Sinisterra, Marcos Senesi and Fredrik Aursnes left for a combined £60m after losing in the Europa Conference League final to Roma two years ago.
A source told Mail Sport last year that Slot “runs the whole club at Feyenoord”, so one might expect he would like to have a big say behind the scenes at Liverpool.
Slot could join Dutch compatriots Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch at Anfield
Striker Santiago Giménez, photographed after Feyenoord’s Dutch Cup triumph, has been among the signings who have signed for the club under Slot’s management.
But they continue to buy players wisely, with Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez scoring 47 goals in 85 appearances since joining the club for just £3m in the summer of 2022.
PSV Eindhoven are on the verge of regaining the Dutch title this season, but Slot’s Feyenoord’s second-place finish along with success in the Dutch Cup this month reflects another strong season.
His Feyenoord team has proven to be efficient in both attack and defense, scoring 77 goals in 30 games and only conceding 23.
Dutch legend Marco van Basten is convinced Slot can become a hit at Liverpool if the Reds do something.
“I hope he stays longer in Holland because he is an enrichment for Dutch football. He can really go anywhere: Bayern Munich, Liverpool… I’m really convinced of that,” Van Basten said of Ziggo Sport’s Slot on Rondo.
‘I have spoken to him several times and I think what he does and what he sees is very strong. He gets along very well with the group of players, he has good tactical management, he knows how to explain well and is calm and intelligent. I think he can go to any club, even the most difficult ones, because he is very intelligent.
Slot has two major titles during his time at Feyenoord, in a league that has so often been dominated by Ajax and PSV Eindhoven during the 21st century.
Marco van Basten believes Slot would find it easier to succeed at Liverpool with better players and believes he has the quality to become Anfield manager
“He has many qualities and he shows them at all levels. First he did it at AZ and now at Feyenoord. And Feyenoord is a really complicated club. He has been doing well for three years, while PSV and Ajax have many more options in terms of money.
‘It really could fit anywhere. If you get AZ and Feyenoord to play football, you will also get big clubs like AC Milan to play football. You can clearly see his hand where the trainer is.
“I think it will be even easier for him at a higher level because he has better players who understand his ideas faster. I also think he is smart enough to handle stubborn players.”
His work has not gone unnoticed, with Tottenham and Chelsea already considering moves for him last year, while teams such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan will have Slot on their minds as they look for new managers.
Slot himself has also stated that he hopes his next step will be the Premier League.
He said: “My next step will not be a club in Holland.
‘If that is my next step, then I have completely failed. “The next normal step will be to go abroad and I have always said that the best league in the world is the Premier League.”