Arne Slot has confirmed that he will be Liverpool’s new manager, with the Feyenoord boss replacing Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.
Klopp’s announcement that he would be leaving at the end of the 2023-24 season saw several managers linked with the vacant role at Anfield, with Xabi Alonso long considered the favourite.
Liverpool have not formally announced the move, but Slot revealed he would replace the German on the bench.
“I can confirm that I will be coach there next season,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
Slot, 45, has reportedly signed his contract to become Anfield’s next manager. According to Fabrizio Romano, the work permit for his coaching staff is still pending and Liverpool will make an official announcement regarding his selection.
Arne Slot has confirmed that he will be the new Liverpool manager and will replace Jurgen Klopp next season
Slot won the league with Feyenoord and has been chosen as the man to succeed Klopp
Klopp will probably go down in history as one of the greatest managers in Liverpool’s history, winning the Premier League, the Champions League and the Club World Cup at Anfield.
Slot’s revelation comes just hours after Klopp, 56, held his final press conference as Liverpool manager, where he admitted that the last week had “been the most intense of my life.”
After Bayer Leverkusen manager Alonso announced he would stay in Germany, Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim appeared to be the main contenders, before talks turned to the Feyenoord job in early April.
The Dutchman was heavily linked with Tottenham last year but now arrives in the Premier League at one of English football’s traditional heavyweights, with Liverpool agreeing a £9.4m compensation package with Feyenoord.
Now he arrives at possibly the most coveted managerial position on the continent, with a team that was competing on four fronts until deep into the campaign within his reach.
Slot rose to prominence for his work at Feyenoord, winning the Eredivisie at a canter in 2022-23 before adding the Dutch Cup this season, with his team set to finish second in the league behind leaders PSV.
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The Dutchman had been open to accepting the position if that offer was made to him. “The clubs are negotiating,” he said last month.
‘I’m waiting to see what will come of this.
‘It’s no secret that I would like to go to Liverpool. Now I am waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement. I have full confidence in it.’
After a match against Go Ahead Eagles, Slot reiterated his desire to join Liverpool and said it would be “madness” not to consider their interest.
“I’m having a great time at Feyenoord, but if there’s a club like Liverpool, it would be crazy if you didn’t find it a great next step in your career. Clubs are in talks and I’m looking forward to that. That was me before the match and I still am two hours later.
Speaking on Friday, Klopp said: “These are already great moments, we don’t have to pretend it’s a normal week because it’s not.” I am a very pragmatic person. I’ve been saying it’s the last game and then the holidays, everything as always.
“Yesterday we had a barbecue here with the players. The day before with the staff at Chapel St. It’s a lot. Saying goodbye is never pleasant. But saying goodbye without feeling sad would mean that our time together wasn’t great.’
Liverpool’s new sporting director Richard Hughes has strong ties to Feyenoord after signing defender Marcos Senesi for his former club Bournemouth. Slot ticked the most boxes after an exhaustive search for Klopp’s successor led by Michael Edwards, chief football executive of owners Fenway Sports Group.
Anfield officials contacted the Dutch champions with a first offer of compensation for the 49-year-old, who has no release clause in his contract.
He has already received a glowing endorsement from Klopp, who described his now-confirmed successor as “a good guy” and praised the way his teams play.
Slot’s ability to connect with its players has been noted as one of its key strengths.
There will be a new face on the Anfield bench next season when the Dutchman takes charge
Jurgen Klopp publicly endorsed Slot on Friday as “a good coach and a good guy”
“I definitely like the way your team plays football,” he said.
“All the things I hear about him (some people I know know him, I don’t know him yet), but some people tell me he’s a really good guy, and I really like that.
“Well, good coach, good boy, I’m looking forward to the club.”
‘If he is the solution, or the man, then I am more than happy.
‘It’s not my place to judge these things, but everything seems very good to me.
“It’s the best job in the world, the best club in the world.
“Obviously now I help even if I don’t end up at the top, it seems, so there’s room for improvement.”
‘It’s great work, fantastic people. I would take a really interesting job.
His praise at the Dutch team has made him an ideal candidate to succeed Klopp at Anfield.
Slot led Feyenoord to just their second Eredivisie title in 24 years last season.
Slot is expected to bring some of his backroom staff to the Merseyside club.
Slot arrives with a squad that competed on four fronts in the middle of the campaign within reach
Slot arrives at Anfield at a time when the future of several players is still unclear.
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold will be out of contract at the end of 2024-25, with decisions needing to be made this summer.
Salah’s situation in particular is uncertain following his on-field dispute with Klopp against West Ham, although reports suggest the club are planning for him to remain part of the team next season.
Klopp announced at the end of January that he would be leaving the club after almost nine years in charge and delivered a Carabao Cup in his last term.