Arne Slot, the current Feyenoord coach, has been officially announced as the successor to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool by the Premier League team.
Liverpool revealed in a statement that the 45-year-old Dutchman is set to become the head coach on June 1, pending a work permit. Although the club did not disclose the duration of his contract in their announcement, Sky Sports reported that Arne Slot has agreed to a three-year deal.
The news of Slot joining Liverpool has been circulating for some time, with reports suggesting that a compensation package of up to £9.4 million ($12 million) has been agreed upon.
In his final pre-match press conference with Feyenoord, Slot confirmed that Anfield will be his next destination. Jurgen Klopp had previously announced his departure in January and managed his final game, a 2-0 victory against Wolves, on Sunday.
In his farewell address to the Anfield crowd, Klopp urged fans to show full support for Slot, saying, “You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me. You go all-in from the first day. And you keep believing and you push the team.”
Arne Slot made the move to Feyenoord in 2021 after a successful tenure at AZ Alkmaar. In his first season, he guided the Dutch club to the final of the Europa Conference League, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Roma under Jose Mourinho’s management. Slot also secured Feyenoord’s second league title in 24 years before extending his contract for three more years.
Reflecting on his departure, Slot remarked, “You can see people are genuinely sorry you are leaving. You can say that with words, but when you see it in people’s faces, it affects me quite a lot.”
Feyenoord had a notable season, winning the Dutch Cup and finishing as runners-up to PSV Eindhoven in the league. Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk praised Arne Slot’s attacking approach, believing it aligns well with Anfield’s philosophy.
Initially, Bayer Leverkusen manager and former Liverpool player Xabi Alonso was considered the frontrunner to replace Klopp at Anfield. However, Alonso decided to stay at Leverkusen after leading them to their first Bundesliga title.
In Klopp’s final season, Liverpool won the League Cup and secured a third-place finish in the Premier League, ensuring qualification for the upcoming Champions League campaign.
From Songu Michael.
