Why Liverpool wants Feyenoord coach Arne Slot: successes and tactics

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Background on the Klopp successor

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Liverpool’s title fight all but ended with their devastating 2-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening. The Toffees put an end to their arch-rivals’ dream of winning the Premier League title in Jürgen Klopp’s last season at Anfield – at least a possible championship for the Reds is no longer in their own hands. The German coach announced his decision to step down in January to recharge his batteries and take a year-long break from football. Since then there has been speculation about the 56-year-old’s successor, and Feyenoord’s Arne Slot is now likely to take over the position from the summer.

When Klopp made his announcement, Liverpool were still in the running for four trophies. It now looks like the League Cup will remain the only title this season. In recent days, attention has shifted more towards Klopp’s successor. As with FC Bayern, Xabi Alonso was long considered first choice, but the Spaniard signed with Bayer Leverkusen for another season. Arne Slot has now emerged as the favorite and the candidate himself has now confirmed that talks are ongoing between his club and Liverpool management. Transfermarkt takes a closer look at Slot’s coaching history and style – with assessments from our Eredivisie expert.

Seven different trophies: all of Jürgen Klopp’s titles with Liverpool

Slot the next Erik ten day and a good replacement for Jürgen Klopp?

Slot ended Ajax Amsterdam’s Eredivisie dominance by winning the title with Feyenoord last season. However, the club then had a difficult start to the season and will not be able to defend the championship – rival PSV is on the verge of winning the 25th title in the club’s history after an 8-0 win at SC Heerenveen (5-0). It is difficult to avoid comparisons between Slot and coach Erik Ten Hag (Manchester United), who recently moved to the island from the Dutch league, when looking at their work. Kevin Lux, Area Manager Transfermarkt Netherlands, shows the parallels.

“It’s always difficult to say whether a coach from the Eredivisie will fit in the Premier League, and that also applies to players,” says Lux. “You look at Erik ten Hag, who shone at Ajax but didn’t return to United seems to be heading. In my opinion, Liverpool is an even more difficult task because the new coach has to succeed a club icon like Klopp. In many ways, Slot could be described as the new ten Hag, as he turned a Dutch team into one that did well in Europe. Two years ago he reached the final of the Conference League and a year later played in the Europa League. Just like ten Hag at Ajax, Slot had to replace his key players every year, and every year he managed to build a competitive team very quickly. It was bad luck that he couldn’t beat PSV in the Eredivisie this year, otherwise he would have been champion again this year.”

While ten Hag’s debut season in England was successful, the second season was to be more difficult. United are currently in sixth place and the Dutchman’s tactical concept has recently been heavily criticized. Replacing Klopp is seen as an even less enviable task given the transformation he has made at Liverpool. But TM expert Lux believes Slot will bring “fun” to Anfield – if he is given the time he needs. “I’m excited to see how he does when he has to play in the best league in the world for one of the best clubs in the world,” said Lux. “When he started at Feyenoord there was no pressure and when he made it, To make the team competitive again, he was immediately the hero in Rotterdam. That’s why he got off to a relatively leisurely start to this season. Liverpool probably won’t give him that time and luxury. But if he gets them to build his own team, I’m confident Liverpool will have a lot of fun with Slot.”

What has coach Arne Slot achieved in the Eredivisie?

In just his fifth season as head coach, the 45-year-old Slot has taken Dutch football by storm and quickly established himself as one of the most promising coaches in all of European football. After stints in the youth ranks of PEC Zwolle and the first team of Cambuur, Slot was hired as assistant coach of AZ Alkmaar in 2017 and took over as head coach in 2019. And in no time, the Bergentheim-born tactician set to work turning the Dutch club around. After finishing fourth last year, Slot led the club to second place, narrowly missing out on top of the table on goal difference.

With Bella-Kotchap and Tillman: Most valuable players in the Eredivisie

Josip Sutalo | Ajax | Market value: €15 million

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Calvin Stengs | Feyenoord | Market value: €15 million

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Jordan Teze | PSV | Market value: €16 million

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Noa Lang | PSV | Market value: €20 million

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Jorrel Hato | Ajax | Market value: €22 million

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Quinten Timber | Feyenoord | Market value: €22 million

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Sergino Dest | PSV | Market value: €22 million

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Quillindschy Hartman | Feyenoord | Market value: €23 million

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Jerdy Schouten | PSV | Market value: €24 million

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Brian Brobbey | Ajax | Market value: €25 million

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Olivier Boscagli | PSV | Market value: €27 million

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Mats Wieffer | Feyenoord | Market value: €27 million

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Lutsharel Geertruida | Feyenoord | Market value: €32 million

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Joey Veerman | PSV | Market value: 32 Mio. €

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David Hancko | Feyenoord | Market value: €35 million

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Johan Bakayoko | PSV | Market value: €40 million

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Santiago Gimenez | Feyenoord | Market value: €45 million

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-€5 million in March 2024 update

Feyenoord soon became aware of the young coach. Slot, who was tasked with replacing Dick Advocaat and building a team capable of competing among the best in Dutch football, hit the ground running and led Feyenoord to third place in his first season. This was followed by winning the title the next year and probably second place this season. “Arne Slot embodies the new generation of Dutch managers,” says Lux, Content Manager of TM in the Netherlands. “Together with Erik ten Hag, he has proven both at AZ and now at Feyenoord that he is capable of turning outsiders into challengers. He knows how to give his teams a tactical advantage and the players he works with are showing incredible progress.”

What kind of football does Arne Slot play?

Slots success in Dutch football is obvious on paper. But what kind of football does his teams actually play? “One of the key elements is that all of his teams are extremely fit,” says Lux, answering the question about Slot’s style of football. “Slot lets his team play organized and offensive. There is a lot of movement in the midfield and on the wings, making them difficult to defend. However, the most important component is the fitness of the players.”

What Slot is up to has been documented since his public statement on Thursday. “I want to be the new Liverpool coach. My decision is clear,” the 45-year-old told the TV station “ESPN” before the league game at Go Ahead Eagles. “Feyenoord and Liverpool are in negotiations. “I’ll wait and see what happens,” said Slot. “We are waiting for an agreement, but I am confident that it will work.” Slot still has a two-year contract with Feyenoord and a transfer fee of 10 million euros is being discussed.

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