Liverpool have agreed a deal for Arne Slot (Picture: Getty)
Arne Slot has announced that he will leave Feyenoord to take charge of Liverpool this summer.
It comes after the Reds struck a deal over a compensation package worth £9.4million (£7.7million plus £1.7m in add-ons) for the Dutchman, who steered Feyenoord to the club’s first Eredivisie title in six years last season.
Slot managed SC Cambuur and AZ Alkmaar before succeeding Dick Advocaat at Feyenoord in late 2020 and brings an end to his time in Rotterdam as an immensely popular figure among fans.
Feyenoord said the Slot era was ‘coming to an end’ in an emotional farewell video on their social media pages and the 45-year-old confirmed the news as he faced the media this afternoon.
‘I can confirm that I will become the trainer there next year,’ Slot told reporters at his pre-match press conference ahead of Feyenoord’s final match of the season at home to Excelsior.
‘The fact that you know that it is coming, that helps to do it in a nice way, both from the club to me and from me to the people I have worked with.
‘If you leave in the middle of the season, then perhaps the personal issue will come out of nowhere.
‘People may still think that the process works like this, that first the clubs are informed and then the coaches or players are informed, but the process does not work like that. As an individual you already know.’
Slot likened his exit to that of his former assistant Marino Pusic, who left Feyenoord to take over as Shakthar Donetsk’s manager in October.
‘Marino Pusic of course knew for a longer time that Shakhtar were interested than the moment he told me or that the club knew. The same goes for me with Liverpool,’ Slot added.
‘So yes, if you abruptly leave during the season, it is a different farewell than the end of the season, when everyone has seen it coming for weeks.’
Klopp takes charge of Liverpool for the last time this weekend (Picture: Getty)
Jurgen Klopp rocked the footballing world in January as he announced his decision to step down as Liverpool’s head coach after nine trophy-laden years at the end of the season.
The iconic German, who has lifted seven major trophies since his arrival in 2015, takes charge of the Merseyside giants for the final time against Wolves on Sunday in what promises to be an emotional occasion at Anfield.
Xabi Alonso had initially been the frontrunner to replace Klopp but the Spaniard effectively ruled himself out of the running for the job as he committed his immediate future to Bayer Leverkusen, the newly crowned Bundesliga champions.
Slot subsequently emerged as the favourite for the hot seat at Anfield, with Liverpool’s hierarchy won over by his philosophy and attractive style of play.
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Klopp gave his seal of approval when asked about Slot’s impending arrival last month and said his successor was walking into the ‘best job in the world’.
‘Arne has said something. I am not involved, club-wise,’ he told reporters.
‘I would like a lot that if he is the one he wants to take the job and is excited. I like his team’s style, all I hear about him as a guy.
‘Some people I know tell me. Good coach. All sounds really good to me. Best job and club in the world. And healthy, space for improvement. Fantastic people.’
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