The Dutchman’s appointment was announced on Monday evening (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool have officially confirmed that Arne Slot will be the club’s new manager, with the Dutchman taking over the reins from Jurgen Klopp on June 1.
Slot emerged as Liverpool’s top choice after they missed out on former player Xabi Alonso, who elected to remain with unbeaten Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen for at least one more season.
The likes of Sporting boss Ruben Amorim and now-departed Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi were also linked with the post, but it was Slot who stood out throughout the search process.
At the backend of April, Slot revealed that Feyenoord and Liverpool were in talks over a compensation package and he effectively confirmed the move on Friday before the Dutch side’s final game of the season.
Liverpool have paid a fee of around £9.4million (£7.7m plus £1.7m in add-ons) for the 45-year-old, with the Merseysiders confirming the news less than 24 hours after Klopp’s farewell game.
A statement on Monday evening read: ‘Liverpool Football Club can announce Arne Slot has agreed a deal to become the club’s new head coach, formally taking up the position on June 1, 2024, subject to a work permit.
‘The 45-year-old will join the Reds from Feyenoord ahead of the 2024-25 season after a deal was reached with the Eredivisie club for his services.’
Slot saw off NEC in the KNVB Cup final last month (Picture: Getty)
The decision to appoint Slot was made by the club’s new sporting director, Richard Hughes, as well as FSG chief executive of football Michael Edwards.
Slot will be joined on Merseyside by his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, who resigned from his adjacent role as the assistant coach of the Netherlands last week to ensure he is ready for the start of pre-season training with Liverpool.
Slot’s move to Anfield has been such an open secret that Klopp actually led the crowd in a chant for his successor during his farewell speech following Sunday’s win over Wolves.
Fans had been chanting Klopp’s name to the tune of Opus’ Live is Life but the departing German swapped out his own name for Slot’s, saying: ‘I have an idea. I heard the song today a few times, so let’s see how the response will be. Arne Slot! Na, na, na, na na!’
Slot won the Eredivisie title with Feyenoord in the 2022/23 season and despite losing a number of players in the off-season – including skipper Orkun Kokcu – he guided the side to second place this season and won the Dutch Cup.
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Klopp was asked for his thoughts on Slot’s potential arrival when the rumours first emerged and said: ‘I didn’t read anything but [I know] Arne has said something. I am not involved, club-wise.
‘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.
Slot is a two-time winner of the Rinus Michels Award for Holland’s top coach (Picture: Getty)
‘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.’
Slot also got the seal of approval from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who said: ‘I think Slot is one of the better Dutch coaches at the moment. With the way he plays and the philosophy he has, he can be a Liverpool coach.’
Liverpool have already been linked with moves for some of Feyenoord’s star players, including versatile defender-cum-midfielder Lutsharel Geertruida – who actually attended the Reds’ draw with West Ham last month – and defensive midfielder Mats Wieffer.
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