Premier League history shows that there are few jobs tougher then replacing successful, transformative and much-loved managers. Paradoxically, there are also few jobs more attractive to those in the elite coaching fraternity.
Succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool is unquestionably one of those roles and, perhaps fittingly for a big position on Merseyside, the frontrunners have been changing and jockeying for position like competitors in the Kentucky Derby.
Liverpool fans educated themselves on the tactics, traits and presumed inner workings of Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim, but now Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot is the name on everyone’s lips.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported on April 24 that Liverpool were in negotiations with Slot, who is now their “preferred choice”.
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Slot is certainly not the first name to be linked with the Anfield job.
Xabi Alonso was the early favourite to be installed as Klopp’s successor, but is firmly out of the running.
Alonso led Bayer Leverkusen to a historic maiden Bundesliga title and has already confirmed that he will be staying put next year. Given Leverkusen remain in contention for a treble of Bundesliga, UEFA Europa League and DFB-Pokal, who can blame him?
Speaking at a press conference in late March, Alonso said: “We’ve had a lot of speculation regarding my future. We’ve had a lot of games, been pretty busy, pretty focused, and I wanted to use the international break and reflect and take a decision.
“Last week I had a very good meeting with Simon [Rolfes] and Fernando [Carro] and informed them of my decision to continue as coach of Bayer Leverkusen.
“It’s the right place for me to be, to develop as a coach. The fans showed great support this year. They have all the reasons to believe and dream we can have a great season. The players gave me so many reasons to keep believing in the team. My job is not over here.”
That development further strengthened the position of potential candidates like Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi, the manager of Brighton & Hove Albion. However, the shift in focus towards Slot does feel like a potentially decisive moment in the saga.
West Ham’s links to Amorim suggest the trail has run cold with the Sporting CP boss as far as Liverpool are concerned.
Julian Nagelsmann was also mentioned as a potential successor to his countryman Klopp but has since committed himself to remaining with the German national team.
While acknowledging Slot’s reported enthusiasm for the Anfield post, it is worth remembering that the managerial marketplace will be a crowded one at the sharp end of European football this summer. Bayern Munich, Barcelona and potentially AC Milan will be looking for a new boss and Slot’s fine work will not have gone unnoticed in those footballing capitals. Liverpool are wise to be acting swiftly.
MORE: Xabi Alonso out of running to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
The timing of the latest developments looks ideal for Slot, who further burnished his reputation last weekend by lifting the KNVB Cup with Feyenoord in the Netherlands, in addition to the Eredivisie title triumph he masterminded last season.
PSV Eindhoven are on the verge of taking the title back this time around in Holland and Feyenoord are safely in a Champions League qualification spot, so it’s easy to see how negotiations can progress in an atmosphere of “total respect”.
No one wants a repeat of the situation of December 2020, when Slot was sacked by AZ having already agreed a deal with Feyenoord, who he led to the UEFA Europa Conference League final in his first season in charge.
That messy exit is not the defining memory of Slot’s time in Alkmaar, however. His average of 2.11 points per game is the highest of any coach in AZ history. He might even have secured an incredible Eredivisie success. In 2019/20, AZ were behind Erik ten Hag’s Ajax at the top on goal difference when the Coronavirus pandemic struck and the season was voided.
Slot’s work at Feyenoord, a big club with a rich history but not the most financially powerful in Dutch football, has obvious parallels with Klopp’s stays at Borussia Dortmund against the all-conquering Bayern Munich and at Liverpool in opposition to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. There are stylistic similarities too.
Slot is an advocate of high-intensity attacking football. His team play with a high defensive line and look to get the ball forward quickly.
That obviously chimes with the most romantic remembrances of Klopp’s “heavy metal football” at Dortmund and Liverpool, with the caveat that the Reds’ boss tempered that approach when the necessity of gargantuan points totals to compete with City became apparent.
Slot uses 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 setups predominantly. In the latter, it is not uncommon to see his two deeper midfielders operating close to the central defenders during the build-up to bounce passes around the opposition press.
This is an approach used in the Premier League by De Zerbi, another coach reportedly on Liverpool’s radar. It also frees up full-backs to support the attack and might be music to the ears of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and breakout star Conor Bradley.
Out of possession, the Klopp staple of a high-press is fundamental for Slot. Plenty about his previous work and the characteristics of the Liverpool squad mark him out as a good fit. It will then be on Slot to prove he is not simply “Klopp-lite” or any other potentially unflattering labels.
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If negotiations are successful with Slot, Liverpool are going to have to put their hands in their pockets.
The 45-year-old is contracted to Feyenoord until 2026. Slot confirmed himself upon signing that new deal that there is no release clause in his contract, and a compensation package would likely be somewhere in the region of €10 million (£8.5m/$10.7m).
When Slot was a target for Tottenham last summer, multiple reports suggested Feyenoord improved his annual salary from €2m to €2.9m.
MORE: How do Liverpool replace a manager like Klopp?
If Slot is the man to take over at Anfield, Liverpool fans will have to get used to singing his name on the Kop, just as they have done with Klopp.
Reports of Slot being the preferred candidate to take over at Liverpool were also met with a flurry of questions on social media about how to pronounce his name? Well, as with many Dutch names, it’s not too complicated for English speakers. His name is pronounced phonetically as it is spelt, “Ar-ner” “Slot“.
To begin perfecting your pronunciation, Liverpool fans, you can hear it pronounced by a Dutch native here.
Slot would certainly be expected to hit the ground running if he does take over at Liverpool, but he will have an advantage in getting his message across to the talent-packed squad quickly, as he already speaks great English.