Liverpool has officially confirmed the appointment of Arne Slot as their new head coach, following Jürgen Klopp’s departure from Anfield. The announcement came just 24 hours after Klopp bid farewell to the club, and Slot will officially take over on 1 June, subject to a work permit. The 45-year-old coach, who has signed a three-year contract, had already been in agreement with Liverpool for over three weeks, with the club waiting until after Klopp’s departure to make the news public. Slot’s appointment follows a thorough search led by Liverpool’s new sporting director, Richard Hughes, and the club’s new chief executive, Michael Edwards.
Arne Slot, who led Feyenoord to both the Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup during his time there, was identified as Liverpool’s top candidate after Klopp’s decision to leave. With two years remaining on his contract with Feyenoord, Slot will be compensated with €9 million (£7.7 million) plus €2 million in add-ons. His tactical expertise, innovative approach, and strong communication skills were key factors in his selection. Liverpool is also confident that Slot’s style of play, which bears some resemblance to Klopp’s, will suit the current squad, including players like Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez.
Slot’s success at Feyenoord has drawn attention across Europe, with Tottenham previously showing interest in him. However, when Liverpool came calling, Slot was eager to make the move to Anfield. Despite the decision to leave Feyenoord, Slot admitted that it was not easy to leave a club where he had enjoyed significant success, including reaching the Europa Conference League final in 2022.
As part of his transition, Slot will bring several key staff members with him, including his assistant at Feyenoord, Sipke Hulshoff, and others, such as Ruben Peeters and Etienne Reijnen, pending work permits. Slot will begin preparations with Liverpool’s pre-season training in July. The players, including Virgil van Dijk, who enters the final year of his contract, are ready to support him. Van Dijk has expressed his commitment to helping Slot settle into his new role and is focused on ensuring the team is prepared for the upcoming season.
