Rene Otinga
updated at April 24, 2024 at 1:36 PM
- Feyenoord manager, Arne Slot, has been linked with Liverpool
- The 45-year-old is said to be keen on replacing Jurgen Klopp
- Slot is highly rated by Liverpool because of his credentials
Another big name has been linked with the Liverpool job.
His name is Arne Slot, the current Feyenoord manager, who is reportedly highly-rated by the Reds.
Source: Getty Images
According to The Times, the Eredivisie champions cancelled a press conference scheduled for Wednesday as rumours of potentially losing their manager persisted.
Slot, 45, is said to be a strong candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, with the Dutchman reportedly checking several boxes for the Liverpool bosses.
But who exactly is Arne Slot? Sports Brief highlights some key facts about the tactician.
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More about Arne Slot amid Liverpool managerial links
Played his entire career in the Netherlands
As a player, Slot never experienced any league outside his home country – the Netherlands.
Before retiring from the game in 2012, he had stints with PEC Zwolle, NAC Breda, and Sparta Rotterdam.
He is admired by several English clubs
Liverpool is not the first English club to express interest in Slot.
In the recent past, the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds, and Chelsea made advances towards him, but Feyenoord fended off interest by offering the former PEC Zwolle player a deal that runs up to 2026.
This has, however, done little to tie down Slot, who has openly expressed the desire to take the next step of his career.
Slot is a defensive tactical master
Despite being an attacking midfielder as a player, Slot’s team Feyenoord has been frightening in defence.
They boast the second-best defence in the division this season, having conceded just 23 goals. Only league leaders, PSV Eindhoven, have conceded less.
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Like Klopp, Slot is a huge fan of the pressing game, which has proven to be one of the most successful across Europe’s top five leagues.
This season, Feyenoord players have made 722 interceptions, compared to Liverpool’s 706 at the time of publication.
He studies Pep Guardiola’s tactics
Still on Slot’s tactics, the Dutchman is described as a huge believer in Pep Guardiola’s possession-based approach to the game.
He is also a penchant for a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, which is very familiar at Liverpool.
Sections of fans who are familiar with his style of play have dubbed him the ‘Dutch Pep Guardiola’.
He spoke to UEFA about his brand of football, saying:
“We are an attack-minded team that likes to have a lot of the ball, and we play with a lot of intensity. When we don’t have the ball, we want to win it back as quickly as possible by being aggressive and pressing to win back possession. I think we are a team that is difficult to beat.”
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He knows what it takes to win a title
Perhaps the strongest credential in Slot’s CV is the fact that he has experience in beating top flight clubs to a title.
After his appointment at Feyenoord in 2021, the Dutch giants have won two trophies, including a famous Eredivisie title last season.
The fact that he came with instant success at the Pride of Rotterdam could be a major incentive for Liverpool, who are arguably back to their competitive best in recent years.
Van Persie on the verge of landing job
Sports Brief also previously reported on icon, Robin Van Persie’s potential first managerial job.
The former Arsenal and Manchester United man currently works at his former club, Feyenoord.
However, he is reportedly being courted by Heerenveen to take over from Kees van Wonderen.
