Feyenoord coach Arne Slot was confirmed on Monday as Jürgen Klopp’s successor at Liverpool by the Premier League club. Liverpool announced in a statement that the 45-year-old Dutchman would assume the head coach position on June 1, pending a work permit.
While the club did not reveal the contract's length, Sky Sports reported that Slot has signed a three-year deal. Slot’s appointment was widely anticipated, with Liverpool reportedly agreeing on a compensation package worth up to £9.4 million ($12 million).
Slot confirmed his move to Anfield during his final pre-match press conference at Feyenoord on Friday. Klopp, who announced his departure in January, led Liverpool for the last time on Sunday with a 2-0 victory against Wolves. In his farewell speech at Anfield, Klopp urged fans to fully support Slot, saying, “You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me. You go all-in from the first day. And you keep believing and you push the team.”
Slot joined Feyenoord in 2021 after an impressive stint at AZ Alkmaar. He guided Feyenoord to the inaugural Europa Conference League final in his first season, narrowly losing 1-0 to José Mourinho’s Roma. Last season, he secured Feyenoord’s second league title in 24 years and signed a new three-year contract.
Reflecting on his departure from Feyenoord, Slot said, “You can see people are genuinely sorry you are leaving. You can say that with words, but when you see it in people’s faces, it affects me quite a lot.” Feyenoord had a strong season under Slot, winning the Dutch Cup and finishing second to a dominant PSV Eindhoven.
Liverpool captain and fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk praised Slot’s attacking style, noting it aligns well with Liverpool's philosophy. Initially, Bayer Leverkusen boss and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was the favorite to succeed Klopp. However, Alonso chose to stay at Leverkusen after leading them to their first-ever Bundesliga title.
In Klopp’s final season, Liverpool won the League Cup and finished third in the Premier League, securing a spot in the next season’s Champions League.
