LONDON-. Liverpool confirmed on Monday the hiring of Arne Slot as his new coach after the departure of Jurgen Klopp.
Slot takes over the management of one of the most iconic clubs in the world, signing a long-term contract with the six-time European Cup champions and owners of 19 English top division titles.
And the challenge is colossal for the 45-year-old Dutch coach. He has to follow in the footsteps of Klopp, who ended a 30-year drought when in 2020 he won Liverpool the Premier League title, in addition to other trophies during his time at Anfield.
Slot comes preceded by his career with Feyenoord, which he led to the Dutch league title last year, followed by the Dutch Cup this season.
His appointment had been expected for weeks. Slot confirmed in April that he was in negotiations with Liverpool and last week he announced that he would be Klopp’s successor.
Klopp surprised everyone when he declared in January that he would leave at the end of the season. In more than eight years at Liverpool, the German established himself as one of the best strategists of his generation.
They won the Champions League in 2019 to then end Manchester City’s two-year reign in the Premier.
He also captured the League Cup and FA Cup titles in 2022. He signed off with one last trophy when he led Liverpool to another League Cup crowning in February.
Under his leadership, Liverpool also won a UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup title. They lost in two Champions League finals to Real Madrid.
Liverpool took their time finding a successor for Klopp.
Michael Edwards, its former sporting director, returned in March as the director of soccer for Fenway Sports Group — the club’s American owners — to begin the process.
Edwards was key in Klopp’s successful era for his management of the signings of Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk.
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso had been one of the main candidates for the job, but the Spaniard announced in March that he will continue in charge of Bayer Leverkusen after their undefeated campaign to the German League title.
Slot had managed Feyenoord since 2021 and was previously in charge of AZ Alkmaar.
Source: AP
