Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk provided his stamp of approval for Feyenoord manager Arne Slot to succeed Jurgen Klopp
Virgil van Dijk believes Arne Slot is “one of the better Dutch coaches”, worthy to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. The current Feyenoord manager has enjoyed a steep rise in his reputation after successfully winning the Eredivisie title last season.
Slot also guided the Dutch club to the Europa Conference League final, losing 1-0 to Roma on 25th May 2022. During the 2019-20 season, as an AZ Alkmaar manager, the 45-year-old managed to challenge Ajax for the Eredivisie title. The coronavirus outbreak cancelled that season when AZ stood second in the table, behind Ajax on goal difference.
Slot’s incredible career in the Dutch League invited interest from clubs like Tottenham Hotspur but he snubbed the club. As they appointed Ange Postecoglou, Slot remained at Feyenoord despite losing key players every summer.
Feyenoord are currently second in the Eredivisie table, behind PSV Eindhoven who are enjoying an incredible season. Slot’s tactical style, playing philosophy and knack for developing players while continuously challenging for trophies is parallel to Klopp’s.
Van Dijk told the reporters (h/t Fabrizio Roman’s X Account) that Slot is among the best Dutch coaches. He said:
“Arne Slot is one of the better Dutch coaches at the moment. With the way he plays, the philosophy he has, he can be a Liverpool coach. But I read and hear that it is far from complete. We shall see. We will focus on that next season, still a long way off”.
Klopp announced that he is stepping back from the managerial role at the end of the current season. The 56-year-old cited burnout as the reason for his decision and prioritized his mental and physical well-being.
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Despite the pain of losing their beloved manager, Liverpool fans understand Klopp’s decision and await the announcement of his successor. Slot has already confirmed his intention to become the next Liverpool manager as the Reds fanbase tries to learn more about their new manager. Liverpool hierarchy and the fanbase are hoping that they would enjoy a similar bond and connection with Slot which they did when Klopp reigned the Kop.