Why Arne SLOT is the Right Man for Liverpool!
Liverpool finally have a new coach to replace Jurgen Klopp! In this video, Vamosito channel will tell you about Arne Slot, his coaching approach, why the Reds chose him and what to expect from the Dutch manager!
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Who is Arne Slot
Arne Slot is a representative of the new generation of Dutch coaches. He is 45 years old and started his coaching career less than 10 years ago.
There are several milestones in Arne's career that show very well that this manager has something special. With his first club Cambuur Slot, playing in the second Dutch league - Eerste Divisie - reached the Cup semifinals. In addition to being the best result in the history of this small club, Cambuur knocked Ajax out of the competition along the way.
Interestingly, in that season Cambuur were eliminated in the semifinals only in a penalty shootout, losing to AZ Alkmaar, which became Slot's future club. In 2017, Arne joined AZ as an assistant, and in 2019, he got a chance to lead the team.
And here we come to another great achievement of our hero. To put it in perspective, AZ in the Netherlands is like Tottenham in England. A team that is considered a big name, but is almost always overshadowed by other top teams like Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV.
Arne's work at AZ was so impressive that he almost won the team's first league title since 2009. Actually, he neither won nor lost it. The fact is that we are talking about the 2019/20 season, which was interrupted due to Covid. In the Netherlands, they decided not to finish the season, and therefore no champion was determined. At the time of the suspension, AZ shared the first place with Ajax, being behind the Amsterdam side only by goal difference.
Despite the fact that we never saw the end of the season, Slot's talent did not go unnoticed, and before the start of the 2021/22 campaign, Arne became Feyenoord's head coach.
In his very first season, Slot reached the Conference League final with the team, which was Feyenoord's first European final in 20 years. It is worth reminding that the Dutch lost in the final to Jose Mourinho's Roma. The following season, Arne comfortably won the Eredivisie with his team, outperforming their closest opponent PSV by 7 points and losing only two matches out of 34. Moreover, this season Feyenoord won the Dutch Cup.
It is quite logical that all these results did not go unnoticed, and big European clubs began to take an interest in Slot. Perhaps not everyone thought that this coach was worthy to replace Jurgen Klopp in Liverpool, but there are actually more reasons to believe in this manager than you think.
Why Liverpool chose Slot
Many reputable journalists, including David Ornstein, Fabrizio Romano and Paul Joyce, have written about the negotiations between Liverpool and Arne Slot.
It is currently known that Liverpool and Feyenoord have not reached an agreement on the release clause for the coach, but there is no doubt that the deal will be done.
By the way, like this video if you are surprised by this choice of Liverpool's management!
So why did the Reds decide to reject Ruben Amorim and switch to Slot? Actually, the answer lies in the style of play that Arne advocates.
We will show you two metrics and you will understand everything. Since Slot took over at Feyenoord in 2021, in the top 7 leagues, Liverpool is the second best team in terms of possession won in the final third with 706.
Do you know the only team that surpassed Klopp's men? That's right, Slot's Feyenoord with 722!
And one more thing: since 2021, the two teams that have gained the most points from losing positions are Liverpool and Feyenoord - 62 points each. Any other questions?
Liverpool's sporting director Michael Edwards, who is in charge of the recruitment process, is prioritizing the club's identity. Liverpool must play intense attacking football with lots of goals and attacks even after Jurgen Klopp's departure.
Edwards is known for being willing to make unpopular decisions and take risks. He would rather make a bold bet on Slot, who is exactly in line with the club's vision and values, than choose a more star-studded manager who won't guarantee rocknroll on the pitch.
Slot ticks all the boxes for Liverpool. And it's not just about style. In particular, he won the Dutch league with the third biggest budget after Ajax and PSV. For Liverpool, the coach's ability to squeeze the most out of the available resources is key to success. The Reds can't spend as much as Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, or Manchester United, so they have to win through other means.
This other includes trust in young players, which of course includes promoting players from the academy.
The 45-year-old puts emphasis on youth development. Feyenoord's average age is 23.9, fifth-youngest in Eredivisie.