Liverpool’s mandated search for a gaffer with Jurgen Klopp’s expected departure at the end of the term continues.
Spanish legend and the champion of Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s remarkable season is definitely out of the running having penned a new contract with the club side.
Among names picking attention in recent time has been that of Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim, Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi and even German national team manager Julian Nagelsmann.
Recently, the wildcard pick has been Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Arne Slot and is now regarded by some quarters as the leading contender.
The 45-year-old Dutchman has had an impressive time with the Eredivisie outfit since coming aboard in 2021 as replacement for Dick Advocaat.
So far, he’s taken the Dutch league title, piping Ajax in the 2022/2023 season, the KNVB title this season and also making the inaugural UEFA conference league final where they lost to As Roma.
The man
The Dutch gaffer started off as an attacking midfielder in his playing days seeing respective stints with FC Zwolle, NAC Breda, Sparta Rotterdam and PEC Zwolle racking up 100 goals in almost 500 matches.
His introduction into the managerial fold began at the latter end of his career with PEC Zwolle. On retirement in 2013, he was recruited as a youth coach for around a year and proceeded to Cambuur as an assistant coach.
With the club facing troubled times in the Eerste Divisie, Slot and Sipke Hulshoff were appointed on an interim basis in 2016 and led the club from 14th place to 3rd place narrowly missing out on promotion and making the KNVB cup semi-final.
A year later, he joined AZ Alkmaar as an assistant and took up the job on a full in 2019, becoming the first manager in the club’s history to rack up 19 points in his first 8 games.
Slot took over the Feyenoord Rotterdam coaching role in 2021 and has won both the domestic league and cup titles.
Slutty Ball
In over four years, Arne Slot has made rounds as one of the most highly sought after young European managers. Slot’s Feyenoord emphasize high-action attacking football with remarkable pressing structures.
His set-up is tailored to dominate possession and dictate play for the better part of the game giving the opposition little to no reaction time.
Slot requires high intensity from his teams claiming in that regard, you can win your opponents in two ways. By being better than them or outrunning and outworking them on your bad days.
His preferred shape is the 4-2-3-1 with two deep lying playmakers and reliance on wingers with playmaking abilities.
In the defensive block, these wingers join a makeshift 4-4-2 with the double pivot, while the number 10 joins the press in a 4-4-1-1 structure to ensure flexibility in approach.
Stylistically, Slot’s Feyenoord are similar to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. In terms of pressing, staying the most successful of any team across Europe’s leading seven leagues, with the Dutch based outfit bettering only Liverpool in this respect with 722 interceptions to 706.
Feyenoord also tied with Liverpool for the most points won from losing positions this season (62).
Player development
Slot has not been one to shy from incorporating the younger generation. In fact, a large chunk of his league winning outfit were aged 24 or under.
The introduction of young full back Quilindschy Hartman to the senior set-up from Jong Feyenoord following Tyrell Malacia’s departure to Manchester United.
The 24-year-old Mats Wieffer garnering interest from Europe’s top sides came on in summer 2022 to come sit at the base of his midfield.
Topman Santiago Gimenez is arguably one of the biggest beneficiaries of his gaffer’s style with lethal showings in front of goal since his arrival from Cruz Azul.
Quinten Timber, Calvin Stengs, Igor Paixao and Newcastle loanee Yankuba Minteh are but a few that have also seen an upturn in their game in the while.
Lutsharel Geertrudia closing in on two centuries of appearances for the club and Slovakian David Hancko are the big components of his aesthetically soothing build up play.
Interest
Slot has triggered concern from England in recent times tipped to replace Jesse Marsch when Leeds showed the exit doors in 2023 and amongst a host of names in consideration for the Spurs job before Ange Postecoglou.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Dutch coach did admit that he has ambitions of managing a premier league team. In conversation, he remarked: “My next step will not be a club in Holland. If that is my next step, then I’ve failed completely. The normal next step will be to go abroad and I’ve always said the best league in the world is the Premier League”
Jurgen Klopp’s departure after almost a decade of remarkable work spells Liverpool have to get their next managerial appointment right in this period of transition.
Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker are nearing the tailend of their respective careers, while the likes of club vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboslai and Alexis Mac Allister are starting to establish their prime.
Over to you and your data analysis, Michael Edwards.
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