Liverpool called off the deal that Arne Slot was sure would happen, just days before he was let go.
Just days before he was let go, Arne Slot was getting ready to welcome someone new to Anfield. After two seasons in charge, Liverpool decided to part ways with Slot following a tough second year, where the team finished fifth in the Premier League.
Slot, a Dutch manager, led Liverpool to their 20th league title in his first season. However, his playing style and the team’s performances over time made both the fans and the club’s board lose confidence in him.
Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), shared a statement saying, “This was a tough decision for us. Arne has made a big and successful impact during his time here, and that means a lot to the supporters and to us.”
Many people were surprised by Slot’s sacking because, until the end of the season, it seemed like FSG planned to keep him. In fact, they were already preparing for his third season.
Part of those plans included bringing Dutch football manager Etienne Reijnen onto Slot’s coaching staff. Slot was very supportive of this move since he had worked with Reijnen before at Feyenoord. According to The Telegraph, Slot was confident Reijnen would join as recently as May 22. Reijnen had even said his goodbyes to people in Rotterdam while contract talks with Liverpool were still going on.
Now, it’s expected that Reijnen won’t be joining Liverpool, as the new manager is likely to bring their own team when they arrive.
Since news of Slot’s exit came out, there’s been lots of talk about who will take over. Many big names have been linked to the job, but former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola seems to be the top choice. Iraola just left Bournemouth after leading them to qualify for European competition this season.
According to Paul Joyce from The Times, Liverpool will start formal talks with Iraola and his team this week, hoping to appoint their new manager before the World Cup begins on June 11. But with Crystal Palace, AC Milan, and Bayer Leverkusen also interested in Iraola, Liverpool will need to act fast to secure him.
While Iraola is the favorite, Liverpool are also considering other candidates like Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Lens manager Pierre Sage. Still, Joyce believes it would be surprising if Iraola isn’t named Liverpool’s next manager soon.