ARNE SLOT has confirmed he will be the new Liverpool manager.
The Dutchman, 45, will succeed Jurgen Klopp, who is stepping away at the end of the season.
Klopp, 56, led the Reds for nine years – taking over from Brendan Rodgers in 2015 – but announced his shock exit in January.
Slot himself has confirmed that he will be in the hotseat at Anfield next season.
He said: “I can confirm that I will be the new Liverpool manager next season.”
A compensation package was agreed with Feyenoord to release the manager from his contract with the Eredivisie side.
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Slot previously revealed negotiations between the clubs were already underway when he told reporters: “I’d like to become the new Liverpool manager, my decision is clear.
“It is no secret that I want to go to Liverpool.
“Feyenoord and Liverpool are in talks to negotiate, I’m waiting to see what will come out of it.
“I am confident, waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement.”
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Klopp has also spoken about leaving Liverpool during his final pre-match press conference.
He said: “I know we could have won more but I can’t change that. Not becoming champions is not a great experience, it’s not in the history books but it shows you are really good.
Slot snubbed Spurs, hates defending and has a PASS named after him
By Dan King
LIVERPOOL’S new manager Arne Slot was a good enough player to have a type of pass named after him.
But it is as a manager that the Feyenoord head coach is really making his mark.
Like another bald Dutchman, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, Slot earned his stripes bossing smaller sides before being given a chance at one of the Netherlands’ big three.
But the question Liverpool are pondering is whether Slot would make a better fist of running one of the biggest clubs in the world than Ten Hag so far has at Old Trafford.
Slot, 45, was certainly easier on the eye as a player than centre back Ten Hag.
“The Arne Slot Ball” was something he perfected as a silky No 10 – a back-to-goal, first-time, 180-degree spin and flick behind the defensive line for a winger to run on to deep in the opposition half.
Click here to read all about the incoming Liverpool boss.
“I think one season when we don’t score at City, when it was over the line but not and when Aguero scores at Burnley with the same. I can’t take responsibility for that.
“Being three times in the Champions League final is a great achievement. I would not be happy if I thought I could have done more. I couldn’t. That’s why I am fine with it.
“The rest will be judged by the people. More are fine with it, and some think not enough and both is fine.”
The German also revealed some of his favourite moments from his time managing the Reds.
He added: “The best football we played against Man City this year. We never controlled City like that day.
“That day we played the best, we won before but different games. We play well and score good goals against them but controlling a game like that we never did before.
“Barcelona. Best goal, Alisson Becker. Best assist, Alexander-Arnold.
“Best save, Alisson against Napoli. Best backheeled goal, Sadio Mane.”
Slot – a former playmaker in his native Netherlands – started his coaching career with his final club PEC Zwolle before joining Cambuur, initially as an assistant before taking on the head coach role alongside Sipke Hulschoff.
In 2017, he joined AZ Alkmaar, again as an assistant until taking on the manager job from the 2019-20 season.
AZ were level on points with Ajax in March 2020 – having done the double over Erik ten Hag’s side – but the season was abandoned due to Covid.
But Slot was sacked in the December after holding talks with Feyenoord – and duly became their boss from the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
He led the Rotterdam giants to the inaugural Europa Conference League final, losing to Roma, and then Feyenoord won the Eredivisie title the following season.
That was just Feyenoord’s second league success of the century and propelled them into the Champions League – with Slot rejecting the chance to take over as Tottenham boss to sign a new contract at De Kuip.
And Slot oversaw the club’s KNVB Cup glory this season, beating NEC Nijmegen in April’s final.
The ex-midfielder – who had a specific PASS named after him – looks to be a suitable fit to replace Klopp at Anfield thanks to his proven ability to compete with clubs on bigger budgets with an attractive style.
Arne Slot’s record is WORSE than Erik ten Hag’s
ARNE SLOT is set to be tasked with a near-impossible job – replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Should he swap the Eredivisie for the Premier League, Slot will follow in the footsteps of fellow follically-challenged Dutchman Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag left Ajax to become Manchester United manager in 2022.
But he has suffered a nightmare spell at Old Trafford and appears to be a dead-man walking despite making the FA Cup final.
With Slot seemingly destined for Anfield, fans won’t be able to help but compare his record in Holland with Ten Hag’s.
And Reds supporters won’t like what they see.
See all the Arne Slot stats…
He favours an exciting, high-pressing style of football – not dissimilar to the gegenpressing made famous by Klopp himself – and is an excellent man-manager and communicator.
A charismatic, funny and likeable character, Slot is fluent in English.
He places strong emphasis on improving players individually and relishes the chance to give youngsters the chance to prove themselves, as demonstrated by many of his title-winning Feyenoord squad being aged under 25.
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However, fans may be concerned to know his overall Eredivisie record is worse than that of Ten Hag.
Klopp’s 491st and final game in charge of Liverpool will be the home clash with Wolves on the final day of the season on May 19.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
