Arne Slot: Liverpool's new head coach confirmed on three-year deal
The Dutch coach, who guided Feyenoord to their first league title in six years in 2023, will take over at Anfield next month.
Monday 20 May 2024 19:13, UK
Arne Slot has been officially confirmed as the new head coach of Liverpool FC.
The Dutchman has signed a three-year deal, tying him to the premier league club until the summer of 2027, and will start work on 1 June.
In a change from tradition, he will become the club's first head coach rather than manager.
The change in title fits in with a new management structure at the club, which has been given an overhaul in recent months.
The club said in a statement: "He will soon become the first head coach of Liverpool FC from the Netherlands - with his first pre-season in charge of the squad set to get under way in July."
It added his appointment was "subject to a work permit".
Liverpool's former sporting directors Michael Edwards and Julian Ward have agreed to become chief executive of football and technical director respectively. Meanwhile, a new sporting director, Richard Hughes, has been recruited from Bournemouth.
The 45-year-old Feyenoord boss told reporters he was making the move to Merseyside on Friday, while tentative terms were agreed in April.
It comes after Jurgen Klopp paid an emotional farewell to Liverpool on Sunday after nearly nine years in charge.
During his goodbye speech, he sang Slot's name to the crowd at Anfield and encouraged fans to show their support for the new manager by joining in.
Klopp, 56, announced in January he was leaving Liverpool because he was "running out of energy".
In his final news conference as manager on Friday, the German paid tribute to the people of Liverpool as he described it as a "very special city".
Klopp guided the Reds to seven trophies, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title a year later.
The side also achieved victory in the FA Cup in 2022 and the Carabao Cup earlier this year.
Slot, who coached Feyenoord to their first league title in six years in 2023 and the Dutch Cup in April, was on Liverpool's list of candidates for the role.
He had two years left on his contract with the Rotterdam-based club, but was released from it after Liverpool agreed to pay £9.4m (€11m) in compensation.
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Liverpool used sophisticated data analysis, character and performance research, market assessment, performance evaluation and various other indicators before settling on Slot as their preferred candidate.
Asked last month what his Anfield job title might be, Slot replied: "I'm not interested in what you call me: you can call me Arne, head coach or manager.
"I don't care as long as I can do what I like and that is being with the players on the pitch, working with them and being at the games as that is the most special."