Arne Slot CONFIRMS he will be Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Liverpool with the Dutchman taking over at Anfield from the end of the season

Arne Slot has confirmed he will be Liverpool’s new manager, with the Feyenoord boss taking over from Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.

Upon Klopp’s announcement that he would leave at the end of the 2023/24 season, a number of managers were linked with the vacant Anfield post, with Xabi Alonso long considered the frontrunner.

Liverpool have not formally announced the move, but Slot revealed he would replace the German in the hotseat.

“I can confirm that I will be a coach there next season,” he said on Friday.

Slot, 45, has reportedly signed his contract to become the next manager at Anfield. According to Fabrizio Romano, a work permit is still pending for his coaching staff and an official announcement from Liverpool will be made at his discretion.

Slot became a competition winner with Feyenoord and has been chosen as the man to succeed Klopp

Klopp will probably go down in history as one of Liverpool’s greatest ever managers, who won the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup at Anfield.

Slot’s revelation comes just hours after Klopp, 56, held his final press conference as Liverpool boss, where he admitted the past week had been ‘the most intense of my life’.

After Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso announced he would stay in Germany, Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim appeared to be the main contenders before talks turned serious over the Feyenoord slot earlier in April.

The Dutchman was heavily linked with Tottenham last year but now arrives in the Premier League in one of English football’s traditional heavyweights, with Liverpool agreeing a £9.4 million compensation package with Feyenoord.

Now he finds himself in perhaps the most desirable managerial role on the continent, with a team that was fighting on four fronts at his fingertips well into the campaign.

Slot came to prominence through his work at Feyenoord, where he won the Eredivisie at a canter in 2022-2023 before winning the Dutch Cup this season, with his side going on to finish in second place in the league behind runaway leaders PSV.

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The Dutchman was outspoken in his willingness to take the job if such an offer was made to him. “The clubs are in negotiations,” he said last month.

‘I’m waiting to see what will come out of it.

‘It’s no secret that I want to go to Liverpool. Now I’m waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement. I have every confidence in that.’

After a match against Go Ahead Eagles, Slot reiterated his desire to join Liverpool, saying it would be ‘crazy’ if he didn’t consider their interest.

‘I’m having a great time at Feyenoord, but if there is a club like Liverpool, it would be crazy if you didn’t think that was a great next step in your career. The clubs are in discussions and I am waiting for that. That was me before the game and I still am two hours later.”

Liverpool’s new sporting director Richard Hughes has strong links with Feyenoord after signing defender Marcos Senesi from his former club Bournemouth. Slot met most of the requirements after a thorough search for Klopp’s successor led by Michael Edwards, the CEO of Football at owners Fenway Sports Group

Anfield officials contacted the Dutch champions on Wednesday with an initial offer of compensation for the 49-year-old, who has no release clause in his contract.

He has already received praise from Klopp, who described his now confirmed successor as ‘a good guy’ and praised the way his teams play.

Slot’s ability to connect with its players is seen as one of its key strengths

There will be a new face in the Anfield dugout next season as the Dutchman takes over

Jurgen Klopp publicly endorsed Slot on Friday as ‘good coach and good guy’

“I absolutely love the way his team plays football,” he said.

“All the things I hear about him — some people I know know him, I don’t know him yet — but some people tell me he’s a really good guy, and I really like that.

‘So, good coach, good guy, I’m looking forward to the club.

‘If he is the solution, or the man, then I am more than satisfied.

‘It’s not for me to judge these things, but it all sounds very good to me.

‘It’s the best job in the world, the best club in the world.

‘Obviously I’m helping now, even by not ending on a high – it seems – so there’s room for improvement.

‘It’s great work, fantastic people. He would take a very interesting job.”

His accolades in the Dutch side have made him an ideal candidate to succeed Klopp at Anfield and the Reds have now stepped up their hunt for the 45-year-old.

Slot led Feyenoord to its second Eredivisie title in 24 years last season

Slot is expected to bring some of his backroom staff to the Merseyside club

Slot arrives with a team that fought on four fronts deep into the campaign within reach

Slot arrives at Anfield at a time when the future of a number of players is still unclear.

Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold will all be out of contract at the end of 2024-25, with decisions to be made this summer.

Salah’s situation in particular is uncertain following his on-pitch row with Klopp against West Ham, although reports suggest the club plan for him to still be in the squad next season.

Klopp announced at the end of January that he would leave the club after nearly nine years at the helm, winning a Carabao Cup in his final term.