Ryan Babel knows all about the challenge of swapping the Eredivisie for Liverpool.

With Arne Slot set to follow a similar path when he succeeds Jurgen Klopp as manager, Babel is fully aware of the challenges that come when arriving in England’s top flight.

The former winger was one of Europe’s most exciting young talents when Liverpool signed him as a 20-year-old from Ajax for £11.5million ($14.4m) in 2007.



After a three-and-a-half-year spell, he was eventually sold to German club Hoffenheim.

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Babel believes Slot has earned his chance at Liverpool after an impressive period at Feyenoord, where he won the 2022-23 Eredivisie title and 2024 KNVB Cup, but sounded a warning about how Dutch managers are often wedded to a certain style and vision.

“A Dutch manager will naturally want to play football, especially if they have been in the top three in Holland,” Babel told The Athletic.

New coaches always naturally have time, the question is how much time does Slot get?

I think anything less, then frustration will kick in very, very quickly.”

Liverpool have agreed a deal to appoint Arne Slot as their new manager — and The Athletic has every angle covered.

Babel had three managers during his time on Merseyside — Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish — none of whom were entirely able to unlock his talent.

He had arrived at Anfield to great fanfare when he signed from Ajax, his boyhood side, alongside Yossi Benayoun of West Ham in the summer of 2007.

When he joined, Babel was full of praise for manager Benitez, describing him as the “ideal father-in-law”.

However, Benitez’s standoffish approach gradually wore Babel down, with the Dutchman wishing for a manager with a more sympathetic personality.

Babel had also been accustomed to playing in a 4-3-3 at Ajax, which required less defensive work than on the left of Benitez’s 4-2-3-1 at Liverpool.

Tracking back was not a skill that came naturally and his work rate was criticised.

Benitez and Babel were not an ideal match (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Babel admits he could have pushed himself harder rather than falling back and relying on his natural talent, but points out that he was offered little understanding as a young player trying to make his way in a new country.

“It was a little bit disappointing for myself because when I eventually chose Liverpool, I was promised to get time and was told they would really work with me,” Babel recalled.
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