Liverpool sack Arne Slot after two years with Andoni Iraola in line to replace him
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Liverpool have sacked Arne Slot following the team’s troubled Premier League title defence and are likely to turn to Andoni Iraola to replace him.Slot has been dismissed with immediate effect and, Liverpool say, with great reluctance after a review into a season that was overshadowed by the death of Diogo Jota and featured 19 defeats in all competitions.With Champions League qualification secured on the final day, and the Liverpool hierarchy claiming for several months that they backed the Dutch coach, the 47-year-old had expected to remain at the helm.However, Liverpool feel the team’s playing style needs to evolve to a more aggressive, front-foot approach and respond to changes within the Premier League. That vision increases the likelihood of Iraola – who was appointed Bournemouth’s head coach by Richard Hughes, now Liverpool’s sporting director – being appointed as Slot’s successor.Arne Slot celebrates with the Premier League trophy.
The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful. The 43-year-old has interest from Milan, Bayer Leverkusen and Crystal Palace but has not committed to the next phase of his impressive coaching career so far.Slot guided Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th league title in his first season at the club and made the transition from the Jürgen Klopp era appear seamless.
Liverpool acknowledge that his dismissal appears unfair in the context of that achievement plus the manner in which Slot has conducted himself during his two years in charge.But after investing almost £450m in new signings last summer, Liverpool regressed badly last season and supporters turned on the team’s style of play in the final months. With the exception of Hugo Ekitike, new signings such as £116m Florian Wirtz and £125m British record signing Alexander Isak failed to deliver, established stars such as Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister suffered a severe drop-off in form, and problems at set-pieces and in open play blighted the team all season.Slot’s methods were called out by Salah before he left the club and the head coach kept his distance from the team during their lap of honour at Anfield on the final day.Against a backdrop of fan and team unrest, Liverpool came to the conclusion that Slot’s departure was inevitable at some point and have acted now to avoid disrupting next season.