The strategies have been tried out on unknown Dutch youngsters. They might not have modified a lot since. claimed he was doing the identical issues when teaching Zwolle’s Beneath-14 staff as he was when he had reached the ranks of the elite managers. Maybe it illustrated the arrogance in his means that has been an asset on a outstanding rise, however Slot is a supervisor with many influences.
On Dutch tv, when requested which gamers they might somewhat have been, Marco van Basten replied Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit stated Diego Maradona, Slot’s response was any coached by Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp. “That approach, I might see for myself what excellent coaches are,” he defined.
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And that, it needs to be famous, was earlier than he was handpicked as Klopp’s successor. His love of Guardiola’s soccer was obvious even earlier than he arrived at Anfield. But there was a definite affect, too: Klopp’s long-time assistant, and now Guardiola’s sidekick, Pep Lijnders was one of many coaches he used to talk to most earlier in his profession. After a chat in 2015, Slot stated he couldn’t bear in mind a day when he learnt extra about soccer.
Slot’s influences and inspirations are explored in a brand new biography that charts his spectacular rise (Getty)
Slot has been eager to not be labelled a laptop computer coach – simply as his assistant Sipke Hulshoff rejects the tag of a “pc nerd” – however video evaluation types a key a part of his administration. When he used clips of a midfielder to indicate to his fees, it was his fellow Dutchman, Gini Wijnaldum, then of Liverpool.
They’re an eclectic assortment, the Slot influences. His father Arend could be one: the Liverpool supervisor has famous that his dad will generally agree with commentators’ criticisms of his facet. Roberto de Zerbi is definitely one other. But when can appear a much less apparent stylistic match, one other of Slot’s movies was of Chelsea’s win within the 2021 Champions League closing. This, he advised his Feyenoord gamers, was an instance of a “zero-chance sport” they wanted to emulate.
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Off the pitch, Slot studied the now disgraced Lance Armstrong: not for his illicit strategies of gaining an edge however due to the psychological strategies he might deploy. He advised his gamers in regards to the methods the American bike owner used to demoralise rivals when not feeling good, smiling into digital camera to make it look he was higher than he was. Slot can appear much less aggressive, however he likes to look in management.
A brand new biography, ‘Arne Slot: The New Period’ by the Dutch journalist Milos Gouka, who lined his compatriot’s time accountable for Feyenoord, sheds gentle on the Liverpool supervisor’s background and pondering. A recurring theme in Slot’s coaching periods – in skilled soccer, if not essentially with Zwolle Beneath-14s – are possession drills the place six gamers tackle two.
A selected obsession tactically is what he calls “the recent zone”, a phrase Slot himself dislikes, however refers back to the space between the opponents’ defence and midfield. It’s the place a No 10 operates and will clarify why . Spending £100m on a participant for that place illustrates the significance of the recent zone to him.
Whereas Slot likes a training employees with widespread denominators, in language and pondering – whereas some managerial double acts are opposites, he and Hulshoff have similarities – it’s notable he not introduced any of his former gamers to Liverpool. However a 2020 Europa League double header between AZ Alkmaar and a Actual Sociedad facet together with each Martin Zubimendi and Alexander Isak could have knowledgeable Liverpool’s switch wishlist each final summer time and this.
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Slot’s departure from AZ has left a mark, too. When the Eredivisie was curtailed in 2020 due to Covid, Slot’s facet have been stage on factors with an Ajax staff, below Erik ten Hag, who had been Champions League semi-finalists the earlier yr.
Arne Slot received the Premier League title in his first season accountable for Liverpool (Getty Pictures)
It felt a outstanding feat and but AZ have been gradual to open contract talks with Slot. After they did, they solely proposed extending his deal by one yr. In the meantime, Feyenoord had taken observe as they regarded for a long-term substitute for the veteran Dick Advocaat.
Slot, who didn’t realise AZ knew he had met Feyenoord technical director Frank Arnesen, was fired in a 30-second assembly. He felt interpretations of his actions have been unfair and later stated: “It is ridiculous a coach is not allowed to speak to different golf equipment when his contract is expiring.”
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He was perceived badly in Alkmaar. “I had been sacked from a neighborhood job and other people round Alkmaar have been utilizing phrases like “snake” and “Nazi” about me. It had a big effect on the children,” he stated. It was a motive he determined his household, who stay within the Netherlands now, shouldn’t transfer to Rotterdam; as an alternative, he rented a flat there.
Liverpool might nonetheless be grateful to Feyenoord; and, specifically, that Feyenoord didn’t appoint an Anfield favorite. Their earlier technical administrators would have chosen Dirk Kuyt. Arnesen went for Slot.
He made took them to an Eredivisie title and a European closing, aided by a profitable informality. Slot let his Feyenoord gamers name him ‘Arne’ in the event that they wished. He felt it can be crucial they noticed the teaching employees smiling and having fun with their jobs.
He nonetheless insisted on exhausting work. He advised their squad at first of his reign there could be a 30 to 50 p.c will increase in excessive depth runs in video games and of their distance lined. It’s an strategy that has helped Slot journey from Zwolle Beneath-14s to Liverpool in little greater than a decade.