Arne Slot beats Liverpool to announcement as Jurgen Klopp replacement confirmed

Arne Slot beats Liverpool to announcement as Jurgen Klopp replacement confirmed

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 17/05/2024

- 16:15

Updated: 17/05/2024

- 16:31

Jurgen Klopp will take charge of his final Liverpool game on Sunday at Anfield.

Arne Slot has confirmed he will replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool's next manager from next season.

The Feyenoord boss emerged as the frontrunner for the job after Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim had originally been touted.


An agreement was struck last month for Liverpool to pay a compensation package to Feyenoord to acquire Slot as their new head coach.

No official announcement had been made by Liverpool, but Slot has now become the first to confirm the news.

Arne Slot has confirmed he will join Liverpool

Arne Slot has confirmed he will join Liverpool

GETTY

"I can confirm that I will become the trainer there next year," he said at his press conference on Friday.

He also spoke of his emotions on leaving Feyenoord after guiding them to the Eredivisie title last season.

"Until now I was not thinking about this being the build up to my last match, but that starts coming now," Slot said.

"At the beginning of the week you are thinking about training and those kind of things. But the feeling gets stronger now.

"That is why I'm a little bit late now [for the news conference], because I wanted to say goodbye to some people personally and take time for them, more then just shaking hands.

"So yeah, the feeling grows. I understand that good results help, but it is very nice to feel that people really are thinking it's a pity that I'm leaving.

"You can say that with words, but you can feel it if people truly think that way. That does mean a lot to me."

Jurgen Klopp will take charge of his final Liverpool game on Sunday

Jurgen Klopp will take charge of his final Liverpool game on Sunday

PA

Klopp also spoke in his final press conference as Liverpool manager on Friday where he admitted that he's going to find it tough to say goodbye on Sunday.

He said: "We spoke before how hard it will be to say goodbye because I love everything about this place. I take memories with me, fantastic memories. I take friendships with me, relationships with me – forever.

"You realise the older you get when time slips through your finger you only realise later on you look back and think 'My God, that was quick'. I don't think it was quick, the nine years. I really think it was the absolute opposite of a waste of time. We used absolutely everything and tried to make the best out of everything and tried to enjoy it as much as somehow possible.

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Jurgen Klopp joined Liverpool in October 2015

Jurgen Klopp joined Liverpool in October 2015

PA

"A decade in your life is a massive one and I will not forget a day in that time because I met the best people I ever met and I did it for the best club I could have imagined. That is how it is. In a wonderful, very, very special city.

"Nothing is perfect nowadays but the maturity of the people in this city is as close as possible because of the way they are, the way they deal with life, the way you welcome you and the way you treat you. And I don't mean me, I mean all people I know who arrive in this city. What they tell me describes people in Liverpool and that is wonderful to know.

"I am completely at peace. It is wonderful to know I spent a big time of my life here. I got the key to the city and I know probably for a lot of people that's rather funny but for me it feels like responsibility. I don't imagine the club will need my help in the future but if the city needs me I am there. I want to be helpful in whatever way and we will see how that looks.”

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