Arne Slot may idolise Pep Guardiola but Liverpool see him as a natural successor to Jurgen Klopp.
The 45-year-old Dutchman, who was confirmed as the new head coach at Anfield on Monday, has earned a reputation as a perfectionist and control freak and has said the City boss and Lionel Messi are the two people to have enriched football and never disappointed him in recent decades.
“Guardiola’s teams always play good, dominant, well thought out football,” Slot said a couple of years ago.
“Then of course you have Jurgen Klopp. Manchester City-Liverpool for me is the ultimate game.” He is about to experience that first-hand.
That will help with the transition as it should not require major changes in tactics or personnel at Anfield.
Slot is also regarded as an expert in man management and more than capable of handling the media – which plays a significant part in the role of Liverpool manager – and he places a big emphasis on developing young players.
It may appear Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports Group’s new chief executive of football, has picked a Klopp clone but even he knows that is impossible considering the impact the German has had on and off the pitch in nine years.
But while the similarities are obvious, and somewhat understandable, Liverpool will hope they have identified the man who can not only continue Klopp’s work but enhance it.
But in his first season he took them to the Europa League final, as Klopp did with Liverpool, and won the league in his second campaign.
He fits the FSG philosophy of getting more from untapped resources or underrated players – perhaps best exemplified by Turkey international Orkun Kokcu who was transformed under his leadership and, after lifting the league trophy, was sold to Benfica for a club record £21.5million-plus.
In Slot’s previous job he guided unfancied AZ Alkmaar to second in the league in a Covid-shortened 2019-20 season.
He now has to make the considerable step up in terms of quality and expectation. Liverpool will hope they have chosen well.
