Arne Slot is more than likely going to be Liverpool manager next season. AFP Photo
Paul Kennedy
So full disclosure, this isn’t my observation, but one I heard on TalkSport this week that I felt was worthy of sharing and examining.
What three things have the following football managers all got in common?
Guus Hiddink, Erik ten Hag, Martin Jol, Ronald Koeman, Ruud Gullit, Dick Advocaat, Rene Meulensteen, Louis van Gaal and Frank de Boer?
Give up?
Let me tell you. They are all from Holland, they have all managed in England, and not a single one of them, has ever won the Premier League, or for that matter, even come close.
I’m raising this now as Liverpool, it seems, have appointed Arne Slot as their new manager to take over when Jurgen Klopp leaves at the end of the season.
I won’t lie to you, I’d never heard of him before he was linked to my team. And my only knowledge of the Feyenoord coach is what I’ve read or seen about him in the past few weeks.
On paper, he seems to tick all the boxes.
Plays attacking football, led Feyenoord to success on a shoe-string budget, loved by the supporters, great man manager and seems passionate and very much up for the job.
That’s the good stuff out of the way, but there is still one thing that’s worrying me, and I refer to the earlier observation about the success rate of Dutch managers.
Moving from the Eredivisie, the highest league in the Netherlands, to the Premier League isn’t just a step up…. it’s a gigantic leap.
If you don’t believe me, just ask Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag.
Slot has a huge task on his hands, and I hope he’s more successful than his above mentioned predecessors.
Liverpool have taken a gamble with this appointment, and while I hope beyond hope that it pays off, I have doubts.
Competing in the Dutch league really is a million miles away from challenging for the Premiership title.
And Liverpool fans will expect their team to be fighting on all fronts next season. Klopp has, over his tenure, created a team with the ability to not only challenge, but win the big trophies.
Slot has a lot of work to do, and I'm confident he will be backed 100 per cent by not only the Liverpool hierarchy, but also the supporters.
I wish it's a perfect fit, and I wish he bucks the trend of unsuccessful Dutch coaches in the Premier League. Let's hope he slots right in. VNS
OVietnam