Liverpool criteria for hiring Jürgen Klopp successor as Arne Slot ticked right boxes

Arne Slot has been confirmed as Liverpool’s new head coach, taking over from Jürgen Klopp. The Dutchman will officially start work next month following a long search, in which he ticked the right boxes for FSG.

Slot has agreed to a three-year deal as the club’s new boss, and will arrive following a successful spell in charge of Feyenoord. The 45-year-old won the Eredivisie title last season before adding the KNVB Cup this year.

According to the ECHO, Liverpool has agreed to pay Feyenoord around $12.7m (£10m/€11.7m) for Slot’s services, and he is expected to bring a number of his backroom staff with him from the Netherlands.

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Liverpool arrived at Slot as its new manager following an extensive search, led by FSG’s CEO of football Michael Edwards. After Xabi Alonso and Rúben Amorim were seen by many as initial favorites for the job, it was Slot that eventually ticked all the right boxes for the Reds.

According to The Athletic, Klopp’s successor needed to meet some specific criteria. It was paramount the candidate had a clear identity with their brand of football, with the club looking for dynamic, high-energy, possession-based tactics similar, a somewhat similar philosophy to that instilled by Klopp.

The changes behind the scenes at Anfield meant the club was also looking for a head coach rather than a manager. As well as Edwards’ return to FSG, Julian Ward will take up a role as the owners’ technical director, while Richard Hughes will arrive next month as the club’s new sporting director.

As head coach, the club wanted a hands-on training ground operated. It was also vital they could buy into the power of the Liverpool fan base just as Klopp did so successfully. The final key factor game to management of the squad, with the Reds looking for someone with a track record of keeping players fit as well as improving them.

Hughes and Edwards were claimed to be prepared to be ‘courageous’ in their search, and focused on making the right choice, and not necessarily the popular one. Slot will prepare for his arrival at Anfield, where he will have a busy summer on his hands ahead of his first season at the helm.

Liverpool.com says: Given the lack of obvious candidates, it was only right that Liverpool took its time in finding the right successor for Klopp. Alonso always seemed to be the outstanding candidate early on, but once he ruled himself out, it was really anyone’s guess who the new boss would be.

Hughes and Edwards have clearly done their homework, and Slot would appear to be the ideal man to step into the new structure. The new era begins.