Arne Slot confirmed that he will succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager after the latter plays his last game at Anfield on Sunday.
Click here for more football news and updates.
Slot to replace Klopp as Liverpool manager
Slot, 45, played his last game with the Dutch club Feyenoord last Sunday and will start his new role at Liverpool on June 1.
“I can confirm that I will become the trainer there next year,” the Dutch said on Friday’s news conference.
“Until now I was not thinking about this being the buildup to my last match, but that starts coming now. 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 press conference], because I wanted to say goodbye to some people personally and take time for them, more than 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.”
ESPN previously reported that Liverpool are already eyeing Slot as the next manager.
Liverpool will make the appointment official next week after Klopp receives a fitting send-off after spending 8½ years with the club.
‘Hard to ignore’
Slot said in a statement on Feyenoord’s website that it was hard for him to turn down the opportunity to coach the Reds.
“It’s certainly not an easy decision to close the door behind you at a club where you’ve had so many great moments and worked successfully with so many great people,” he said.
“But an opportunity to become a head coach in the Premier League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world, is hard to ignore as a sportsman.”
Liverpool agreed to a £9.4 million ($11.9m) compensation package with Feyenoord.
