Feyenoord coach Arne Slot has announced he will be appointed to succeed Jürgen Klopp as Liverpool manager from next season.
“I can confirm that I will become the trainer there next year,” Slot told a news conference.
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Klopp confirmed in January that he will step down from his role as Liverpool manager at the end of the season, with Slot emerging as the leading candidate to replace him.
As with Klopp on Friday, Slot used his prematch news conference to bid farewell to his club.
“Until now I was not thinking about this being the buildup 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 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. You can say that with words, but you can feel it if people truly think that way. That does mean a lot to me.”
Feyenoord confirmed Slot’s departure, posting a video on X saying: “The Arne Slot era is coming to an end. Let’s enjoy the last moments.”
Slot, 45, signed a three-year contract last year after guiding the Rotterdam-based club to the Eredivisie title. The former AZ Alkmaar coach rejected offers from Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur last summer to commit his future to Feyenoord.
Although Liverpool have yet to confirm Slot’s appointment as their new manager, they have reached a £9.4 million ($11.8m) compensation agreement with Feyenoord.
Sources have also told ESPN that Slot is planning to make Sipke Hulshoff, his assistant at Feyenoord, the first appointment to his backroom staff at Liverpool.
Hulshoff, 49, has worked alongside Slot at Feyenoord since 2022. Hulshoff has also worked as Netherlands assistant alongside former Everton manager Ronald Koeman since January 2023.
Information from ESPN’s Mark Ogden and Reuters contributed to this report.