sport news A workaholic with a trick to stop injuries, inspired by Pep Guardiola... but ... trends now

sport news A workaholic with a trick to stop injuries, inspired by Pep Guardiola... but ... trends now
sport news A workaholic with a trick to stop injuries, inspired by Pep Guardiola... but ... trends now

sport news A workaholic with a trick to stop injuries, inspired by Pep Guardiola... but ... trends now

This could be Rotterdam or anywhere. After a weekend immersed with seasoned Feyenoord observers in this sun-kissed port city observing Arne Slot up close at De Kuip, it is clear his methods can be adaptable for the seismic step-up he faces in Liverpool. Or Rome.

It is a view shared by Dutch football legend Marco van Basten, who said on Slot: 'If you get AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord to play (good) football, you will also get big clubs to play (good) football. I think it will only be easier for him (at Liverpool) because you have better players.'

As far as references go, Van Basten is a strong start. The man he is poised to replace in the Anfield hotseat, Jurgen Klopp, is not bad either. The German has publicly endorsed Slot, labelling him a 'good coach and good guy'.

Glowing reviews continue from all corners of the footballing world but perhaps better placed is star man Santi Gimenez, the 26-goal striker who is one of many success stories of Slot's time here after being plucked from the Mexican league. Big clubs in Europe are keeping tabs.

Mail Sport asked what makes his manager so special and Gimenez replied: 'It was a big step (for me) to come from Mexico to the Netherlands and he gave me confidence. He always pushed me to be better. I am really grateful to Arne, I hope he can do well everywhere.

Arne Slot is poised to replace Jurgen Klopp in the Liverpool hotseat at the end of the season

Arne Slot is poised to replace Jurgen Klopp in the Liverpool hotseat at the end of the season

Slot has received glowing references include the man he is expected to replace in Klopp

Slot has received glowing references include the man he is expected to replace in Klopp

Studying Slot at Feyenoord, it is clear his methods can be adaptable for the seismic step-up he is set to face

Studying Slot at Feyenoord, it is clear his methods can be adaptable for the seismic step-up he is set to face

'As a person and as a coach, he is complete. He understands when to tell you that you did well, and also when to tell you if you did bad. That is a big advantage of Arne, he can talk really well with the players. Arne's style is attack, attack, attack.'

The Argentine speaks good English but could not help himself accidentally slipping into the past tense when talking about Slot's tenure. 'He deserves the world, he made wonderful memories,' he added. 'We are happy he was - well, is - our coach.'

Judging by the full-time scenes at De Kuip after Sunday's 5-0 thrashing of PEC Zwolle, he will not be their coach for much longer. He greeted ultras in the Gerard Meijer Tribune in a style that was reminiscent of Klopp's customary fist bumps to the Kop.

Slot was pushed towards the stand, which is named after a former club masseur voted as the 'greatest Feyenoorder' following 45 years of service, and then conducted them into chants as fans fell silent and invited their beloved coach to lead the songs.

Before that, the soundtrack to the night was supporters chanting 'stand up for Arne Slot' - in which the whole stadium took a temporary seat then sprang to their feet to dance - and a rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, plus tunes about the backroom staff also departing.

It felt like a goodbye - and it was. Parts of De Kuip will be closed for Slot's final home game as punishment for fans' use of fireworks in a game in March. The end game comes against Excelsior, apt noting the team name is latin translation for 'higher', where Slot is heading.

'I agree it looked like a goodbye,' he said. 'They are expecting me to leave. That is something we could say…' He added: 'Sometimes in life opportunities come along. Last year I made the choice to stay, this time probably different.'

Santi Gimenez, the 26-goal striker is one of many success stories of Slot’s time in Rotterdam

Santi Gimenez, the 26-goal striker is one of many success stories of Slot's time in Rotterdam

Mail Sport was in attendance to watch Slot's Feyenoord side beat PEC Zwolle 5-0 as he closes in on the exit door of the side he led to the Eredivisie title last season

Mail Sport was in attendance to watch Slot's Feyenoord side beat PEC Zwolle 5-0 as he closes in on the exit door of the side he led to the Eredivisie title last season

Dutch football legend Marco van Basten believes Slot will find life easier at Liverpool

Dutch football legend Marco van Basten believes Slot will find life easier at Liverpool

Signing on the dotted line and an official announcement is all that is missing now - and that could happen in the coming days but might be saved for after the season has finished. Slot emerged as Liverpool's No 1 candidate - but what makes him so special?

Like nearly every manager in Europe, the 45-year-old coach does not hide that his inspiration is Pep Guardiola which, in turn, means he is influenced by the famed Dutch school of football popularised by Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff and Louis van Gaal.

One former colleague of Slot who has known him since his playing days at Sparta Rotterdam, says: 'Everyone knew he would become a trainer, it did not surprise anyone. Not completely the same but Van Gaal also played for Sparta Rotterdam.

'They were both far above the group technically and tactically. Both very slow! With a bit of fantasy you can see comparisons between the two in their journeys. He sees Guardiola as his idol.

Slot does not hide that his inspiration is Pep Guardiola (right) which, in turn, means he is influenced by the Dutch school of football popularised by Michels, Cruyff and Van Gaal

Slot does not hide that his inspiration is Pep Guardiola (right) which, in turn, means he is influenced by the Dutch school of football popularised by Michels, Cruyff and Van Gaal

'He is very like Guardiola, they play the same high-intensity, attractive, attacking football. You can compare the two - not in level because Pep already proved everything worldwide and Slot is at the beginning.

'But he loves the way Guardiola works, even in his press conferences - he will never, ever pick out a player individually. He always finds the positive. He's really into analysing opponents for hours and hours.

'The Feyenoord players always say, 'Everything the trainer predicted, we saw in the game'. Players are never surprised. Arne is a workaholic. He's also happy to delegate. He has a coach for this, a coach for that, and for that and that and that!'

Some staff will follow him to Merseyside, including right-hand man Sipke Hulshoff - described as 'an extension of Arne' - plus co-head of performance Ruben Peeters and analyst Etienne Reijnen.

If Slot had his way, others - like goalkeeper guru Jyri Nieminen, strategy manager and former Greater Manchester Police officer Matt Wade and trainer Leigh Egger - might

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