No one could have predicted the impact Jurgen Klopp would have had at Liverpool when he was appointed manager in October 2015.
The arrival of the German caused a change in mentality throughout the football club: supporters became fascinated by his personality and players convinced by his tactical approach.
Almost a decade later, the German leaves after the most successful period in the club’s recent history, laying the foundations that will benefit people long after his departure. Klopp will step down with another Carabao Cup win under his belt, although the Reds’ Premier League aspirations are slowly fading after Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to their local rivals.
READ MORE: Liverpool reaches agreement with Feyenoord to make Arne Slot their new manager
READ MORE: Spent a week with Arne Slot – I’m surprised Liverpool want him
What is clear, despite the club facing an unlikely title challenge, is that Liverpool are in a much better position than what they inherited from the outgoing Brendan Rodgers. And the man chosen to take over from Klopp is Feyenoord manager Arne Slot.
Slot publicly announced his intention to become the next Liverpool manager on Thursday, before Feyenoord’s 3-1 win at Go Ahead Eagles and now a deal has been agreed between the Dutch and English giants.
And the parallels between the 45-year-old Slot and the iconic German manager are interesting. Both enjoyed careers outside the top divisions of the Netherlands and Germany respectively, and have been forced to cut their teeth in difficult managerial roles.
Both were instrumental in transforming fortunes in Liverpool and Dortmund, as well as Rotterdam. Klopp’s achievements on Merseyside are clear to see, but his potential successor has done an equally remarkable job in the south of the Netherlands.
“Feyenoord fans were probably thinking the same thing as Liverpool fans: ‘He has some credentials and possibly some merit, but is he really the right man for a club of this size?’,” Dutch football expert Geert Langendorff told the ECHO.
“Feyenoord was in the doldrums, still a big name, but struggling financially with mediocre players playing poor football and Ajax was so far ahead of them that the takeover felt like a pipe dream.
“He installed that belief in the club, in the players, even with a small budget.”
Klopp famously talked about turning Liverpool fans from doubters into believers and he has done just that, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. While there were highs in winning the Premier League and the Champions League, there were the lows in losing two Champions League finals, the League Cup and the Europa League.
Slot has had an impact everywhere he has been, whether it is Cambuur Leeuwarden, AZ Alkmaar or Feyenoord. And there are “no airs of grace” with the 45-year-old who has become a hero in De Kuip.
“It’s about inspiring people and creating the right environment for teams to thrive. He comes across as a psychologist and a people manager,” says Langendorff.
“The tactics are very precise, he loves it, but it is always about influencing people, changing the environment he is in, but he is certainly not the professorial type that you often see.
“That’s why fans in Rotterdam love him, because they are similar to Liverpool fans, the working class, who like to be entertained, sit in the dugout and share their values and are not like Jose Mourinho.”
However, question marks remain. Louis van Gaal, Frank de Boer and now Erik ten Hag are all Dutch managers who have struggled in the Premier League, with the latter making an immediate move from the Eredivisie to the Manchester United job two years ago.
Not to mention that in previous years there are many examples of clubs experiencing significant decline following the departure of their long-standing managers. Both Manchester United and Arsenal have fallen victim to the hangover in their attempt to live up to the expectations of supporters who have become accustomed to success.
Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane are among the experts not entirely convinced by Slot’s credentials.
“It is probably the biggest question,” adds Langendorff, who works for Algemeen Dagblad. “Will he be able to handle the daily criticism from Liverpool? That’s ten or maybe twenty times the size of Feyenoord. I’ve read the quotes about ‘not an exciting name to drop’. It will be a tough one.
“At Feyenoord, just like Liverpool, you have to win over the fans and you are honorary mayor of the city. Feyenoord is the ideal finishing school to take this step, but as we have seen with Van Gaal, a seasoned manager, it will be tough, but he definitely has a fighting chance.
“I think he is ready, but that is always difficult to say with the track record of Dutch managers and players.”
Liverpool spent more than £150 million on a major squad restructuring last summer, bringing in the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch to revamp their midfield.
With these foundations and the embarrassment of riches within the Kirkby academy, Slot has plenty of potential to work with when he arrives at Anfield.
Ahead of the deal to bring him to the club, Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim were said to be closely linked with Klopp’s successor at Anfield. However, those in power at Liverpool believe that Slot’s playing style is closest to Klopp’s and will therefore not mean a major restructuring of the playing staff at Anfield.
Langendorff explains: “It is a very logical choice for Liverpool to go for him after Klopp. At Feyenoord he plays high-pressure football and not only waits for triggers, as Klopp does, but his whole team when they lose the ball , they’re trying to do that.” regain the ball – preferably within three seconds.
“He can play several styles, but his preference is 4-3-3 and, if necessary, 4-2-3-1. The players he values most are the wingers… He wants two, quick ones, hard-working and technical players.” wingers.
“If you look at the talent pool at Liverpool, it’s something he likes to work with. He likes players he can still mold and Liverpool have already rejuvenated their squad, so I think he’ll be happy with the current crop.
“But if he were to buy players, they would be backups for Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah or (their) successors. He will have heard the stories on the training pitch about Nunez and his finishing, but he can get the best out of him.” “
The Dutch connection is already there with Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Gravenberch. The Liverpool captain will enter the final 12 months of his contract at Anfield when Slot arrives in the summer and Joel Matip is out of contract at the end of the season. The defensive department is widely tipped as the next area for reinforcement.
There is undoubtedly a perfect target for Liverpool to try and acquire through the 45-year-old’s connection with Feyenoord. The player: Lutsharel Geertruida, a “versatile defender, who can play as a full-back or a centre-back,” says Langendorff.
Change is never fun. Klopp’s premature announcement in January was a blow that blindsided not just Liverpool fans, but football supporters around the world. There will be pressure on Liverpool to continue the brilliant work of the German and his backroom staff and there is no guarantee that success will follow.
For some, the list of names suggested as successors to the 56-year-old is disappointing and/or uninspiring. Slot could also fit into that list, but like nine years ago, Liverpool could appoint someone with experience, albeit unproven, in the English top flight.
While Klopp transformed Liverpool from mediocrity to mentality monsters, Slot did so in the Netherlands. “When Jürgen Klopp arrived, he was doing well in the Bundesliga, but he wasn’t yet a big name in football. He proved everyone wrong and took off,” Langendorff argues.
“Arne Slot has the same qualities, a great character, not as big as Klopp, but quite charismatic. He has proven that he can and will play very good football, even if he has a small budget to defy the odds.”
“I don’t think there will be a big transition from Jürgen Klopp. He will adapt it a little bit. You can expect a similar style of football with players who underperformed this year and perform much better next season. Klopp has laid the foundation and I think that he can finish the job with this team.
“Feyenoord is so similar to Liverpool, so if he is a success there, there is a good chance he can do similar things at Liverpool. You could see him as Jurgen-esque, but he is essentially Arne 1.0. Just give him an opportunity, there are enough positives to believe that success will come naturally.”