Arne Slot could have been leading Leeds United back in 2023
Arne Slot rejected the chance to become Leeds United manager over a year before he accepted the Liverpool job. The Reds boss had been in charge of Feyenoord for two years before the Whites came calling.
After Jesse Marsch had been sacked after almost a year in charge in February 2023, overtures were made to hire Slot, but the Dutchman snubbed the chance to come to Elland Road.
The 47-year-old was the third manager who turned down the opportunity to join the club after then-West Brom boss Carlos Corberan signed a new contract, while now-Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was blocked by his former club, Rayo Vallecano.
Slot called Leeds’ interest in him a “compliment”, but eased the fears of Feyenoord supporters by announcing his intention to remain in the Netherlands.
Slot said: “It is true that I will stay with Feyenoord, I can say that with this one. That is clear, fans do not have to be afraid.” Citing Feyenoord’s chances of claiming silverware with just four months left to go in the season, he added: “The club has been clear.
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“It was a compliment that a club like Leeds was interested, but we are doing something great with Feyenoord. We are in a great position in the league, the cup and Europe. There is no disappointment. It’s certainly not a punishment to stay here.”
Following Slot’s rejection, Leeds U21 manager Michael Skubala was appointed interim manager and served for two weeks before Javi Gracia was made boss. The Spaniard lasted less than three months after winning just three of his 12 games in charge.
It was Sam Allardyce who next stepped up to the plate in early May as Leeds desperately tried to stave off relegation, but failed after the ex-West Ham and England boss was winless in his only four matches at the club.
Ahead of their return to the Championship, former Norwich manager Daniel Farke was given the keys at Elland Road and has remained there ever since. The German led the club back to the Premier League last season and claimed their biggest win of the season on Wednesday when beating Chelsea 3-1 to end their four-match losing streak.
In the case of Slot, he remained at Feyenoord until the end of the 2023/24 season, as that summer he agreed a deal to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Slot’s first season couldn’t have gone any better after leading Liverpool to the Premier League title, their second in five years.
The success saw Slot trusted with the biggest transfer prize fund in the club’s history as the Dutchman splashed out £450million this summer. With over £225m spent on just Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, much was expected of Slot’s new-look side.
But nobody could have foreseen the dramatic drop in performances that the Reds have had this season. With six league defeats suffered already, the pressure has been escalating on the Liverpool boss, with many already questioning his position.
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