Liverpool have ended Arne Slot’s tenure as head coach after two seasons, following a significant drop in form during his second year at the club.
The 47-year-old Dutchman guided Liverpool to their 20th league title in his debut season before the club slipped to a fifth-place Premier League finish.
Despite qualifying for next season’s Champions League, Liverpool accumulated just 60 points, their lowest tally since the 2015-16 campaign and 25 points behind champions Arsenal.
Recently departed Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is the leading contender to replace Slot, with the club having already approached the Spaniard.
The decision to remove Slot was made by FSG chief executive Michael Edwards and Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes.
Liverpool’s hierarchy believe the next phase of the club’s development requires a more front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football.
Iraola, 43, is regarded as one of the most highly-rated coaches in Europe and is known for his attacking style of play.
He was appointed at Bournemouth when Hughes served as technical director at the Cherries, a role Hughes left in 2024 to join Liverpool.
Bournemouth finished only one place and three points behind Liverpool, qualifying for next season’s Europa League.
Earlier this month, forward Mohamed Salah said the club must return to being a “heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear” after “crumbling” to a defeat at Aston Villa.
In July, forward Diogo Jota died in a car crash, a deeply difficult period that Slot guided the club through with what FSG described as compassion and humanity.
Liverpool spent £415m last summer on six players, the highest outlay in a single window by a British club, in a bid to retain their Premier League title.
The club broke the British transfer record to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for £125m and also signed Bayer Leverkusen and Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz for a club record £116m.
Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss in 2024 after the German stepped down following nine years as manager at Anfield.
Slot’s backroom staff are also widely expected to leave, although no announcement has been made by the club regarding their positions.
“That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful,” Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group said in a statement.
“The conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach,” the statement added.
“Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield.”
“We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool’s 20th league title,” FSG added in closing.
