'It all seemed so simple under Arne Slot' – Feyenoord chief admits huge mistake after Liverpool manager's exit from Dutch club

Feyenoord supremo Dennis te Kloese has held his hands up and confessed, waving goodbye to Arne Slot was the worst decision he could have made. The Dutch coach, who was lured to Anfield last summer to replace Jurgen Klopp, has transformed Liverpool into a machine once again, storming to the Premier League crown last season and starting the new campaign with a flawless record.

Slot the king of Anfield

Klopp’s shock exit last year threw Liverpool into chaos, but Slot’s arrival sensationally steadied the ship. His first season in charge ended with Liverpool cruising to the league title and making a statement on the European stage. Already this season, his men have four league wins from four, plus an opening Champions League triumph over Atletico Madrid to underline their resurgence.

AdvertisementAFPFeyenoord left in turmoil

Back in Rotterdam, life without Slot has been turbulent. The board initially turned to Brian Priske to continue the success, but the experiment failed spectacularly. Priske lasted only until February 2025 before being shown the door, with Pascal Bosschaart thrown in as caretaker. It was chaos, and Feyenoord were left scrambling for stability. Eventually, club legend Robin van Persie was handed the reins earlier this year, and things have begun to steady. But even with Van Persie’s bright start, Te Kloese admits the club made a fatal miscalculation in assuming anyone could step into Slot’s shoes seamlessly.

We took Slot for granted

Speaking candidly, Te Kloese admitted that Feyenoord’s leadership simply didn’t grasp how much of the club’s identity had been shaped by Slot.

“It was just going well, so we thought it could continue under a new manager," he said. "But look at what Arne is doing at Liverpool; it’s unique. So, we also had to assess ourselves: are the things we’re doing really that well and clearly? It all seemed so simple under Slot, but it’s not. The conclusion is that you can’t compare a new manager to Arne. That’s almost impossible.”

GOAL Merseyside derby up next

While Feyenoord continue to rebuild, Slot has no time to reflect on his old stomping ground. His Liverpool side face one of the fiercest fixtures on the calendar this weekend, the Merseyside derby against Everton.