Dimitar Berbatov doesn’t often praise Liverpool as a Manchester United legend, but he’s reserved some special praise for one man at Anfield now.
The debate around who is the best manager in the world is a tough one at the moment.
For the longest time, Pep Guardiola has been seen as the best coach on the planet, but, after Manchester City struggled last season, the Spaniard may have been knocked off his perch.
Luis Enrique is certainly in the mix after leading PSG to Champions League glory this year, while Carlo Ancelotti remains a great of the game.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Dimitar Berbatov has been asked to name who he believes is the best manager in the world right now, and he named none other than Liverpool boss, Arne Slot.
Arne Slot shouts during the UEFA Champions League clash between RB Leipzig and Liverpool.
Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Dimitar Berbatov says Arne Slot is the best manager in the world
Berbatov named Alex Ferguson as the greatest manager of all-time, but when it came to the best manager in the world right now, the Bulgarian hailed Liverpool’s current gaffer.
Slot has received tons of praise for the job he’s done at Liverpool since arriving at Anfield, and it’s fair to say Berbatov is a big fan.
“Who is the best manager right now?” Berbatov was asked.
“Right now? Based on the success he had in his first year, you have to give credit to Arne Slot,” Berbatov said.
Best debut seasons for Premier League managers
Arne Slot has been utterly brilliant since arriving at Liverpool taking the reins from Jurgen Klopp and leading the Reds to glory.
Slot has established himself as the best manager in the world in Berbatov’s mind, and he has enjoyed one of the very best debut seasons of any manager in England.
However, Slot’s first season at Liverpool wasn’t actually the best debut season of any manager in the Premier League.
Best debut seasons for Premier League managers Position Points tally
Jose Mourinho – Chelsea 1st 95
Antonio Conte – Chelsea 1st 93
Carlo Ancelotti – Chelsea/ Manuel Pellegrini – Man City 1st 86
Arne Slot – Liverpool 1st 84
Jose Mourinho’s 95-point haul in his debut season is still a record 20 years on, and it may be a record that is never broken.
Slot ran Mourinho close at Liverpool, but even the Reds couldn’t topple what Chelsea achieved back in 2005.
Slot will be hoping to emulate Mourinho by winning back-to-back titles in his first two seasons, but it remains to be seen if the Dutchman can achieve this rarest of feats.