Image Credits: Imago Images
Arne Slot was sacked as Liverpool head coach on Saturday. The Dutchman, 47, won the Premier League title in his first season but was dismissed after Liverpool finished fifth in the 2025/26 season, 25 points behind champions Arsenal.
Despite 20 defeats in all competitions, he still guided the club into next season’s Champions League. Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in 2024 after the German stepped down following nine years in charge.
He made a strong start at Anfield, securing Liverpool’s 20th league title with four games to spare in front of home supporters.
According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Etienne Reijnen had prepared to relocate to Merseyside to join Slot’s coaching staff.
Reijnen previously worked alongside Robin van Persie at Feyenoord but left his role in May ahead of a planned move to Liverpool. With Slot now gone, Reijnen will not be heading to Anfield and is currently without a club, while his return to Feyenoord is also not possible as his former position has already been filled.
Slot first met Reijnen during their time at PEC Zwolle in 2010, and the pair have remained close since their playing days.
The former Liverpool head coach later brought him into his technical staff at Feyenoord after being impressed by his work at Cambuur, another club they were both associated with.
It was also Slot’s intention to include Reijnen in his backroom team when he succeeded Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in 2024, but the move fell through after Reijnen was unable to obtain a work permit, forcing him to remain in the Netherlands.
When asked how close he was to appointing Reijnen, Slot said: “As I always say about players, it is the same about staff members. As long as things are not done, then I will not be commenting on who we are signing or who we don’t.”
He added: “Well, it is fair to say that I have worked with him before. And I have a very high regard for him in terms of the coach he is. It is also clear that I tried to sign him two years ago when I first came here, but we couldn’t do it.”
Andoni Iraola is expected to arrive on Merseyside on Thursday to sign his contract and become Liverpool’s new head coach.
The Reds reached a verbal agreement with Iraola on Tuesday, and he is understood to want Pablo de la Torre, Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper and Tom Webber to join his coaching staff at Anfield.