Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted that head coach Arne Slot's sacking surprised him and that he did not find out about the club's decision until it was leaked to the public
01:05, 04 Jun 2026
Virgil van Dijk reacts during an international friendly
Virgil van Dijk admitted to being unaware of Liverpool's plans to sack Arne Slot
Winning the Premier League often gives a manager more time, support from fan, and the resources to build on success. But Liverpool fired Arne Slot a year after he won the title in his first season, leaving club captain Virgil van Dijk surprised by the decision.
Slot was sacked at the end of May after a disappointing second season. Liverpool dropped to fifth place and only secured a Champions League spot by three points, just ahead of a Bournemouth team that finished the season unbeaten in their last five games. Liverpool lost two matches during that same stretch.
The decision ended Slot's two-year spell at Anfield after he officially replaced Jurgen Klopp in June 2024. Meanwhile, van Dijk has been at Liverpool for nearly a decade with his contract set to expire after 2027. Slot delivered a league title in his debut season, only to watch his entire project slowly lose its life.
Van Dijk was the only Premier League player to play every minute during the 2025-26 season and admitted the call caught him off guard after the Netherlands' 1-0 loss to Algeria.
"That came as a surprise. I spoke to Arne and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, and I'm grateful for everything they've done for me. I know Liverpool will come out of this well," Van Dijk told Dutch news.
"I landed in Amsterdam on Saturday, and the news had already been leaked," Van Dijk continued. "I then had discussions with the club, but the decision had already been made by then. It's not as though they asked me for my opinion."
Arne Slot talks to Virgil van Dijk during a UEFA Champions League game
Virgil van Dijk has played almost every minute for Arne Slot last season(Image: Getty Images)
Van Dijk started all 38 league matches this season and played 3,420 minutes. He scored six goals, with two coming against Aston Villa late in the season as questions grew about Slot's future.
His numbers under Slot during Liverpool's 2024-25 title-winning season were even more crucial to team success. Van Dijk appeared in 60 of 60 matches across all competitions, played 5,444 minutes, scored six goals, and added one assist.
Defensively, Van Dijk made 77 interceptions, won 30 tackles, and drew 18 fouls. He was named to the PFA Team of the Year and captained the Netherlands to the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals.
Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk react after a defeat to Manchester City
Arne Slot was fired after a league title victory followed by a 6th-place Premier League finish(Image: Getty Images)
Van Dijk stayed as the key defender in a backline that lost Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid and is set to lose Andy Robertson to Tottenham on a free transfer. Liverpool academy center back Rhys Williams announced his departure five days before Slot left.
Article continues below
The club has agreed to sign French center-back Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais to strengthen the defense. Liverpool is rumored to have a massive summer transfer window to address the attack after Mohamed Salah's exit, and key positions in the defensive midfield.
Slot's departure opened the door for Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who agreed to a two-year deal on Tuesday. Iraola led Bournemouth to sixth place and their first Europa League qualification.