Etienne Reijnen was set to join Arne Slot‘s backroom staff at Liverpool this summer having “packed his bags” to leave Feyenoord – but is now unemployed.
Reijnen had been lined up to follow Slot from Feyenoord to Liverpool back in 2024, only for work permit issues to block his move.
But with those hurdles overcome he was finally set to link up with his long-time colleague at Anfield this summer.
Now Slot has been sacked and Reijnen, an assistant coach who specialised in set-pieces, is left without a job having already quit Feyenoord.
Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan writes for De Telegraaf that the 39-year-old had “packed his bags” after resigning from his role with the Eredivisie side – who have now “already filled his position.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 19, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. Man Utd won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It means Reijnen cannot simply stay in the job he held for three years and instead must seek new employment having found himself out of work in cruel circumstances.
That Liverpool had a new assistant lined up suggests the decision to part ways with Slot was a change of plan from decision-makers Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes.
Reijnen’s arrival had been viewed as a clear sign that Liverpool would back Slot to continue as head coach despite a miserable second season.
But while the higher-ups were well within their rights to opt for a new direction with Andoni Iraola at the helm, it leaves Reijnen as an unfortunate casualty.
The logical solution would be that he joins Slot at his next job, but it is unclear at this stage where the Dutchman will land – and he is now touted to become Netherlands manager after the World Cup.
It had been claimed by the Telegraph‘s Jason Burt, Sam Wallace and Dominic King that Liverpool would “have to negotiate” Reijnen’s departure, but it has since been upheld that no contract was signed.
Iraola will sign a two-year deal to take over at Anfield on Thursday, with the Spaniard expected to be joined at the club by Bournemouth colleagues Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper, Pablo de la Torre and Tom Webber.
Cooper led set-piece coaching at Bournemouth and is therefore seen as Reijnen’s alternate in this case – filling a position that has been vacant since Aaron Briggs was sacked in December.