Arne Slot was let go by Liverpool following a disappointing Premier League season but he may not be out of work much longer, with speculation linking him with the Netherlands job
10:18, 03 Jul 2026
Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Arne Slot(Image: Getty Images)
Arne Slot has emerged as a potential managerial candidate for the Netherlands national team.
The Dutch were sent packing at the World Cup at the round of 32 stage following a penalty shootout defeat to Morocco on Tuesday night. Head coach Ronald Koeman resigned from his post hours after his side were beaten on spot-kicks following the 1-1 draw where Liverpool's Cody Gakpo found the back of the net in normal time.
The Reds' attacker scored his third goal of the summer tournament but could not prevent defeat as Issa Diop's stoppage time equaliser took the game to extra-time and then penalties. And that ultimately cost them their place in the competition and Koeman his position.
Slot has been out of work since he was fired at Anfield back in May with Liverpool sitting fifth in the Premier League. That disappointment came after he had guided the club to the top tier title and won the LMA Manager of the Year gong in his first season.
The 47-year-old remains a highly-rated coach in world soccer and will undoubtedly have options having been linked with a Feyenoord return. One of which now, according to Dutch football reporter Marcel van der Kraan, would make perfect sense as head of the national side.
He told talkSPORT: "I think Arne Slot is very, very much up for that; he’s probably the ideal candidate. He can play his Dutch style of football, the passing, attacking style."
Slot would perhaps be a natural successor for Koeman having bossed at the highest level of Dutch soccer in the Eredivisie. He won the league with Feyenoord in 2023 as well as the KNVB Cup in 2024 before taking the reins at Liverpool.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman during a press conference
Former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman(Image: Getty Images)
He also took Feyenoord to the UEFA Conference League Final in 2022 before ultimately losing out to AS Roma.
Slot, however, is not the only manager in the frame for the role. It is being reported that former Ajax and Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag is in contention alongside his countryman.
The 56-year-old has not had an easy ride in recent years after leaving Old Trafford. He was axed by Bayer Leverkusen after a staggering three competitive matches in charge.
He has since been working as technical director of FC Twente and away from the dugout. Although this opening could potentially tempt him to make a comeback to frontline coaching should he win the race ahead of Slot.
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The Netherlands lost out to Morocco at the World Cup but their spot-kick failure came after they had won their Group F with comprehensive victories over both Tunisia and Sweden. They managed a 2-2 draw with Japan in their other fixture.
It marked the first time the Netherlands had failed to reach the last 16 of a World Cup, leaving the writing on the wall for Koeman.