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Arne Slot could be handed a swift return to management after emerging as a contender for the Netherlands job following the country’s 2026 FIFA World Cup exit.
The former Liverpool head coach spent two years at Anfield after replacing club legend Jurgen Klopp, winning the Premier League title in his first season in charge.
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However, Slot was dismissed at the end of May after Liverpool’s disappointing campaign ended with a fifth-place finish.
The Dutchman could now return to the dugout with the Netherlands searching for a new head coach following Ronald Koeman’s departure. Reports claim talks between Slot and the Dutch Football Association have already taken place.
A move into international management would reunite Slot with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who remains a key figure for the national team.
It remains unclear whether Slot would be interested in taking the role, but the opportunity would provide him with an immediate return to coaching.
According to De Telegraaf, Slot would not lose the compensation package he is still owed by Liverpool if he agrees to become Netherlands manager.
Clubs, particularly in England, have increasingly chosen to continue paying dismissed managers’ salaries until the end of their contracts rather than making a one-off severance payment.
There have been several cases where managers have given up their right to the remaining months of their salary after accepting a new job. In those situations, the compensation was often covered by their new employers.
However, such agreements were more common before the significant rise in managerial salaries at the top level of the Premier League, where compensation packages have become considerably more lucrative.
When Slot signed a three-year contract with Liverpool in 2024, he was earning around €8million per year. However, that figure only applied to his first season.
After guiding Liverpool to the Premier League title in May 2025, his salary was increased significantly for the second and third years of his deal.
As a result, Arne Slot is set to receive around €30million in total from his Liverpool contract, including the final year of his agreement despite having already left the club.
If the KNVB wants to appoint a successor for departing manager Ronald Koeman quickly, with the first Nations League fixture against Germany coming up in September, negotiations with Slot can be completed without a major financial obstacle.
It is believed that the Reds are willing to top up Slot’s first-year salary with the Netherlands national team to match what he would have earned at Anfield.
This would allow Liverpool to reduce the amount it still owes him by offsetting part of the payment through his new role.
Liverpool’s stance could have been different if Slot had joined a Premier League rival, but the club appreciated his conduct after being dismissed a week after the final league match and are prepared to support his move into international management.