Arne Slot has reacted to his new Liverpool chant and explained why he changed his mind about one early Reds promise
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot celebrates winning the Premier League title.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot celebrates winning the Premier League title.(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Arne Slot has reacted to his new Liverpool chant, revealing its connection to the Netherlands makes it even more special to him. Debuted since the Reds clinched the Premier League title last month, the catchy ditty has quickly become a favourite among supporters.
A modified version of the Dutch song "Links Rechts" (translated: "Left Right") by Snollebollekes, the chant initially pays tribute to Jurgen Klopp before switching attention to Slot with the standout lyric being: ‘He brought us No. 20 and his name is Arne Slot.’
The original song gained popularity in the Netherlands during the European Championships as the Dutch reached the semi-finals.
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Slot admits he is a fan of his new chant as he paid tribute to supporters - well-aware the connection to his homeland is likely no coincidence, after seeing it usurp his previous song that was famously launched by Klopp during his own Anfield farewell last May.
“Yeah, I heard it for the first time very loud and long and often at Stamford Bridge when we played Chelsea,” Slot said when asked about his new chant.
“It’s a song that’s really popular in Holland as well – maybe that’s not even a coincidence because these fans always come up with special songs. I don’t think there are many clubs that have so many special songs, I think we stand out in that as well, our fans stand out in that as well.
“So to have one is already special, to have one that’s so connected with Holland makes it even more special because if you see clips from when the Dutch national team is playing, it’s always from left to the right and it’s the same melody that our fans use now as well.
“So, yeah, to bring number 20, as part of being the one that brought number 20, is special and to have a song – especially then a song that’s about bringing in a 20th league title – is definitely very special.
“It’s very nice. Everywhere I went for the first 10 months it was always ‘Arne Slot, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah’ because that’s what Jurgen did. And now when I’m somewhere they start to sing this [new] song.”
Slot memorably returned the favour to Klopp after Liverpool won the Premier League title, leading a rendition of his original chant, sung to the tune of Opus’ ‘Live is Life’ with the initial Reds lyric paying tribute to the German.
But that was not the only way he replicated Klopp after the Reds thrashed Spurs as Slot also celebrated with his coaching staff by performing the German’s trademark fist pumps in front of the Kop.
He previously insisted last August that he would not replicate Klopp’s celebration, telling reporters: “But don’t expect me to go after the game and make fist pumps. That is not going to be my style.”
However, he has now explained how Liverpool supporters ultimately changed his mind - even if was determined to hold off celebrating in such a way until the ‘final moment’.
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“I always felt that the fans were waiting for a moment like this,” he told the club website. “And I always thought, ‘Don’t do it too early, wait for the final moment when we won it and then it could be a nice interaction with the fans.’”
“Because this is what Jurgen of course always did. I don’t want to copy Jurgen during the season, but I thought this is a nice moment to do this.
“And I didn’t do it by myself, my staff were there as well and I think it was a special moment for all four of us.”