Liverpool, England – Former Liverpool manager Arne Slot has decided on the possibility of taking over as coach of the Netherlands national team in the coming period, after his name was linked to the position following Ronald Koeman’s departure.
Slot’s name had been linked to leading the Dutch national team, as the Dutch Football Association searched for a new coach following Koeman’s departure after the team’s results in the World Cup.
Slot explained, in statements to “Voetbal International” magazine quoted by “BBC Sport”, that the Dutch Federation had indeed contacted him about the possibility of him taking over the national team, but he decided not to continue the talks, preferring to continue working with the clubs.
The Liverpool manager said: “Over the past few weeks, and especially in recent days, there have been numerous reports about the Netherlands coaching position, stating that I refused to coach the national team because of the salary and the length of the contract, but this is not true, as we have not reached that stage of negotiations”.
He added: “At this stage of my coaching career, I prefer to be on the pitch every day with my players, and this doesn’t happen the same way with the national team. Therefore, I decided not to continue talks with the Dutch Football Association and not to enter into negotiations regarding the length of the contract”.
Slot continued: “I have great respect for the Dutch national team and the Dutch Football Association, and I can only commend the professional manner in which the talks were conducted during that week”.
The Liverpool manager concluded his remarks by saying: “At the moment, I see club management as still the best option for me, and it gives me a lot in my career. It would be a great honor to take over as manager of my national team, but I don’t think the time is right for that now”.
According to recent reports, Spaniard Roberto Martinez, the former coach of the Portuguese national team, tops the list of candidates to succeed Koeman in leading the Dutch national team in the coming period.
