Ernesto Valverde and Luciano Spalletti considered before Arne Slot appointment at Liverpool
Ernesto Valverde and Luciano Spalletti were both considered for the Liverpool job before Arne Slot was hired, according to The Athletic.
The report on 20 May reveals that Valverde was a “leading contender” and Spalletti was of “significant interest” as the Reds weighed up their options to replace legendary manager Jurgen Klopp.
However, Slot ultimately emerged as the club’s preferred candidate and his appointment was formally announced on 20 May.
What would Ernesto Valverde or Luciano Spalletti have brought to Liverpool?
Valverde, 60, and Spalletti, 65, boast a great deal more managerial experience than the 45-year-old Slot.
Athletic Bilbao boss Valverde won La Liga twice, along with the Copa del Rey, in his three and a half years at Barcelona, while also collecting three league titles and two cups with Olympiacos and – more recently – lifting the Copa del Rey with Bilbao this season, the club’s first major trophy in 40 years.
Spalletti, meanwhile, led Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990 and the days of Diego Maradona and had also collected silverware at Zenit St. Petersburg and Roma earlier in his career.
Slot, meanwhile, only stepped into management in 2016 and has only managed at the top level of Dutch football since 2019.
However, his three-year stint at Feyenoord has yielded two trophies – the Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup – as well as an appearance in the Europa Conference League final.
All three play attractive, high-tempo, possession-focused football but, ultimately, Slot convinced the Liverpool decision-makers that he was a better fit than his more experienced competitors.
Now he has to prove them right.
In other Liverpool news, Richard Keys has slammed “dreadful” Virgil van Dijk.
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