- Why I Rejected Netherlands Job, Slot Explains
- Slot denied withdrawing over disagreements about salary or contract duration.
- The former Feyenoord coach remains open to managing Netherlands in future
Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has explained why he turned down the opportunity to become the next manager of the Netherlands national team, saying he prefers to remain in club football.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Olodo Uprising: Sanwo-Olu Advises Youths to Embrace Knowledge, Curiosity
- BBN Season 11 Kicks Off with Unveiling of 24 Housemates Competing for ₦160m Grand Prize
- Why Africa Must Stop Exporting Raw Materials, Lessons From Benin for Nigeria
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Slot held talks with the Royal Dutch Football Association over the vacant position following Ronald Koeman’s departure but decided not to continue with the process.
The 47 year old also dismissed reports that his decision was linked to disagreements over salary or the length of a potential contract.
According to BBC Sport, Slot said discussions with the KNVB never reached the stage of negotiations over financial terms or contract duration.
“Over the past few weeks, and particularly the past few days, various reports have appeared regarding the vacancy at the Dutch national team, suggesting that I had withdrawn from the process after lengthy negotiations, including regarding salary and contract duration,” Slot said.
“That speculation is incorrect. We simply never reached that stage of the talks.”
Slot said his preference at this stage of his managerial career is to work with a club team, where he can interact with his players daily and oversee regular training sessions.
“At this stage of my career, I prefer to see myself on the training pitch with my players every day. Something that is simply not possible in the same way with a national team,” he said.
He added that his preference for club football was the reason he decided not to continue discussions with the KNVB.
“And (this is) why I chose not to continue the talks and not to start negotiations on what a possible contract might look like.”
The former Feyenoord manager stressed that his decision was not influenced by his feelings towards the Netherlands national team or the KNVB.
“I have enormous respect for the national team and for the KNVB and can only be positive about the professional manner in which the talks proceeded that week,” he said.
“For now, I believe that club football still has a lot to offer me.”
Slot, who guided Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title in 2023, also left the door open to managing the Netherlands in the future.
“It would be a great honour to represent my country as national coach one day. However, this was not the right moment for me,” he added.
With Slot no longer in contention for the position, reports from the Netherlands indicate that former Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has emerged as one of the candidates for the vacant role.
