Liverpool players pay tribute to Arne Slot after sacking ends two-year reign

Arne Slot has been sacked as Liverpool head coach, the club confirmed on Saturday, bringing an end to a tenure that began with a Premier League title and concluded with a damaging collapse in form during the following season.

Captain Virgil van Dijk was the first to respond publicly, posting a message of support for Slot shortly after the news broke. He was quickly followed by several teammates, reflecting the affection the squad had developed for the Dutchman across his two seasons at Anfield.

Forward Hugo Ekitike, one of the standout performers of Slot’s second campaign, wrote: “Thank you for everything that you taught me and for the time you gave me both on and off the pitch. I wish you all the very best coach.” Fellow summer signing Jeremie Frimpong, whose debut season was disrupted by injury, added: “Thank you for everything coach, all the best for the future.”

Teenager Rio Ngumoha, who was handed his first-team debut by Slot and went on to feature prominently in the closing stages of the season, kept his tribute brief but heartfelt, posting simply: “Thankyou Gaffer.”

Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, currently away on World Cup duty, also took time to acknowledge the departing manager. “Thank you for everything, coach,” he wrote. “Lifting the Premier League trophy together was an incredible achievement and a moment I’ll never forget. Wishing you all the best for the future.”

Slot arrived at Liverpool in the summer of 2023 and delivered the club’s second Premier League title in his very first season, cementing his place in Anfield history. However, the defence of that title unravelled badly, with the team suffering 20 defeats across all competitions during the following campaign. The Liverpool hierarchy acted swiftly once the season ended, dismissing Slot less than a week after the final fixture.

The news is reported to have caught many within the club off guard. Former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is understood to be the leading candidate to succeed Slot, having guided Bournemouth to Champions League qualification before his departure.