Sacked Liverpool boss Arne Slot joins UEFA observer group while targeting club return

Arne Slot has accepted his first position since being sacked as Liverpool manager, joining UEFA’s Technical Observer Group to analyse matches across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Slot was relieved of his duties at Anfield at the end of last season following a disappointing title defence that saw Liverpool finish fifth and only narrowly secure Champions League qualification — a stark contrast to the Premier League triumph he delivered in his debut campaign in 2024.

UEFA’s Technical Observer Group uses stats and video analysis to produce detailed reports on coaching trends and tactical developments, which are then shared across the footballing community. Slot joins a notable roster of former managers including Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Gareth Southgate, Sean Dyche, Erik ten Hag, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou.

In its announcement, UEFA noted that Slot “made his name at Feyenoord, reaching the UEFA Conference League final in 2022 and winning an Eredivisie title and Dutch Cup in the following two campaigns,” before guiding Liverpool to their second Premier League title in five years.

Despite being linked with the vacant Netherlands head coach role, Slot moved quickly to distance himself from that speculation. Speaking to Voetbal International, he said: “That speculation is incorrect. We simply never got to that stage of the talks. At this stage of my career, I prefer to see myself on the training field with my players every day, something that is simply not possible in the same way with a national team.”

He added: “I have a lot of respect for the national team and for the KNVB and can only be positive about the professional way in which the talks went that week. For now, I believe that club football still has a lot to offer me.”

The Netherlands role has since been filled by Xavi, who signed a four-year deal running through to the 2030 World Cup after Ronald Koeman stepped down following a last-32 defeat by Morocco at the 2026 tournament.

The UEFA observer role appears to be a short-term arrangement for Slot while he waits for the right club opportunity, rather than any shift towards a long-term advisory career.