Arne Slot reveals Michael Edwards visit all the way back in 2017

New Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed a visit with Michael Edwards all the way back in 2017. The Dutchman has been on the radar for some time.

Arne Slot says he first visited Anfield back in 2017 - as a guest of then-sporting director Michael Edwards. Edwards, of course, now heads up football operations for FSG after returning earlier this year.

And Slot wasn't too far behind. He agreed to become Liverpool manager a few months ago before officially taking up the role in June. Now, though, he's revealed how his first meeting with Edwards came seven years ago.

Liverpool were progressing well under Jurgen Klopp at the time and would be in the Champions League final a year later. Slot admits he'd never have predicted taking over from the German down the line.

“We were like two fans going to the game. I was there as a professional but I enjoyed the game as well,” Slot said, per the Telegraph.

“We spoke a bit and I had a look and feel for the club, but not in such a way that I would assume that seven years later I would be in this position.”

Arne Slot - the new Liverpool head coach

Perhaps it shouldn't be any sort of surprise, then, that Slot got the job. He's been known to the decision-makers at Liverpool for a long time and he's certainly only impressed since then.

Slot was incredibly close to winning the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar in 2020 before the league was abandoned. He then moved to Feyenoord, taking them to the inaugural UEFA Conference League final in 2022 and clinched the Eredivisie trophy in 2023.

Liverpool saw enough to make him their replacement for Jurgen Klopp - one of the biggest and most difficult jobs in world football. It's been a long time coming, as it turns out.