Arne Slot wants Ballon d'Or winner at Liverpool

Liverpool coach Arne Slot is working with plenty of his fellow countrymen at Anfield.

Alongside him on the Reds’ bench is Sipke Hulshoff, his trusted assistant, plus former Netherlands international John Heitinga, among others.

Of course, in the Liverpool squad are some of the Netherlands’ best performers.

Virgil van Dijk is long established as one of the best central defenders around and has been a mainstay in the Liverpool lineup since 2018.

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Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, is becoming one of the most consistent defensive midfielders in the Premier League this season having risen to prominence under Slot.

And forward Cody Gakpo is now beginning to edge Luis Diaz out of Liverpool’s preferred starting XI having scored two more goals in the midweek Carabao Cup victory against Brighton.

Van Basten's awesome legacy

And if Slot gets his way, his squad could soon be joined by another prominent Dutchman in the shape of Ballon d’Or winner Marco van Basten.

The former Ajax and AC Milan striker is revered as one of the outstanding footballers of his generation and among the best Dutch players of all time.

He starred for Milan alongside compatriots Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, winning back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990. Van Basten also won THREE Ballons d’Or - in 1988, 1989 and 1992, before having to retire prematurely owing to a knee injury.

However, the former striker is best known for helping the Oranje clinch their one and only senior men’s international trophy at Euro ‘88. His goal in the final against the Soviet Union is regarded as one of the best ever, etching his name into Dutch football folklore forever.

Arne Slot invites Van Basten to Liverpool

As a result of his exploits as a player, Van Basten is held in high regard by his countrymen and this week celebrated his landmark 60th birthday.

Dutch TV company Ziggo Sport organised a video tribute to Van Basten, featuring many well-known Dutch football voices.

Among them was Arne Slot, who from Anfield wished Van Basten a happy birthday and suggested he come across to visit his squad at the AXA Training Centre.

He also made reference to a recent Dutch blow-up between Van Basten and Ajax striker Brian Brobbey, who Van Basten offered to train one-to-one with that suggestion being declined.

"Marco, here from Liverpool, congratulations on your 60th birthday," Slot began with a smile. "For my generation, you will always be the player who was so great during the European Championship and brought us the first and so far only European Championship.

“I would really like it if you would come to Liverpool for a day. Whether or not you will work with our strikers, we will have to talk about that later!", the Liverpool boss joked.

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