Next Liverpool manager: Ballon d'Or winner Marco Van Basten endorses Arne Slot

Arne Slot has been given a ringing endorsement for the Liverpool job by three-time Ballon d’Or winner Marco van Basten. 

The Feyenoord manager is now seen as the frontrunner to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, with Ruben Amorim seemingly dropping out of the running after a meeting with West Ham on Monday.

Slot, 45, coached Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title last season and followed that up this term by claiming the KNVB Beker (Dutch cup). 

Having guided the Rotterdam side to second place this term, it’s widely expected that the ex-midfielder leaves the club this summer. 

He came close to joining Tottenham last year before the Londoners moved on with signing Ange Postecoglou but now could well be the time that the Dutchman makes an impact in the Premier League. 

And, if a move to Liverpool transpires, it will come with the approval of compatriot Van Basten. 

The former Milan striker has watched Slot up close and is impressed with what he has seen. 

Van Basten convinced Slot will succeed at Liverpool

“I think he’s really good,” the 59-year-old said on Ziggo Sport’s ‘Rondo’. “I hope he stays in the Netherlands longer because it is an enrichment for Dutch football. He can really go anywhere – Bayern Munich, Liverpool… I’m really convinced of that. 

“I’ve spoken to him a few times and I think what he does and what he sees is very strong. He gets along very well with the group of players, is tactically well-versed, can explain things well and is calm and intelligent. I think he can go to any club, even at the very difficult clubs, because he is so intelligent.

“He has a lot of qualities and he shows it at every level. He first did it at AZ, and now at Feyenoord. And Feyenoord is a really complicated club. He has been doing well for three years, while PSV and Ajax have much more options in terms of money. 

“He could really fit anywhere. If you get AZ and Feyenoord to play football, you also get big clubs like AC Milan to play football. You can clearly see his hand where he is the coach. 

“I think it will even be easier for him at a higher level because he has better players who understand his ideas faster. I also think he is smart enough to manage stubborn players.”