Liverpool Look to Feyenoord for Arne Slot’s Next Assistant Manager

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - JANUARY 18: Warming up of Assistant coach Etienne Reijnen of Feyenoord during the Dutch Vriendenloterij Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam at Stadion Feijenoord on January 18, 2026 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Hans van der Valk/BSR Agency/Getty Images) | Getty Images Liverpool head into May still without a clear tactical identity and with pressing, passing, chance creation and finishing, and fitness all having been trending in the wrong direction since at least January of last year. Despite that, it appears increasingly certain that Liverpool will head into the 2026-27 season with Arne Slot in charge.

With Champions League qualification appearing at least reasonably secure with four games left to play in the season, all signs point to Slot being given a chance to prove that 2025-26 went wrong for reasons outside of his control and that he—along with directors Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes—deserve a chance to prove they can win with a team they build and not just one left to them by Jürgen Klopp. There are clearly doubts, though. At least amongst the fans and pundits.

And that risks a situation where any kind of stumble next season could quickly lead to an ugly situation as when Liverpool’s owners chose to stick with Brendan Rodgers despite everything on the pitch seemingly trending in the wrong direction back in 2015. It also seems inevitable, though, that there will be some changes. Tweaks, if only around the edges of the playing and coaching staff.

The biggest of these seems likely to be assistant manager, where after arriving last summer to replace the departing John Heitinga, Giovanni van Bronckhorst now appears set to depart. A sporting director job at Feyenoord is said to be on offer for him. Meanwhile, according to The Echo it could well be a Feyenoord man heading in the other direction as his replacement, with Arne Slot said to be eager to reunite with Etienne Reijnen.