Liverpool finally know the identity of the manager who will take the reigns from Jurgen Klopp this summer.
After a long search that was expertly kept away from the public eye, the Reds have reached an agreement to hire Arne Slot from Feyenoord.
By now, that news will comes as no surprise to Liverpool fans. Things have moved incredibly quickly since Slot first emerged as the front-runner on Tuesday.
It has also become clear that the 45-year-old will be bringing a couple of members of staff with him from Rotterdam. Assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff and head of performance Ruben Peeters are both already claimed to be joining with Slot.
But after news broke of Liverpool and Feyenoord’s agreement on Friday night, another name was put forward as being on his way to Anfield.
Arne Slot bringing three with him
After accepting losing Hulshoff and Peeters, it has been claimed that Feyenoord would play hardball with Slot over raiding their backroom staff further.
With Pep Lijnders replaced by Hulshoff and Peeters coming in for Andreas Schlumberger, there are still spots to be filled at Liverpool, though.
Peter Krawietz and Vitor Matos are important members of Klopp’s coaching staff. Both will need to be succeeded in some way.
So, thankfully, according to Dutch journalist Mikos Gouka on Saturday, there will be one more seat made ready aboard the plane set for Liverpool.
Reporting on X, Gouka confirmed that Slot will be taking first team analyst Etienne Reijnen along too.
Who is Etienne Reijnen
Having gotten so used to having Klopp and his staff around the AXA Training Centre, it will be so strange for Liverpool fans to see another team using the facilities.
There will likely be plenty retained of course, with the likes of goalkeeping coach John Achterberg part of the furniture by now. But otherwise we’ll have to get used to the backroom guys just as much as Slot.
Luckily, the likes of Virgil van Dijk already know Hulshoff having worked with him for the Dutch national team. But at just 31, Peeters will be a youthful addition. So too will Reijnen, who is 37.
A former centre-back, Reijnen played will Slot for PEC Zwolle. He also enjoyed stints at AZ Alkmaar, Cambuur and Van Dijk’s old side Groningen.
Having only joined Feyenoord in November 2023, he seems to have made an impression on Slot, who now wants to take him to Anfield.