Arne Slot has made the right call rejecting Premier League strugglers Leeds United for Eredivisie title-chasers Feyenoord, former Netherlands international Frank de Boer tells ViaPlay.
De Boer knows from experience of course that all that glitters is not, in fact, gold.
The Dutchman’s infamously-short four-game spell in charge of Crystal Palace at the start of 2017/18 almost makes Nathan Jones feel like Southampton’s answer to Sir Alex Ferguson. Not quite ‘Gone in Sixty Seconds’, but not far off.
De Boer arrived at Selhurst Park after winning four straight Eredivisie titles at Ajax. And, perhaps burned by his own experience in English football, the one-time Rangers favourite believes Arne Slot was right to resist the temptation when Leeds aired their siren call.
Feyenoord coach Arne Slot rejects chance to take Leeds United job
“I think so,” De Boer says when asked whether Slot is better off at Feyenoord than at Elland Road.
“(Taking over Leeds) is, of course, a challenge. But I can imagine that he is not ready yet. Maybe there is something very nice ahead. It is, of course, tempting.
“(But) I wouldn’t have done it (taken the Leeds job) either.”
44-year-old Slot, sensationally labelled the ‘best coach in the world’ by De Kuip’s former Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbahksh, received his fair share of criticism following an acrimonious departure from AZ Alkmaar in December 2020, fired mere days before signing a contract at league rivals Feyenoord.
And De Boer accepts that the optics wouldn’t be great if Slot left Feyenoord in the lurch, in the middle of a tense title fight. Particularly as he already has a reputation in some quarters as a coach with a penchant for wanderlust.
“Of course, it didn’t come across good that he went from AZ to Feyenoord,” De Boer points out. “If he goes like that again so quickly…”
‘I will stay with Feyenoord’
Slot emerged as Leeds’ number one target last week after it emerged that Andoni Iraola would not be leaving La Liga high-flyers Rayo Vallecano. The 2022 Dutch coach of the year confirmed on Friday, however, that he would not be going anywhere. Not yet, anyway.
“It is true that I will stay with Feyenoord. I can say that,” Slot explained. “This is clear, the fans do not have to be afraid.”
Leeds suffered a frustrating 2-0 defeat at home to arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday; Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho striking late for the visitors. Alfred Schreuder, who’s Ajax side have spent much of the last few weeks choking on Slot’s dust, is reportedly moving into pole position following his unceremonious exit from the Johan Cruyff Arena.
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