Tottenham Hotspur would be the ‘perfect fit’ for Feyenoord coach Arne Slot with Premier League duo Leeds United and Crystal Palace also in contention.
Feyenoord winger Alireza Jahanbaksh describes 44-year-old Arne Slot as the ‘best coach in the world’.
Now that may be a little too far, but a man who has Feyenoord cruising towards only their second Eredivisie title this side of the Millennium certainly deserves the opportunity to prove that he belongs alongside the Erik ten Hag’s, the Pep Guardiola’s and the Jurgen Klopp’s of the world.
Slot, after all, turned AZ Alkmaar into title challengers back in 2020; only the COVID pandemic and the cancellation of the Dutch football season denying him a place in the history books. His Feyenoord team, meanwhile, play some of the most fluid, free-flowing attacking football anywhere on the continent.
Slot’s side outclassed Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the Europa League last week, shortly after putting seven past Shakhtar Donetsk.
Tottenham, Leeds and Crystal Palace like Feyenoord coach Arne Slot
“Because Slot stands for a certain football style, he will always be of interest to clubs looking for a coach. He now has to spread his wings,” former Ajax and PSV ace Wim Kieft tells De Telegraaf.
“The question is; Which club dares to hire him in England? Play such distinctive football as at Feyenoord with Leeds United or Crystal Palace will be very difficult. Especially because those clubs do not have the financial scope for Slot to trump the top five in England.”
Kieft feels that the prospect of a larger budget at Tottenham would help Slot put his own stamp on an underachieving team. A footballing purist like him, meanwhile, would be very well received after the pragmatism of Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.
“A club like Tottenham Hotspur would be a perfect fit,” Kieft adds. “A big, ambitious club with a big budget. Historically speaking, Spurs stands for offensive adventurous football and there is always room for creative players.
“In London, Slot can express his football ideas.”
Leeds tried and failed to hire Slot on a £3.5m-a-year deal following Jesse Marsch’s sacking in February. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, reportedly see the Dutchman as a potential successor for 75-year-old Roy Hodgson; a run of three straight wins easing their lingering relegation fears (The Times).
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