Tottenham Hotspur have ‘hired a very good manager’ in Ange Postecoglou. That is according to a man who, as the story goes, turned down the chance to join the Premier League giants in the summer of 2023, Daniel Levy turning to the former Celtic boss after the club’s number one target said ‘no’.
Nearly 12 months on, the man who was reportedly installed as the leading candidate to take over from Antonio Conte – ahead of Postecoglou, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto de Zerbi and Tottenham icon Mauricio Pochettino (The Independent) – opted instead to stay put, and sign a new contract at his current employers.
How does Arne Slot feel about that decision now, in March 2024?
His Feyenoord side are 10 points adrift in the title race; PSV Eindhoven champions-elect already. They finished behind Lazio in their Champions League group too, and were knocked out of Europe in it’s entirety by Roma.
While far from a disaster of Ajax-shaped proportions, the season hasn’t gone to plan.
Arne Slot reacts to Tottenham Hotspur rumours
Rafael van der Vaart, the former Tottenham playmaker, claims to have been asked by the Spurs bosses about Slot’s qualities, recommending the former AZ Alkmaar boss to his old employers.
Slot, speaking to Rondo on Ziggo Sport, is not quite distancing himself from those claims. But he remains insistent things have worked out rather well for both he and Tottenham; Slot ‘very happy’ at De Kuip and the London giants heading in the right direction under Postecoglou.
“So many untruths have been told about my move to Spurs,” Slot says. “I am not suggesting that what Rafael is saying now is not true.
“But I am very happy at Feyenoord and Spurs have hired a very good manager.”
Liverpool and Brighton linked with Feyenoord boss
Slot has been linked, in recent weeks, with a move to Liverpool once Jurgen Klopp departs. Some have suggested he could succeed the aforementioned De Zerbi at Brighton and Hove Albion too.
But with the 45-year-old Dutchman under contract until 2026, the decision is not only his but Feyenoord’s too.
“Like every player and coach, you weigh things up if there is interest,” Slot explains. “What is possible at Feyenoord, and what is possible at an interested club.
“Then, you make a decision. And, a year ago, I made the decision to stay at Feyenoord. Maybe I will make that decision again this summer, but it may also not be (the case).
“But a club would still have to go through Feyenoord, because I have a contract.”
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