Arne Slot said he is leaving Liverpool “exactly where it belongs: among Europe’s elite” following his dismissal as head coach on Saturday.
The 47-year-old Dutchman won the Premier League title during his first campaign but was sacked by the club’s hierarchy after the team finished fifth this season, trailing 25 points behind champions Arsenal. Despite enduring 20 defeats across all competitions, Slot managed to secure Liverpool’s placement in the upcoming Champions League tournament.
Liverpool is scheduled to initiate formal negotiations this week with former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola regarding the vacant head coach position.
In an emotional open letter published in the Liverpool Echo, Slot expressed gratitude to the supporters, stating that fans made him feel welcome from the start and aided his progression. “That is something I cherish,” he added.
“I leave with complete confidence in what lies ahead. The players who have given so much to this club, who have upheld its values and helped create so many unforgettable moments, have built foundations that will endure.”
Reflecting on the continental qualification, Slot noted, “Securing Champions League football was an important responsibility and one that ensures Liverpool can continue competing at the highest level next season and beyond. Change is part of football, but I know that this club will continue to make its people proud.”
He continued: “When I first stood beneath that sign in the Anfield tunnel, I knew what this club demanded. I leave knowing we never stopped striving for it.”
Slot originally succeeded Jurgen Klopp in 2024 after the German’s nine-year tenure. He achieved an immediate impact by securing the club’s 20th league title at Anfield with four matches remaining in the season.
“It was made even more meaningful because you got to enjoy it with us,” said Slot. “Singing our songs, cheering the goals. And on the day we lifted the trophy, you were there – lining the streets outside the stadium, filling Anfield in anticipation. Having had much of that taken from you in 2020, it was never lost on me how much it mattered that you were part of it all. Seeing you come together in your hundreds of thousands on the streets of Liverpool for the title celebrations only reinforced that idea. Liverpool’s 20th league title belongs to all of us and it will remain an important chapter in its history. For that we should all be proud. This club will always judge itself by the biggest honours. That is how it should be.”
‘Connection we share goes beyond football’
Slot also used the letter to honor the late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a vehicle accident last summer prior to pre-season training. The Dutchman described Jota’s death as “indescribable” but praised the response of the fan base, stating “the love, compassion and support shown by the Liverpool family was extraordinary”.
Slot wrote: “As I leave this club, it would be remiss of me not to say that the way you honoured Diogo and stood together in his memory will stay with me forever. The connection we share goes beyond football, beyond European nights under the Anfield lights or the sound of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ being sung from The Kop.”
Additionally, Slot recalled witnessing the community’s “spirit of compassion and unity” during the May 2025 trophy parade, where Paul Doyle drove a vehicle into crowds on Water Street. Doyle received a prison sentence of 21 years and six months in December after being convicted of charges including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
“It is a spirit that has carried this city through difficult moments before, and one that I hope will help bring the justice and accountability so many have campaigned for over many years,” Slot added.