Arne Slot: Liverpool head coach sacked a year after Premier League title win following fifth-place finish this season
Arne Slot guided Liverpool to the Premier League title during his first season in charge; Reds slumped to a fifth-placed finish in his second campaign; Liverpool say process to appoint successor is under way
Saturday 30 May 2026 13:32, UK
Arne Slot has been sacked as head coach of Liverpool.
The Dutchman departs only a year after leading the Reds to their 20th league title, following a disappointing fifth-placed finish in his second season in charge.
Recently-departed Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iroala is the frontrunner to succeed him, Sky Sports News understands.
A Liverpool statement announcing Slot's exit read: "That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying.
"The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and - most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves - successful.
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"As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.
"At the same time, we have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but.
"We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool's 20th league title."
Former Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola is among the contenders to replace Slot, who joined the club from Feyenoord as Jurgen Klopp's successor in 2024.
Liverpool had not intended to part ways with Slot during the season but came to the conclusion that a change of leadership was required after reassessing the situation at the end of the campaign.
Liverpool's fifth-placed finish was enough to secure Champions League qualification but with only 60 points, they finished the campaign with their lowest total since 2015/16.
Liverpool statement in full
"That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and - most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves - successful.
"As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.
"From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, he embraces it. This was evident when he agreed to take over as head coach, when he guided us to the Premier League title and throughout the season just ended when he faced considerable challenges and burdens.
"At the same time, we have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but.
"We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool's 20th league title.
"That accomplishment - made all the more remarkable as it arrived in his very first season in charge - was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day.
"He also helped guide the club through one of the most difficult periods imaginable following the loss of Diogo. The compassion and humanity he showed throughout that time said a great deal about him as a person.
"As such, we can only wish Arne well in the next stage of his coaching career, with our expectation being that he will continue to be successful. We do so in the knowledge that his Liverpool legacy is intact and will become yet more meaningful in the years and decades to come.
"Nevertheless, the conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team's trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach.
"Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield."
Analysis: Style of play key to decision
Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O'Connor:
"It is a surprise, because a lot of the chat from Liverpool in recent weeks has been about their full support for the manager moving forward and effectively that he would be in charge at the start of next season.
"Slot told us himself that he was involved in planning as regards recruitment over this summer period as well.
"The first thing to acknowledge is that from what I'm hearing from inside Liverpool, this is a decision that's been taken with enormous reluctance because nobody at the club underestimates what Slot has achieved or the manner in which he conducted himself.
"On a human level, it probably seems a little bit unfair for a manager to lose his job a year after delivering a Premier League title as well.
"But at the same time, they would also argue that decisions have to be taken on what they believe gives the team the best chance of moving forward, and this is the kind of decision that they feel they've taken in respect of Arne Slot's future as well. It seems to be a decision taken on footballing reasons in terms of the style of play.
"We heard from Mohamed Salah not so long ago in a social media post that he put out. Well, it seems that that is a feeling within Liverpool that it's a style of play issue.
"They're not denigrating what Arne Slot has done and the performances so much that Liverpool put in during that title-winning season of course as well.
"The belief is that a different profile of head coach is needed to bring out what Liverpool fans would appreciate more as their style of play, the kind of football that we saw under Jurgen Klopp."
