In April 2025, Liverpool will take on Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League match that will not only be about winning, but will also represent a huge transformation brought about by a single footballing decision. Arne Slot is about to take over as Liverpool manager. He turned down the opportunity to coach Tottenham Hotspur and could lead Liverpool to the Premier League title by the end of the season.
If Liverpool remain unbeaten against Tottenham Hotspur on the night of April 27th, they have a good chance of winning the Premier League title this season. This would be a great achievement for Arne Slaughter in his first year in charge of the team. He would be another outstanding manager in Liverpool’s history.
Many were not optimistic about Sloter at first, as it was unknown if Liverpool’s performance would remain strong after the departure of German coach Jurgen Klopp. Also, at the beginning of the season, some pundits thought that Liverpool had no chance of challenging for the Premier League title this season.
But the situation is completely different now. Not only has Sloter managed to stabilize the team, but he has also brought new hope. It’s worth noting that he actually had the chance to join Tottenham back in 2023 – had he taken up the offer then, the story could have been very different.
Almost became manager of Tottenham Hotspur
In May 2023, Tottenham Hotspur had just sacked their manager Antonio Conte. At the time, Arne Slot had just led Feyenoord to the Dutch Eredivisie title, the second time in over two decades that Feyenoord had topped the Dutch league. As a result, Tottenham Hotspur were immediately interested in him as a coach.
It was not the first time that Slotter had been on the radar of a Premier League team. Before that, Leeds United had also wanted him to come over as manager, but he had turned them all down. He made it clear that he wanted to stay at Feyenoord.
He said: “I heard that a lot of clubs were interested in me, which I was grateful for. But I was very keen to stay at Feyenoord and continue to work with the team to maintain the good results we achieved last year.
He also emphasized: “Our recent meeting with the club was only to discuss whether or not to renew my contract, and there was no discussion of a move to another team. I’m looking forward to continuing with Feyenoord next season.
Those words were spoken in May 2023, and almost two years have passed since then. Now Slotter is on the verge of becoming the first Dutch manager in Premier League history to lead a team to the title. He could also join Van Dyke as the first Dutchman to lift the Premier League trophy as captain.
Liverpool versus Tottenham: Two teams with different fortunes
Liverpool and Tottenham have met three times this season. Liverpool have won two of those games, including a crucial victory in the League Cup semi-final. They were underdogs in the first leg, but came back to win with a brilliant performance.
In contrast, Tottenham Hotspur’s performances have been increasingly worrying. Head coach Ange Postecoglou is under a lot of pressure as the team has slipped to 16th place in the Premier League, not far from the relegation zone. If the team continues to perform like this, it could be the worst season in their history.
When Sloter was first spotted by Tottenham, the managerial position at Tottenham had changed several times. Assistant manager Stellini briefly took over after Conte’s departure, but was replaced after just four games in charge, with Ryan Mason taking over on an interim basis.
Sloter’s decision, on the other hand, seems more decisive. He had no hesitation in accepting Liverpool’s offer last summer, despite knowing he would be under immense pressure – as Klopp had led Liverpool to many brilliant results, including the Premier League title. The pressure on any new manager trying to win the support of the fans is immense.
“I never regret it.”
Sloter had spoken in an interview in December 2024 about this “almost partnership” with Tottenham. He said: “The problem is that those who know the truth don’t want to talk about it, while those who don’t always like to guess”.
“I chose to keep quiet because that’s the way it is sometimes in football. You never know what will happen tomorrow, but I was really happy to stay at Feyenoord at that time”.
This calmness and perseverance seems to be the reason why Liverpool trust him today. He didn’t change his mind easily and didn’t risk it for more fame and money.
Today, his decision is proving to be the right one. If Liverpool win the Premier League this season, Sloter will become only the second manager in history to win the title in his first year in charge. He will also join the ranks of legendary Liverpool managers such as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Sir Kenny Dalglish in writing his own chapter of glory.
What’s even more ironic is that his opponent in this historic moment will be the team he turned down in the first place – Tottenham Hotspur.
Summary: A pivotal decision, a legend
Arne Slaughter’s story tells us that sometimes rejection is a kind of wisdom. To many, turning down Tottenham Hotspur might have seemed like a risky decision. But he stuck to his beliefs and plans, and eventually joined a more suitable team, Liverpool, at a more suitable time.
He was not swayed by outside voices, nor was he in a hurry to pursue the opportunities in front of him. His composure and focus have made him what he is today.
And Tottenham Hotspur can only look back with regret and imagine that if they had brought Sloter in, they might not be at the bottom of the Premier League table now.
Arne Sloter has proven himself by his actions. He is not only a good coach, but also a man who knows how to wait and choose his moment. His success not only belongs to Liverpool, but is also a well-deserved reward for a man who sticks to his ideals and doesn’t follow blindly.
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