Published: 19:06 EDT, 20 May 2024 | Updated: 19:06 EDT, 20 May 2024
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Arne Slot's childhood mentor has hinted at one reason why he believes the new Liverpool manager has an advantage over his Man United counterpart Erik ten Hag.
On Monday evening, the Reds confirmed that Slot will replace Jurgen Klopp in the hot seat at Anfield from next season.
Jan Ophof, Slot's mentor from his Dutch home town of Bergentheim, notes that there is one way that the incoming Liverpool boss is better than ten Hag, whose role at Old Trafford has been repeatedly put under the spotlight over the past two years.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Ophof said: 'Arne is more intelligent than ten Hag. He is different.'
Slot's arrival on Merseyside is similar to ten Hag's move to Man United in 2022.
Arne Slot's mentor claims the new Liverpool boss is better than Erik ten Hag in one area
]]]]>]]>Ten Hag left Ajax for Old Trafford, hoping to replicate Dutch success in North-West England, whilst Slot is departing Feyenoord as a hero.
Rob McDonald, who coached Slot at PEC Zwolle, added: 'When I look at Erik in interviews, I can 100 per cent put on paper what he's going to say. Arne will at least put a joke in now and then. He knows precisely who he's talking to.
'He has this way of showing people respect but still getting a little dig in.'
However, the 45-year-old is more likely to push away comparisons to other top managers across Europe, than attract them.
Ophof noted that while Thomas Tuchel berated Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae for 'greedy' defending against Real Madrid in the Champions League, Slot 'would never do that to a player. He would do it face-to-face in private, never for the cameras'.
Gerald van den Belt, who gave Slot one of his first opportunities in management, said: 'Arne will do anything to achieve a better result. Anything that's a bad influence, he tries to transform.'
Ten Hag's Manchester United finished the season in eighth place, and must win the FA Cup final on Saturday to secure European football in 2024-25.
Meanwhile Slot, who has signed a three-year deal at Anfield, is coming into a Liverpool side that finished third in the Premier League, and will have Champions League football next season.
Slot has signed a three-year deal with Liverpool after leaving Feyenoord as a league winner
The 45-year-old Dutchman emerged as Liverpool's favoured candidate after a thorough, data-led search, reaching a verbal agreement with Feyenoord three weeks ago.
Klopp publicly endorsed Slot last month as a 'good coach and good guy' - and the incoming boss is set to ask the German for advice when he officially starts his role at the club in June.