Arne Slot, recently dismissed as Liverpool manager, has revealed that he withdrew from negotiations to manage the Netherlands national team because he prefers the daily engagement of club football.
Slot, 47, was considered a leading candidate to take over the Dutch national team following Ronald Koeman's departure after the World Cup. However, he has clarified that reports suggesting salary and contract length were the reasons for his withdrawal are inaccurate.
"We simply never reached that stage of the talks," Slot stated via Dutch publication Voetbal International. "At this stage of my career, I prefer to see myself on the training pitch with my players every day. Something that is simply not possible in the same way with a national team."
He added, "It would be a great honor to represent my country as national coach one day. However, this was not the right moment for me."
Slot's tenure at Liverpool concluded at the end of May, one year after he guided the team to a Premier League title. The club finished fifth in the Premier League during the past season, a campaign marked by 20 defeats across all competitions for Slot's team. The manager faced pressure from supporters, and some key players, including Mohamed Salah, voiced opinions on the team's playing style.
His dismissal followed a review of Liverpool's season, conducted by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, the chief executive of football for Fenway Sports Group, the club's owner.
Prior to his time at Liverpool, Slot achieved success with Feyenoord, winning the Eredivisie title and the Dutch Cup, and leading them to a Conference League final. He also recently turned down an opportunity to move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.