Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted he was completely caught off guard by Anfield’s sudden decision to sack manager Arne Slot.
Recall that Liverpool FC parted ways with Slot following an underwhelming fifth-place finish in the league, despite having won the top-flight title in his debut season.
The decision ended Slot’s two-year spell at Anfield after he officially replaced Jurgen Klopp in June 2024. Meanwhile, van Dijk has been at Liverpool for nearly a decade with his contract set to expire after 2027. Slot delivered a league title in his debut season, only to watch his entire project slowly lose its life.
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The club ownership FSG has already agreed a deal for former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola to take over the managerial reins.
Van Dijk stated he was not consulted by the club’s hierarchy and only learned of the dismissal through leaked reports after landing in Amsterdam.
“That came as a surprise. I spoke to Arne and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, and I’m grateful for everything they’ve done for me. I know Liverpool will come out of this well,” Van Dijk said after the Netherlands’ 1-0 loss to Algeria.
“I landed in Amsterdam on Saturday, and the news had already been leaked. I then had discussions with the club, but the decision had already been made by then. It’s not as though they asked me for my opinion.”
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Van Dijk started all 38 league matches this season and played 3,420 minutes. He scored six goals, with two coming against Aston Villa late in the season as questions grew about Slot’s future.
His numbers under Slot during Liverpool’s 2024-25 title-winning season were even more crucial to team success. Van Dijk appeared in 60 of 60 matches across all competitions, played 5,444 minutes, scored six goals, and added one assist.
