Leeds United have seemingly drawn up their managerial shortlist, with one man having become a recent addition…
What’s the latest on Arne Slot to Leeds?
That’s according to Sky Sports reporter Tim Thornton, who gave an update to GIVEMESPORT on the Whites’ search for a new boss.
Dutchman Arne Slot has emerged in recent days as an outstanding candidate, and it is the 44-year-old who is referenced by the journalist as he claimed:
“I think he’s someone that Leeds are aware of.
“I don’t think he was initially on the shortlist, but this is a situation that can change quickly. Managers who are available, who then might not be available then might be available again.”
It seems that he could now be a fine option for chairman Andrea Radrizzani to pursue as a successor for the departed Jesse Marsch.
What would Arne Slot bring to Elland Road?
After impressing in his long-term stint at Feyenoord, others around Europe are finally starting to take note of the exceptional work Slot has been doing in his homeland.
The Eredivisie title is one which his club have only won once since 1999, and yet his outfit currently sits atop the table having only managed third the season prior, in which they also reached a European final.
He has admittedly transformed the club in a short space of time, with his philosophy to get them there also catching the eye.
Slot’s Feyenoord were a far cry from Dick Advocaat’s previous regime, as he oversaw a turnaround from that low block system to his high pressing possession-based brand that encourages the ball to be won back as soon as it’s lost.
This form of counter-pressing should be second-nature to this group at Elland Road, whose past two managers have both employed similarly high-octane methods.
When speaking about his own philosophies, his vision for how football should be played becomes even clearer. He noted before his Europa Conference League final defeat:
“We are an attack-minded team that likes to have a lot of the ball, and we play with a lot of intensity.
“When we don’t have the ball, we want to win it back as quickly as possible by being aggressive and pressing to win back possession. I think we are a team that is difficult to beat.”
Slot’s side in west Yorkshire would likely not see a dramatic shift in style, just with a few tweaks that organise the chaos he tries to cause. He has seemingly perfected this brand in the Netherlands, so there’s no reason to believe he could not translate this into the English game.
Leeds certainly need to become more difficult to beat and it seems as if the former AZ Alkmaar man is the perfect candidate to do just that.
