Coach who quit job to work for Liverpool is now unemployed just weeks later | Football | Sport

Etienne Reijnen had been all set to join Liverpool – but he now finds himself without a job altogether following Arne Slot‘s dismissal. Slot was relieved of his duties over the weekend after the Reds’ underwhelming defence of their Premier League crown. The decision came in the wake of Liverpool suffering 20 defeats across all competitions this season.

The Anfield hierarchy also concluded that a change was necessary, believing it offered the best opportunity to move the club forward, and felt the squad needed to rediscover a more aggressive, front-foot, urgent style of play. Prior to Slot’s departure, however, Reijnen had been preparing to make the move to Merseyside to link up with his fellow Dutchman. The coach had been working alongside Robin van Persie at Feyenoord before leaving the Dutch club in May with a view to joining the Reds.

Slot had been keen to bring Reijnen on board when he first arrived at Anfield in 2024, but the 39-year-old was refused a work permit at the time. With Slot now gone, the move to Merseyside is firmly off the table, and a return to Feyenoord appears equally unlikely – as Dutch outlet De Telegraaf reports that his former role at the club has already been filled.

However, Van Persie’s own future at Feyenoord remains equally uncertain. Devy Rigaux, the club’s new technical director, recently admitted: “We will take the time to analyse everything that has taken place here over the past season. In that regard, it is now up to us to get things clear and sharp before we make a decision.”

Slot, meanwhile, penned an open letter to supporters over the weekend, in which he said: “The connection we share goes beyond football, beyond European nights under the Anfield lights or the sound of You’ll Never Walk Alone being sung from The Kop.

“You made me feel welcome from the start and helped me on the path. That is something I cherish.”

Alongside thanking the supporters, Slot also paid tribute to players, staff and the club’s owners, saying: “It has been a pleasure working with you all.

“Liverpool‘s 20th league title belongs to all of us and it will remain an important chapter in its history. For that we should all be proud.

“I leave with complete confidence in what lies ahead. The players who have given so much to this club, who have upheld its values and helped create so many unforgettable moments, have built foundations that will endure.

“At the same time, a new generation is emerging, ready to write its own story and embrace the responsibility that comes with wearing this shirt. Change is part of football, but I know that this club will continue to make its people proud.”