Former Liverpool attacker Dirk Kuyt feels Arne Slot will be a good fit at Anfield, promising supporters that he possesses the required assets to be a success.

Liverpool have reached an agreement with Feyenoord for Slot to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager. The former Feyenoord under-19 coach maintains touch with Slot due to his kid playing in the program. He enabled Kuyt to shadow him for a week before last year’s Eredivisie title success, a feat which was widely admired in Holland.

The result was so impressive given the 45-year-old had been forced to rebuild his team after losing a multitude of key players in the summer, including top scorer Luis Sinisterra, who was moved to Leeds United – a club that was linked with Slot upon Jesse March’s sacking last year.

Slot stays put despite fresh rumours with the Tottenham position and has lifted the Dutch Cup this season. He could now be in for the opportunity of a lifetime. “Arne loves the game and thinks about football 24/7,” Kuyt told The Athletic.

“That passion shines through when he speaks. He’s always researching other teams and thinking about how his squad may improve and evolve. Tactically, he’s quite strong. What people admire most in Holland, where his reputation is so strong, is that he has his own vision, his style of play.”

Two-time Eredivisie manager of the year Slot has a playing style more close to Klopp than Amorim does, and is not afraid to blood youth. Kuyt, now 43, thinks the boss displays the type of charisma that motivates players both young and old, yet is not prepared to squeeze him into a specific mould.

“Nowadays managers always get compared. Is that the Jurgen Klopp style? Is it the Jose Mourinho style? Is that the Pep Guardiola style?

“The answer is that Slot has his own style. He doesn’t copy anyone. He understands exactly what he wants and he believes in it. It’s attractive, aggressive football.

“He likes to play an aggressive defence, high intensity, with the game played in the opponent’s half, but it’s his way. It’s different from Klopp but a lot of the fundamentals are the same.”

Speaking more about his week with Slot, Kuyt – currently manager of Beerschot – added: “What struck me about Arne was his ability to make the players believe in what he believes in. I chatted to some of them when I was there and they all spoke so highly about him.

“They love how he organises the training sessions and how he gets his ideas across. He’s a terrific communicator and man manager.”

All being said, Kuyt was as caught aback as most were to hear Liverpool had made Slot their first option. Xabi Alonso and then Amorim had been considered as frontrunners to succeed Klopp – Slot’s name has just fully thrown into the equation within the last week.

“The news that Liverpool had decided to go for Slot came out of the blue,” Kuyt said. “I was surprised because since Jurgen said he would be leaving at the end of the season, other names had been mentioned as possible contenders.

“But it makes a lot of sense. I haven’t spoken to Arne but if everything is agreed, Liverpool have made a really good choice. He’s ready for the next stage in his career. You can’t compare Feyenoord with Liverpool but Arne is used to dealing with pressure and great expectations.”

Kuyt added: “Arne wouldn’t go anywhere unless he really believed in the project. If he replies ‘yes’ then it’s because he’s certain he can do great things in the position he’s taking on. Arne is the type of guy who would say ‘no’ to any great club if he had any doubts.”

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