Former Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed he turned down the chance to manage the Netherlands because he wants to remain in club football.
Slot was in negotiations to take over his homeland's national team after being sacked as Liverpool boss in the summer, but withdrew from the race. Ronald Koeman had departed following the World Cup, and Slot was the favoured replacement by many as he found himself out of work.
Some reports suggested Slot had turned down the opportunity because of potential salary and contract length, but the 47-year-old released a statement via Dutch publication Voetbal International revealing the true reason.
"Over the past few weeks, and particularly the past few days, various reports have appeared regarding the vacancy at the Dutch national team, suggesting that I had withdrawn from the process after lengthy negotiations, including regarding salary and contract duration," Slot said. "That speculation is incorrect. We simply never reached that stage of the talks."
"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. And why I chose not to continue the talks and not to start negotiations on what a possible contract might look like."
"It would be a great honor to represent my country as national coach one day," he added. "However, this was not the right moment for me."
Liverpool exit
Slot was sacked by Liverpool at the end of May, just one year after leading the Reds to the Premier League title. His dismissal came after Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League at the end of a campaign in which Slot oversaw 20 defeats in all competitions.
Slot also came under pressure from supporters and saw key players, including the now-departed Mohamed Salah, speak out about the playing style. He was sacked following a review into Liverpool's troubled season led by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, chief executive of football at owner Fenway Sports Group.
Feyenoord and other offers
Before joining Liverpool, Slot led Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title and the Dutch Cup, and to a runner-up finish in the Conference League. He was also linked with a move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia after Newcastle appointed Matthias Jaissle, but turned down that opportunity too.
