An important conundrum for a member of Arne Slot’s coaching staff is about to arise with his imminent appointment as head coach of Liverpool.
The Reds and Feyenoord have worked out a compensation plan for Slot to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the end of the current campaign. A large portion of the Dutchman’s coaching staff is anticipated to follow Slot to Merseyside. Throughout Slot’s time, Feyenoord’s coaching staff has garnered significant respect, and it is rumored that he is hoping to bring some important players along. It is anticipated that assistant Sipke Hulshoff would join the team, while head of performance Ruben Peeters is also a target. Maarten Wijffels, a journalist from the Netherlands, is worried about how Hulshoff’s transfer to Liverpool would affect the Netherlands’ plans for this summer’s European Championship.
The assistant of Slot is a part of the Dutch setup. Hulshoff is now Ronald Koeman’s assistant in the Netherlands setup. The Express claims that Liverpool wants Hulshoff to begin working under contract on July 1st. Therefore, his probable move to Anfield could present a big challenge for the national team leading up to this summer’s Euro 2024. Wijffels clarified (via Voetbal Primeur) while speaking on ESPN’s Voetbalpraat: “He is the field coach [for the national team]. He would be expected to work on the team’s strategy for the European Championship for two and a half weeks in June.
“With all of the injuries, not much has happened in this aspect thus far.” HULSHOFF “WOULDN’T HAVE A CHOICE”
Nevertheless, Wijffels acknowledged that Slot was crucial to Koeman’s team and said, “If he had to choose, he would have no choice but to go with Slot to Liverpool.” This circumstance is similar to that of Kees van Wonderen in 2019, when he left the Netherlands national team as Ronald Koeman’s assistant to take the helm as head coach of the Go Ahead Eagles. Similarly, Van Wonderen’s resignation coincided with a significant tournament, the postponed Euro 2020 in that case, echoing the date of Hulshoff’s probable departure.
The quandary surrounding Hulshoff’s position underscores the difficulties in juggling club and international football, as Liverpool anticipates that Slot and his team will start working early in the summer to get ready for the post-Klopp era. Liverpool will want to start the Slot era as smoothly as possible, while the Netherlands will be eager for a settlement that allows them to continue their preparations as the European Championship approaches.