Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted he was completely caught off guard by the club's decision to sack manager Arne Slot. The Dutch defender revealed he was not consulted by the club's hierarchy and only learned about Slot's dismissal through leaked reports after arriving in Amsterdam.
Liverpool parted ways with Slot following an underwhelming fifth-place league finish, bringing an end to his two-year spell at Anfield after he replaced Jurgen Klopp in June 2024. The club's ownership group, FSG, has reportedly agreed a deal for former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola to take over the managerial role.
Van Dijk said: "That came as a surprise. I spoke to Arne and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, and I'm grateful for everything they've done for me. I know Liverpool will come out of this well." He added: "I landed in Amsterdam on Saturday, and the news had already been leaked. I then had discussions with the club, but the decision had already been made by then. It's not as though they asked me for my opinion."
The 33-year-old defender started all 38 league matches this season, playing 3,420 minutes and scoring six goals, including two against Aston Villa late in the campaign as speculation over Slot's future intensified. His contributions under Slot were equally significant during the 2024/25 campaign, where he featured in 60 matches across all competitions, accumulated 5,444 minutes, scored six goals, and provided one assist.
