Arne Slot’s debut season in the Premier League couldn’t have gone much better. The Dutch boss orchestrated a resounding 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, securing Liverpool’s status as champions and equaling Manchester United’s record of 20 league titles.
Slot’s first season has been nothing short of a dream come true, filling the significant void left by Jurgen Klopp with remarkable aplomb. His flawless management has seen the Reds clinch the title with a comfortable four games to spare.
Behind the scenes, however, Slot’s triumph was bolstered by the unwavering support and sacrifice of his wife, Mirjam. She held down the fort back in the Netherlands, caring for their son Joep and daughter Isa during their crucial school years.
The decision for Slot to accept the Liverpool role and live alone in the UK was a conscious one, made to safeguard their children’s critical educational phase. This marked a significant shift for the family, given the more demanding nature of the Premier League and its higher number of matches compared to the Netherlands.
Simple pleasures like traditional festive family gatherings were put on hold as Slot navigated the hectic Premier League schedule over Christmas. While he might have sought warmer climes during the Dutch division’s winter break, at Liverpool, he had to ready his team to face Tottenham, Leicester City, and West Ham.
Slot opened up to Sky Sports about the difficult balance between his professional responsibilities and personal life, saying: “There are obvious reasons why we (my wife and I) kept the children and my wife in Holland as they are in the last year of their school. They have to do their exams so for us it was not the ideal moment to bring them towards England.
“But in the ideal world you are the manager of Liverpool and still have your family around you It is different. Yesterday there was a padel tournament that my brother organized and I knew from last season. I was there and then went to Dubai for 10 days the day after. Now I am here I am not going to go to Dubai as I am going to manage a few Premier League games.”
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool has been putting on an impressive show this season, securing 25 victories in the Premier League while facing just two defeats. With Slot’s future with the club looking bright, it still hangs in the air if Mirjam and the rest of the Slot family will make the move to the UK.
But his family did get a taste of the Liverpool atmosphere at Anfield, being present for the squad’s championship win. Slot expressed immense pride having them in town for such a pivotal moment: “Very proud. It’s special to have them with me.
“My family, all the families of the players, have to make sacrifices if you do this job – not only this season, throughout your whole career. Me, like you, everyone, works really hard but we’re not always home.
“Of course for me, my family was still in Holland, so in moments it was hard for me but definitely for them as well. And then now to win it, I think everybody feels that the few sacrifices we’ve made were definitely worth it. And then it’s special that they can experience this moment as well.”
