We'll pay, just go - Liverpool clears Slot’s path to Netherlands job

Liverpool have opened the door for Arne Slot to take charge of the Dutch national team, giving the former Reds manager the green light to continue his career with the KNVB. Despite being dismissed by the Premier League giants just two months ago, Slot would still keep the financial benefits of his Liverpool contract if he reaches an agreement with the Dutch federation.

That situation is not always guaranteed. In recent years, clubs — especially in England — have increasingly moved away from paying immediate severance packages after dismissing managers. Instead, coaches are often placed on gardening leave, with their salaries continuing until the end of their contracts. However, many agreements include clauses stating that a manager loses his remaining wages once he accepts another position, with the new employer sometimes covering the difference.

That practice was more common before managerial salaries at the top of English football reached extraordinary levels. Today, with the Premier League’s biggest clubs paying enormous wages, compensating for those contracts has become far more complicated.

A famous example is Louis van Gaal, who remained without a job for an entire year after leaving Manchester United while still receiving his substantial salary. The Dutchman insisted he was entitled to every cent of his contract, eventually earning close to €10 million during his period away from football.

Slot’s potential payout is even larger. When he joined Liverpool in 2024 on a three-year deal, his annual salary was reportedly around €8 million. After guiding the club to the Premier League title in May 2025, his contract was improved significantly, with major bonuses and a salary increase added for the remaining years.

As a result, the total value of Slot’s Liverpool agreement is believed to be around €30 million across the three-year period — including the final season, despite him no longer being in charge at Anfield.

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For the KNVB, this means negotiations with Slot should not be complicated by financial issues. With the Netherlands needing a quick replacement for the recently departed Ronald Koeman and a Nations League clash against Germany already scheduled for September, the federation could move swiftly to secure its preferred candidate.