Arne Slot has secured his first role in football since being sacked as Liverpool boss, joining UEFA's Technical Observer Group. The Dutchman was dismissed at the end of last season following a disappointing title defence, in which the Reds only just secured Champions League qualification.
Slot had been linked with the Netherlands national team job, but insisted his immediate future lies in club football. While he waits for his next managerial position, he will now observe European competitions for UEFA.
Monitoring European competitions
UEFA says the group will monitor the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League with "stats and video assistance, enabling them to deliver detailed reports on the latest developments in coaching, which are shared among the footballing community to give a dynamic account of the state of the game."
On Slot's addition, European football's governing body added: "Slot made his name at Feyenoord, reaching the UEFA Conference League final in 2022 and winning an Eredivisie title and Dutch Cup in the following two campaigns.
"He joined Liverpool in 2024 and immediately guided the club to their second Premier League trophy in five years before departing Anfield this summer."
Familiar faces on the panel
Other members of the group include ex-Liverpool managers Rafa Benitez and Roy Hodgson, as well as former Reds goalkeeper David James. Ex-England boss Gareth Southgate and former Everton chief Sean Dyche are also involved.
Slot has made it clear he wants to return to club management. As he distanced himself from speculation linking him with the Netherlands job, he told Voetbal International: "That speculation is incorrect. We simply never got to that stage of the talks.
"At this stage of my career, I prefer to see myself on the training field with my players every day, something that is simply not possible in the same way with a national team.
"I have a lot of respect for the national team and for the KNVB [Dutch Football Association] and can only be positive about the professional way in which the talks went that week. For now, I believe that club football still has a lot to offer me."
The Dutch job subsequently went to Spanish football legend Xavi, who signed a four-year contract up to the end of the 2030 World Cup.
