New Liverpool boss Arne Slot isn’t the only person to pass on Tottenham while at Feyenoord and wait on something else.
The Dutchman turned down Spurs’ approach in 2023 after guiding Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title, which led to Ange Postecoglou’s appointment in north London.
Slot’s decision to delay leaving paid off, as he landed the Liverpool job following Jurgen Klopp’s decision to stand down at Anfield.
Who knows, maybe he talked to Dirk Kuyt, who is a bona fide Liverpool legend having moved from Feyenoord to join the Reds in a £10m deal in 2006.
Tottenham had tried to sign him a year earlier, but he didn’t want to leave his club short having ended the 2004/05 season as the top scoring player with 29 goals.
He told the Kieft Jansen Egmond Gijp podcast: “One year before I left for Liverpool, I was able to go to Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of the transfer market.
“Spurs chairman Daniel Levy called, he wanted me. I thought that was a very strange moment to leave Feyenoord behind. Leaving Feyenoord without a striker, albeit with a bag of money.
“Then [agent] Rob Jansen and I decided together not to do that.”
When Kuyt did leave the Netherlands for the Premier League in 2006, Liverpool were at the forefront for his signature.
And it was Netherlands legend Marco van Basten, manager of the Dutch national side at the time, who hammered home just how big the move was given a year earlier they had beaten Milan to win the 2005 Champions League.
Upon signing for Liverpool, Kuyt said: “Marco van Basten has told me this is a very good move not only for myself but for the Dutch team.
“He thinks I have become too big for football in Holland and I need a move to a bigger club. And he thinks Liverpool is a good club for me.
“It is a dream that a club like Liverpool with their history wanted me. The beginning of the week I was just stunned by things, now it is a privilege to play for them.
“I think my game is suited to England, I think I am a typical type of player for the Premier League.
“I know there is a lot of competition up front, but that is only good for the team. Not everybody can play 50-60 games a season.”
As it turned out, Kuyt became an integral part of the Liverpool squad.
In six seasons, he played 285 times in all competitions and missed just 20 Premier League matches.
Liverpool fans adored Kuyt, who scored 71 goals and was part of their side that won the League Cup in 2012, while he also found the back of the net in the 2-1 Champions League final defeat to Milan in 2007.
Having hung up his boots in 2017 after two years back at Feyenoord, Kuyt has since turned to coaching and is the current manager of Belgian side Beerschot.
And Slot will be hoping for a similar relationship with the fans as he looks to build on Klopp’s foundations at Anfield.
News Summary:
- Tottenham wanted to sign me from Feyenoord but it was made clear to me Liverpool was better option
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