View 3 ImagesArne Slot’s time at Liverpool hasn’t been easy for wife, Mirjam(Image: ANP via Getty Images)
As the pressure mounts for Liverpoolmanager Arne Slot, his family will no doubt be on hand to offer their support – and the Slot clan hasn’t had an easy time of it away from the pitch.
After the Reds suffered their ninth defeat in 12, with PSV Eindhoven’s 4-1 victory at Anfield, the Dutch manager is facing some serious heat regarding his future with the club, with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard warning that “serious questions” will be asked of him.
While Gerrard agreed with his former Anfield teammate Steve McManaman that it’s still “far too early” to send Slot packing, it’s clear that all eyes will now be on the Premier League-winning tactician as he moves the Merseyside club on past this most recent disappointment. The poor results come as Slot and the entire squad are still dealing with the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash earlier this year.
And although Slot, 47, enjoyed an impressive debut season with Liverpool, his appointment has been marked by a certain degree of stress from day one, not all of which has come from the fans in the stands.
Back in May, Bergentheim-born Slot opened up about the challenges of his high-profile role during a candid interview with Dutch outlet AD. Although this appointment has marked an exciting new start for Slot, it has meant he has had to live apart from his wife Mirjam, son Joep and daughter Isa, with his family staying behind in the Netherlands to minimise any disruption regarding the children’s education.
Slot shared: “Anyone who is married and has a good marriage, I think I do, would like to see the children and the wife a bit more. My wife comes over for a couple of days every two weeks, the children, unfortunately, even less.”
View 3 ImagesSlot’s family has had to stay behind in the Netherlands(Image: @isaslot)
On top of the distance, Mirjam has also found the steep rise in public interest tricky to navigate, with Slot’s prestigious appointment bringing a whole new level of spotlight on their lives. Slot explained: “She (Mirjam) finds that attention the hardest part of our lives. She already had that at Feyenoord. She also prefers to get take-out food instead of us sitting down together. She feels differently that she is being watched or judged.”
According to Slot, he previously turned down a role at Tottenham in 2023 as he feared the impact that this would have on his family life. He revealed: “The fact that I didn’t go to Spurs was 99 per cent a family decision.”
Slot added: “I told my children that they could still come to London during the holidays. My daughter replied: ‘But during the holidays, I also want to do something with friends’.
View 3 ImagesThe head coach has admitted he ‘would like to see the children and the wife a bit more'(Image: PA)
“I already thought going to Spurs was a big deal, because who goes from Feyenoord straight to Tottenham. But when Liverpool came last season, everything was completely different. No one gets higher than Liverpool.”
At a press conference held on Thursday, Slot confirmed that conversations with club management remain the same as they have for the past 18 months, indicating that he will continue to “fight on.” Slot also insisted that the team is focused on fighting together and working to improve their current frustrating situation.
His time on Merseyside isn’t over just yet.