Arne Slott: Why Feyenoord’s big-hearted, rap-loving and charismatic coach would be a perfect fit at Tottenham | Football news

Arne Slott is one of the top contenders for the vacant role of Tottenham manager; the Dutchman won the Eredivisie title for Feyenoord this season, their second league triumph this century; the Dutch club fear Slot will jump ship to north London

Arne Slott traveled from Rotterdam to Amsterdam on Thursday evening for an important engagement.

No, not to catch a plane from Schiphol Airport to Heathrow for meetings about his future, but to see rapper Jonah Fraser.

His daughter likes him, so he took her to the concert.

The ‘gig’ he really wants is a Premier League club. If not now, then soon.

“My next step will not be a club in Holland,” said the 44-year-old, who had just won the Dutch title two games before.

“If that’s my next step, then I’ve failed completely. The normal next step would be to go abroad and I’ve always said the best league in the world is the Premier League.”

Slott seems to have what it takes.

His quality as a coach is well documented. It’s not without reason that Feyenoord are desperate to keep him and Tottenham look set to come calling.

But less is known about Slot the man. Put the man down.

He is engaging, polite, very smiley, has a warm presence and charisma – and is funny.

His 30-minute press conference on Friday was filled with jokes, banter and gentle criticism.

“I’ll see you in London,” I said as he left the media room at Feyenoord’s De Kuip Stadium.

“I’ll go there for the sun,” he replied with a laugh.

He also has a big heart.

“He can get mad at his players, of course,” said Dennis van Eersel of the Dutch national television channel RTVwho follows Feyenoord week after week.

“But he also embraces them. They like him because he has built harmony in the club.”

He says an example of this is a recent incident with club captain Orkun Kokcu.

He had some serious sleep issues that were tearing him apart. So when the title was won, Slott noticed him getting excited about overcoming his setbacks, and despite all the frenzy in the stadium, went up to him, spent some time with him, and gave him a hug.

“It exemplifies the human emotion and empathy that he possesses.”

However, Van Eersel says there is one big thing about Slott that no one knows. That’s something we can all learn about him if he goes to Spurs.

“He’s never had a bad streak. He’s never had three or four losses or no wins in a row and you never know how someone is going to react to that. How would you respond to criticism? What would his temper be then?”

So, easy life so far for Slott in terms of results. But he claims he’s ready for a challenge. Tottenham certainly are.

“Coming from AZ Alkmaar to Feyenoord was a challenge and we (my team and I) accepted it.”

Feyenoord just finished fifth, 29 points behind champions Ajax. Two years later they are champions.

“But I’m not just looking for clubs that are in trouble,” he adds. “It’s not like I’m asking my agent to only look for a struggling club. No. It is not.’

Some would say that Spurs are a club in trouble at the moment. This could change if they fill the manager slot with Slot.

Chances are, Slott could be traveling to make a deal with the Spurs soon instead of seeing a rapper.

How hard will it be for the Spurs to get a slot?

Dutch football journalist Marcel van der Kraan:

“It’s not as advanced as anyone would hope it is – especially Slott himself.

“They have to deal with the club first and that is a problem for Daniel Levy. Slott is under contract with Feyenoord until 2026 and only has an option next year when the release clause becomes active.

“If Feyenoord say they have to stick to their contract, it will take an awful lot of money to bring him to Tottenham.

“Leeds tried to sign him in February and then he was open to it and spoke to the club at length. He has spoken to Crystal Palace before and Fulham have made enquiries, but £5m was not enough for Feyenoord to allow him to leave for Leeds in February.

“It says something about how badly Feyenoord want to keep him as they want to get into the Champions League with him next season.

“If I had to put my money on it, I’d say it’s more likely to happen next year when the Spurs spot is taken. He himself is not afraid of a challenge, so he can pursue it alone. The last time he was at AZ Alkmaar, he was wanted by Feyenoord and the season was not completed.

When AZ found out about this, they stormed the training ground and his previous club sacked him on the spot. It was the most traumatic incident of his coaching career and he got his revenge.

“He led Feyenoord to a title and a Europa League final, but that made him very careful to speak to Gary (Cotterill) about his talks with Tottenham.

“He just can’t talk about the details because he doesn’t want the same situation to happen again.”

“He’s a really good manager and he can come in quick and quick at times. I have followed Feyenoord for 40 years. Not since Johan Cruyff’s days at Ajax in the 1980s has there been such an attacking coach in the Dutch top flight. Cruyff had only a few students who followed him and one of them was Pep Guardiola.

“I would say Slott is a Guardiola-style manager based on everything I’ve seen over the last few years. Feyenoord fans can’t believe what they’ve seen in that time.”