Arne Slot responds to 'surprise' question after Xabi Alonso firing and Liverpool rumors

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has addressed recent managerial departures at Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid, admitting he has 'no clue' whether there has been a change in approach

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has given his thoughts followings Xabi Alonso's firing at Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool manager Arne Slot doesn't believe that the recent dismissals at Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid suggest a decrease in power for managers and head coaches in today's game.

Amidst a flurry of managerial changes at the top tier, Enzo Maresca was shown the door at Chelsea on New Year's Day, followed by Ruben Amorim's departure from Manchester United after reportedly clashing with director of football Jason Wilcox. Both managers had only taken up their posts in 2024.

Xabi Alonso parted ways with Real Madrid on Monday, officially by mutual consent, following a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa the previous evening, ending his tenure in the Spanish capital after just seven months. Another ex-Liverpool player, Alvaro Arebola, has now assumed temporary control of the 15-time European champions.

Slot himself has faced speculation over his future this season, particularly during a rough patch in late November when his Reds side suffered nine losses in 12 matches. However, the Premier League title-winning manager isn't convinced that the events at Chelsea, United and Madrid signify a broader trend in the upper echelons of the sport.

"Is it a change compared to three, four, five, six years ago? I don't actually know," Slot commented (as per the Liverpool Echo). "I can only speak for myself.

"I have worked for three years at my first club, should have worked four years at my second club, worked three years at my third club and now here for one and a half years.

Arne Slot has come under pressure this season at Liverpool(Image: (Izzy Poles - AMA/Getty Images))

"The clubs you are mentioning, we know with one of these clubs what kind of history they have. So I don't know if it has changed.

"I see some managers working a long time at a club and one of our rivals has a manager (Pep Guardiola at Manchester City) who has been working for a long time.

"Mikel Arteta has been working for a long time at Arsenal. I think there will always be examples of managers who work a long time at a club and clubs where managers don't work for a long time. But Carlo Ancelotti was a long time at Real Madrid?

"I have no clue [if it is because of the sporting director model]. I simply have no clue as to whether that has anything to do with it. It might, but you surprised me with this question. I haven't thought about that."

Slot added: "In England there is a manager and head coach and in other countries it is usually a head coach. Like I said Ancelotti worked for a long time at Madrid and other managers did as well.

"This is not common for Real Madrid that a manager is sacked - or whatever word you want to use - that a manager is sacked so early in his career.

"Let's see if this is constantly going to happen but I think there are other examples as well."