Ragnar Klavan tells us whether he thinks that Arne Slot is the right man to take over from Jurgen Klopp.
What do Ragnar Klavan and Arne Slot have in common?
They have both plied their trade at AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie during their careers.
Klavan played over 100 games under the likes of Louis van Gaal, Ronald Koeman and Dick Advocaat over three years as he helped the club win just their second league title in their history in 2009. Whereas Slot was just cutting his managerial teeth towards the beginning of his career as a manager when he spent the 2019-2020 season in the dugout at AFAS Stadion.
Despite spending time at Alkmaar roughly a decade apart, both individuals have a shared history in having been employees of the club. Therefore, they would been aware of one another and their accomplishments in the game.
With Arne Slot set to join Liverpool FC in the summer, LFC fans are eagerly looking forward to the new man coming in and seeing how the team play under his guidance.
In an exclusive interview, Ragnar Klavan tells us what he thinks of Slot as the new manager for Liverpool and whether he’s the right man to take over from Jurgen Klopp. This follows two earlier exclusives with Klavan. One where we discussed which player impressed him most during his time at Liverpool and the second where he talked about his experiences with Jurgen Klopp.
“HE IS A REALLY AMAZING COACH”
“I played for the club that Arne Slot was the manager of – AZ Alkmaar in Holland.
“I don’t know him personally. But I think he is a really amazing coach,” Klavan told us.
“I think if Arne is the right man for the job, then I think Liverpool has done their homework.
“Their scouting is the best in the world… otherwise they would not have found and signed me!”
There is no doubt plenty of Liverpool fans who are excited to see how Arne Slot will setup his team. Klavan seems to have faith in the Liverpool hierarchy having chosen the right man for the job.
The 45-year-old manager draws plenty of similarities with Klopp, as both coaches favour a high-tempo attacking mentality.
But as Klavan alluded to, Jurgen Klopp is a difficult act to follow, and Slot deserves patience and trust in his first season at Anfield.
“IT WAS A SPECIAL GOAL”
One thing is for sure – the English Premier League is unlike any other. Not everyone is cut out for it as it’s a special place for football.
Klavan knows what it’s like to play for Liverpool and have that winning feeling. He spoke to us about the one and only league goal he scored in the English Premier League.
“Of course, the only goal in the Premier League for me was against Burnley.
“It was a special goal, to score a winner in a tough match away to Burnley,” reminisced Klavan.
“I think every year they like to remind of that goal here in Estonia.
“I was prouder of the fact that we ended up winning the game, so that makes it more special for me.
“I was the one who allowed Burnley to score the equalizer, it was my man [marker] who scored the goal.
“So that definitely makes it more special and memorable.”
Not many people can say that they’ve scored an English Premier League goal for Liverpool FC. But that’s a feather in the cap for a Ragnar Klavan. Very few players have made it to England’s highest competition from Estonia. He’s done that and put in some impressive displays in a two year stint on Merseyside. So it’s quite an achievement for the defender.
And he’ll be hoping that his fellow AZ Alkmaar alumni Arne Slot will also be celebrating on many occasions once he takes his seat as head coach of the club on 1 June 2024.
