Gary Neville Shares Theory on Why Manchester United Didn’t Hire Liverpool’s Arne Slot This Summer
Gary Neville Shares Theory on Why Manchester United Didn’t Hire Liverpool’s Arne Slot This Summer
Former Manchester United defender and prominent football pundit Gary Neville has shared his theory on why Manchester United passed up the opportunity to hire Arne Slot, the highly regarded Dutch manager who was linked with the club during the summer. Slot, who is currently the manager of Liverpool, was considered one of the top candidates for United’s managerial position before the club eventually decided to stick with Erik ten Hag for the upcoming season.
Neville, speaking on his popular football podcast The Overlap, provided insight into why Manchester United might have opted against pursuing Slot and instead remained loyal to ten Hag despite the team’s struggles at various points during the previous season. The decision not to pursue Slot has been a topic of debate among Manchester United fans, especially given his success at Liverpool since joining.
Arne Slot, who made a name for himself in the Netherlands with Feyenoord before taking charge at Liverpool in the summer, was heavily linked with Manchester United after the club experienced inconsistency under Erik ten Hag last season. Slot’s impressive tactical approach, combined with his ability to develop young players, led to rumors that Manchester United’s hierarchy was considering him as a potential replacement for ten Hag.
Slot, now at Liverpool, has quickly made a positive impression, with the team showing signs of rejuvenation and playing an attacking, high-intensity brand of football. His early success at Anfield has led many to question whether Manchester United missed an opportunity by not hiring the Dutchman when they had the chance.
Gary Neville, who has been a vocal critic and supporter of Manchester United’s decisions over the years, weighed in on the topic during his podcast. He suggested that there may have been multiple factors behind the club’s decision to stick with Erik ten Hag rather than making a move for Arne Slot.
Neville explained: “There was definitely talk of Manchester United looking at Arne Slot, and I think that was a genuine option at one point. But when it came down to it, the club probably felt that they needed stability more than anything else. Ten Hag had already gone through a tough period with the team, and there’s something to be said about giving a manager time to build his vision.”
Neville also pointed out that Slot, while a talented coach, was relatively untested in a league as demanding as the Premier League. “Slot has done well at Feyenoord and has started strong at Liverpool, but the Premier League is a different animal altogether. I think United might have been hesitant to bring in someone who hadn’t managed in this league before. The board wanted someone they knew could handle the pressure of managing Manchester United, and ten Hag, despite the ups and downs, had already shown he could do that.”
Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United has been marked by both highs and lows. After guiding the team to a third-place finish in the Premier League and winning the Carabao Cup in the 2022-2023 season, expectations were high for continued success. However, inconsistency and disappointing results in the second half of the 2023-2024 season led to increased scrutiny on ten Hag’s future at the club.
Despite the rumors linking Manchester United to other managerial candidates, including Arne Slot, the club’s leadership, headed by CEO Richard Arnold and Director of Football John Murtough, decided to back ten Hag for another season. Reports at the time suggested that the club was wary of making another managerial change after a series of short-term appointments in previous years, which failed to deliver the desired results.
Neville agreed with this reasoning, adding: “United have been through a lot of managerial changes since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Moyes, Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjaer, and then Ralf Rangnick as an interim. It’s been a revolving door. The club probably felt that sacking ten Hag after one rocky season would have sent the wrong message. They needed continuity, and they believed that ten Hag could still deliver if given the time.”
While Manchester United stuck with ten Hag, Liverpool wasted no time in securing the services of Arne Slot after parting ways with Jürgen Klopp, who stepped down at the end of the 2023-2024 season. Slot has since brought a fresh tactical approach to Anfield, with his high-pressing style and emphasis on quick transitions.
Liverpool have started the 2024-2025 season on a strong note, with standout performances from players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and new signing Dominik Szoboszlai. Slot’s impact has been immediate, and his vision for the team is starting to take shape, leaving some Manchester United fans wondering what could have been had their club pursued him.
Gary Neville acknowledged Slot’s early success, but also cautioned against drawing conclusions too early. “Arne Slot has started well at Liverpool, and I’m impressed with what he’s done so far. But we’re still early in the season, and things can change quickly. The Premier League is unforgiving, and it will be interesting to see how Slot and his team cope when they hit a rough patch. That’s when you really see what a manager is made of.”
As Manchester United look ahead to the remainder of the season, the focus will remain on Erik ten Hag and his ability to turn the team’s fortunes around. With new signings like Rasmus Højlund and Mason Mount, as well as a core group of experienced players such as Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, the pressure is on ten Hag to deliver results.
Neville concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of patience: “Ten Hag has the tools to succeed, and he’s already shown that he can lead this team to a respectable finish. But the demands at Manchester United are high, and he’ll know that more than anyone. It’s a huge season for him, and he needs to get the best out of this squad. Time will tell if the club made the right call, but for now, I think it was the correct decision to stick with him.”
As the Premier League season unfolds, the debate over Manchester United’s managerial decision and whether they should have pursued Arne Slot is likely to continue, with fans and pundits alike keeping a close eye on both clubs.
