Former Liverpool defender Jan Kromkamp has backed his compatriot, Arne Slot, to be a success at Anfield – but has sent a warning to the Reds’ new head coach.
Jan Kromkamp has sent a warning to Arne Slot after his appointment as Liverpool’s new head coach.
The Dutchman was confirmed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor last month, and officially started work on June 1 after joining the Reds from Feyenoord. During his three seasons with the Eredivisie outfit, he won the league title, KNVB Cup, and reached the Europa Conference League final.
Kromkamp, who is manager of Dutch lower league side CSV Apeldoorn, enjoyed a year-long stint with Liverpool during his playing career. While he would only make 18 appearances for the Reds after signing from Villarreal in January 2006, he was a member of the side that won that season’s FA Cup.
While the former Netherlands international has fond memories of his time at Anfield, he’s warned Slot about the English media. However, Kromkamp is still delighted to see his compatriot make a ‘dream’ move and, backing him to be a success, knows from his own experience that is a switch that is impossible to turn down.
“This is truly a dream transition,” he told Omrop Fryslan. “That train only comes by once and then you have to go for it.
“All fans live for Liverpool and that is great. It is one of the most beautiful clubs in the world, but that of course also means that the pressure is high.
“In every country you have different types of clubs, they differ in atmosphere and identity. It is a working-class city with an important port where the people work very hard. Those supporters live for the club and spend their last money on visiting a match or buying a mug or scarf.
“At some point you arrive at the club and the employees want to park your car there. But as Dutch people, we are a bit too down-to-earth for that and you just do it yourself. The employees are happy to do that, because they have everything about for the club.”
He continued: “The English press can be harsh, but you really shouldn’t worry about that. They just have to fill a newspaper every day and so they always come up with something.
“If I were in the shoes of (Sipke) Hulshof (Slot’s assistant coach) and Slot, I would just focus on the group. Then it will be fine. They just always remain themselves.
“Of course you have a performance culture, but you also have that at Feyenoord. Slot even built a champion team there and did a great job, so I don’t know why that wouldn’t be possible at Liverpool.”
