In 2020-21, the season before Arne Slot became their manager, Feyenoord finished 29 points behind champions Ajax. They came fifth, the same number of points from the top of the table as they were from the bottom three, with the football under Dick Advocaat very uninspiring.
Two years later and the Rotterdam club are champions following Sunday’s win at home to Go Ahead Eagles, with two games to spare having spent virtually the whole season leading the Eredivisie. They last lost a league game in September, when they succumbed to a late goal in a 4-3 defeat at PSV Eindhoven.
Transitions are quick and passing is certain. Slot likes to work with younger players who are keen to learn. “If you have a young group, then, as a trainer, you can take the boys through videos in your desired playing style,” he said a few years ago.
For example, when Tyrell Malacia left last summer for Manchester United, he chose to replace him at left-back with the 20-year-old youth team product Quilindschy Hartman. When he needed a central midfielder, he took 22-year-old Mats Wieffer from Excelsior Rotterdam in the Dutch second tier. Both were subsequently called up to the Dutch national team. Most of the key players this season are 24 and under — there are only three outfielders in the squad who are older than 25.
Most of all, the priority is on entertaining football. The goal is not to win at any cost, but to provide exciting, as well as winning, football. Voetbal International wrote: “He believes that special football is more remembered than a prize with boring, uninspiring football.”
Så ganske opplagt at vi har funnet vår mann. En som ikke bryr seg om å vinne. Og er hårløs.
