Slot to become 'Head Coach' as Liverpool moves towards European style hierarchy

Michael Edwards and FSG appear to be changing more than just the manager at Liverpool, with Arne Slot set to become 'Head Coach', and not 'Manager', in a major change to the club's structure.

Liverpool's search for Jurgen Klopp successors is nearing an end, with 45-year-old Dutch coach Arne Slot set to take the Anfield hot-seat, but in a major departure from Liverpool's current setup, Slot will not be the club's new manager but will be appointed 'Head Coach', as Michael Edwards and FSG restructure the club from top to bottom.

English clubs have traditionally employed a 'Manager' who oversees all first-team matters, including training, tactics, and selection, as well as having an input on player transfers.  This differs greatly from on the continent, with clubs in Spain, France, Italy, and Germany usually employing a 'Head Coach', whose job resolves solely around the team's tactics and training.  Transfers, contract renewals, and other financial-related matters are dealt with by the club's Sporting Director, and not the Head Coach.

In recent years Liverpool has utilized parts of both systems, with Michael Edwards enjoying huge success as Sporting Director, while Jurgen Klopp has used his role as manager to have an increasing say in transfers and contract renewals.  Clearly, this is not a situation that FSG and the Liverpool board want to continue, with Arne Slot set to be appointed as the club's Head Coach and not as Manager.

We can only assume that this will have been explained to Slot as part of the conditions of his accepting the Liverpool job, with the implication that Slot will manage the day-to-day matters of the first team, while new Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, will be in control of transfers and contracts.  Both men will then report to Michael Edwards, in his newly created role of CEO of Football.

It remains to be seen how this setup will work at Liverpool, but Liverpool Legend Jamie Carragher has already expressed concerns that Liverpool may be appointing Slot as a 'Yes Man', who will do what Hughes and Edwards tell him.

Carragher thinks FSG are appointing a 'Yes Man'

Speaking recently, ex-Reds defender Carragher shared his fear that Edwards and Hughes are appointing a coach who will do what he's told, rather than appointing the person most likely to bring further titles to Anfield.

"Michael [Edwards] was the sporting director. He was there at the start with Klopp and they obviously fell out for whatever reason and a lot of his team have moved on. As soon as Klopp's gone, they come back. It's like the band’s back together."

"The owners FSG almost felt it was more important to get that structure back than who the next manager was."

"I just hope with the people who've come in at Liverpool, they've been there before they know the club really well."

"Don't ever forget how big the connection's got to be with the Liverpool support and you might say that's the same with every fan."

"But that thing of like: he's our man, he can fight against Pep, he can fight against whoever the Man United manager is, and we haven't just got a coach there who basically is a "yes man" behind the scenes surely."

Only time will tell whether Arne Slot is the right man to lead Liverpool to further glory, but it appears the days of the traditional 'manager' at Anfield are over.

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