Jan Everse brings out his phone and starts scrolling. He wants to find a video that he sent to his protector at the beginning of what became a memorable journey.
Everse is a cunning football man who was once in the inner circle of Johan Cruyff. He has the rare distinction to have played for both Feyenoord and Ajax, but, as he often does during this conversation, he starts chuckling.
“I called him to tell him you are coming,” he reveals, eyes twinkle. “I said to him,” Hey, don't worry, I will tell lies and just say nice things about you! ” Wait a minute … it's here. '
A video starts to play, full of great goals and striking images of jubilant fans. It is the one he sent to Arne Slot in May 2021 to show what could be possible in Rotterdam – and what he believed he could reach with his talent.
“He made Feyenoord champions; He took them to a European final, “says Everse. “He gave them confidence. I like it. People love him. You can only be welcomed this way if you are a fantastic coach. That's what he is. He was a god in Feyenoord. It will be the same in Liverpool. '
Evert, a Sprightly 71-year-old, has not yet been in Merseyside to see Slot, who came in his job as a 17-year-old, but has viewed every step of this remarkable first year in England and knows the scale of what is about to be achieved. Nothing comes as a surprise.
“Someone asked me:” How many titles won Jurgen Klopp in 10 years for Liverpool? ” Says Everse. “He won a competition and one Champions League – very good. He had a very good team.
“But people looked at me like an idiot because I said,” I think Arne is a better coach than Klopp “. His vision of football is better. He has not yet won the Champions League – but if I had a top team, he would not be 1 on my list, even for Pep Guardiola. '
It is quite a statement, supplied with passion, but Eings makes it with authority. After all, he pointed to the litter to star row when they crossed paths on FC Zwolle in 1995 and the stories he tells are refreshingly frank.
This is really insight, explaining the lock that suffered and the lessons he has learned to fulfill his potential. Everse, it is easy to see, has not suffered fools because of his own career – he has managed 16 clubs in the Netherlands since the beginning in 1980 – but ending was never a fool.
“He was so convinced about himself,” says Evers with a smile who is almost paternal. 'I liked him as a player – two feet, technically very good. Good view. But a bit lazy, not fast. People complained that he didn't do the work. When the field was very muddy, his kit was always the cleanest and could immediately be placed in the cupboard!
“So I said to him:” You have to change your idea about how you play “. It took 18 months. He was a bit lazy, a bit stubborn. Then he changed his way of thinking. Ah! Then he was always practicing, practicing, practicing. If he played against you, he would work harder and run faster than you.
“He told a common friend that I changed his vision of football. He said I showed him the game because he had never seen it before. I think he still uses many exercises that I have done with him.
'Then you would see him in the gym, weightlifting. He was a boy. But I saw the change. So one day I said to him: “Arne, tomorrow you will be in my line-up. If you play like I think you are going to play, you will be on the line-up in the coming years.” And he was. '
Slot continued with a great gaming career, moved from Zwolle to NAC Breda and Sparta Rotterdam before he ended in Zwolle, the place where his family called at home. Evevers saw a coach in the making.
“He saw why he didn't play and he changed,” says Everse. 'Now you see that his players are fit. He knows this because of his own history. To play well, you must be fit. If you only get the ball in a game 30 times, you have to be very good to make the difference. If you have the ball 100 times, you will make a difference. But that is only possible if you are physically fit. And he understands that. '
It explains why Liverpool has made just as much impression on their ruthless energy as with extensive play patterns.
“Liverpool plays differently than Feyenoord,” says Everse. 'He started on Feyenoord for 90 minutes. Liverpool sometimes presses, sometimes defends. They are at their best when they counter attacks. It is the style of Klopp – use the space that the opponent gives you. It was fantastic to see.
'But Arne likes to play printing in the field of the opponent. He wants to play 90 minutes in half the opponent. It is not yet possible, but he has thought about what to do to make Liverpool succeed. It is incredible that they will win with four more games. I sent him a message on April 28 last year: “Arne – Congratulations on being a coach of Liverpool. You deserve it”. '
If Liverpool takes the point that they need Tottenham, who tried to take a final of Feyenoord two years ago, he can send almost the same message. The only addition he will have to make is to add one seismic word: champion.