Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast.

Liverpool wrapped up their 20th English league title at the weekend, so today co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper focus on the fascinating career of manager Arne Slot who has won the Premier League at his first attempt at Anfield.

Beginning with his unique upbringing in a football-centric Dutch Bible Belt town, we explore how watching his father coach from a young age shaped Slot's tactical mind, travel through his early playing days, his reputation as a tactician, and his impressive managerial stints that led him to win the Eredivisie with Feyenoord and now the Premier League with Liverpool.

On Friday, Jonathan and Rob will assess where Slot's Liverpool title winners sit in Liverpool's glorious history.

00:00 Introduction: A Coach's Son

00:40 Early Life and Background of Arne Slot

01:26 The Dutch Football Culture

03:01 Influence of Johan Cruyff and Total Football

05:02 Arne Slot's Youth and Early Football Education

07:11 Professional Career Beginnings

13:40 Tactical Innovations and Coaching Philosophy

21:58 The Early Coaching Journey of Arne Slot

23:14 Challenges and Successes at Cambuur

25:56 Influence of Pep Guardiola and Data Analytics

29:10 Rise at AZ Alkmaar

34:43 Success at Feyenoord and Coaching Style

43:45 Legacy and Future Prospects

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.