London. Liverpool has dismissed manager Arne Slot after two seasons in charge, ending the Dutchman's tenure less than a year after he guided the club to its 20th English league title.

The club announced the decision on Friday, describing it as a difficult but necessary step to ensure Liverpool continues moving forward.

Slot arrived at Anfield in June 2024 and enjoyed immediate success, leading Liverpool to the Premier League crown in his debut campaign. He was named LMA Manager of the Year after also guiding the Reds to the Carabao Cup final and the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League.

Liverpool secured Champions League qualification again in the 2025-26 season and advanced to the quarterfinals of Europe's premier club competition, but ownership ultimately decided a change was needed.

"That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying," Liverpool's ownership group said in a statement.

The owners praised Slot's achievements, leadership and professionalism, highlighting his role in delivering the club's first league title since 2020 and only the second in the Premier League era.

"We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool's 20th league title," the statement said.

The club also commended Slot for helping Liverpool navigate one of its most challenging periods following the death of Portuguese forward Diogo Jota last summer.

Despite those accomplishments, Liverpool said it had reached the conclusion that "the team's trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction."

The decision comes after an expensive rebuilding effort failed to deliver the expected results. Liverpool spent an unprecedented $570 million during last year's offseason to strengthen the squad, but several marquee signings struggled to make a significant impact.

Among them were German playmaker Florian Wirtz, Dutch wing-back Jeremie Frimpong and striker Alexander Isak, whose season was disrupted by injuries.

A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the decision "did not sit easily" with Liverpool officials and, "on a human level," did not feel entirely fair given Slot's achievements.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the club had already made its public announcement, said Liverpool's leadership increasingly believed a managerial change had become inevitable and preferred to act early rather than risk disrupting preparations for next season.

Liverpool has already begun the search for Slot's successor. The club is reportedly seeking a more aggressive and urgent playing style, with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola emerging as the leading candidate.

Slot departs with a Premier League title, consecutive Champions League qualifications and a place in Liverpool history, but ownership believes a new voice is needed as the club enters its next phase.

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