Arne Slot and LFC Fans: Slot was in a meeting but came out to chat with Isaac
Liverpool fans had plenty of time to become familiar with Arne Slot before he stepped into the dugout for his first Premier League match. With three months between the announcement of his appointment and the Reds’ fixture against Ipswich on August 17, supporters were given a chance to get to know the new manager.
The transition was eased by a key moment before Slot’s first game at Anfield. Jürgen Klopp, in his final match as manager, encouraged the fans to sing a catchy chant: “Arne Slot, na na na na na,” to the tune of Opus’ Live Is Life. This fun, lighthearted chant, introduced as Klopp bid farewell to Anfield, quickly became a favorite among the Liverpool faithful. By the time the season began, it had become a recognizable anthem, heard at nearly every home game.
As Slot prepared for his first home match, former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld recalled a conversation with the new manager. Westerveld, who was part of the club’s treble-winning squad in 2001, asked if Slot felt any nerves about playing in front of 60,000 fans at Anfield.
Slot, who had managed Feyenoord in front of crowds of 50,000, brushed it off, saying, “I’m used to that.” But Westerveld wasn’t so sure. “I told him, ‘Arne, this is Anfield—this is different.’” Reflecting later, Westerveld realized just how well Slot’s personality fit Liverpool. “He’s grounded, calm, and never gets carried away. No matter what happens—whether the team wins 11 out of 12 matches or suffers a setback like losing a League Cup final—he stays level-headed.”
As the season progressed, it became clear that Slot had earned the affection of the Liverpool fans. One banner that became a regular sight in The Kop was proudly displaying the words “Arne’s Slot Machine,” a playful homage to the growing admiration for the manager from fans of all ages.
Yet, it wasn’t just his footballing philosophy that endeared Slot to Liverpool supporters. His genuine kindness, especially toward young fans, also played a significant role. One of the most touching connections was the bond he formed with Isaac Kearney, a seven-year-old boy born with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a rare condition that causes developmental delays.
When the club learned of Isaac’s story, they extended an invitation for Isaac and his family—mum Melissa, dad Alan, and older sister Florence—to visit the training ground. It was an opportunity to meet the players, and while Slot’s schedule was packed with preparations for an upcoming match, the family was told that they might not get a chance to meet him.
But fate had other plans. As Isaac walked past the manager’s office with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, he noticed Slot inside. The excited young fan called out to him, and despite being in a meeting, Slot immediately came out to greet Isaac.
“Arne was so warm and genuine,” Melissa recalls. “He gave Isaac a fist bump and asked him if he was enjoying his day. When Isaac mentioned that he was still hoping to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold, Arne didn’t hesitate. He said, ‘I’m going to take you to meet him right now.’”
The two of them went on a special mission to meet Trent, much to Isaac’s delight. What started as a brief encounter turned into a meaningful friendship that continued to grow over the season.
In March, ahead of Liverpool’s home game against Southampton, Slot even mentioned Isaac in a pre-match press conference. When asked about how he would cope with a touchline ban, Slot jokingly said that he would be sitting in the stands near his friend Isaac, a touching acknowledgment of their bond.
What began as a casual meeting between manager and young fan has blossomed into a heartwarming friendship, and it’s one that has captured the hearts of the Liverpool fanbase. Arne Slot’s down-to-earth nature and his genuine kindness have made him not just a manager, but a beloved figure at Anfield, reminding everyone that football is about much more than victories and trophies—it’s about making a real difference in people’s lives.
