Arne Slot was relieved of his duties from his role as AZ Alkmaar’s head coach in December of last year.
The Dutch coach ended his tenure at the AFAS Stadion with 2.11 points per game in the Eredivisie, the most of any AZ coach in history, even more than legendary manager Louis van Gaal who won the league with the side in 2009.
Slot was dismissed by AZ at the time because the club believed his head was turned by interest from Feyenoord in a Marco Silva, Watford, and Everton-esque fiasco.
Low-and-behold, in the summer of 2021, Slot was announced as the new manager of Feyenoord.
The 43-year-old admitted that it may take time for him to instil his philosophy on the players but even he may be surprised by how quickly the team have adopted his methods.
Feyenoord are third in the Eredivisie right now, one point off top in a three-horse race with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven. De club aan de Maas (The Club on the Meuse) are averaging 2.25 points per game already.
Feyenoord have particularly been impressive in possession, displaying a true positional and tactical understanding of the game. Watching Slot’s side feels like a lesson in football at times.
This article will be a tactical analysis of Feyenoord under Slot.
It will be an analysis, focusing on the team’s tactics and principles in possession.
Lineups And Formations
Slot was an avid user of the 4-2-3-1 at AZ Alkmaar. This has not changed since his switch to Feyenoord.
The Dutch giants have deployed the convention system in 85 percent of their games this season so far.
The similar 4-3-3 is the only other eleven-man tactical structure utilised by Slot at De Kuip.
Feyenoord’s starting elevens have been largely consistent over the past few months and there is a heavy emphasis from the new manager on having players in the team that are comfortable in possession.
Having these players profiles on the side allows Slot to play a certain way. The personnel also possess high tactical intelligence and are capable of playing in numerous positions to bring Slot’s ideology of positional fluidity to fruition.
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