Arne Slot’s Place in Liverpool History Sparks Heated Kop Discussion | OneFootball

Slot’s Place in Liverpool History Sparks Banner Debate at Anfield

A Kop Icon Enters a New Era

Few objects at Anfield hold as much emotional resonance as the iconic banner that stretches six metres across and stands three metres tall near the Kop. A mural-like homage to Liverpool’s greatest managerial minds, the banner currently showcases Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish, Rafa Benítez, and Jürgen Klopp. It is a visual embodiment of legacy, culture, and excellence — not merely decoration but declaration.

Now, for the first time since Klopp’s face was added, the banner is poised for a controversial update. As reported by The Athletic, Arne Slot is set to be added to the lineup this summer after guiding Liverpool to a sensational Premier League title in his debut season. The Dutchman’s immediate success has thrown up a fierce debate among supporters — does one season of triumph earn a place among the immortals?

What Makes a Manager Iconic?

That very question lies at the heart of the discussion within the Irish Kop — a 22-year-old online forum founded by Liverpool fan Paul Larkin. With around 8,000 members, the group has always prided itself on its passionate yet democratic approach. And according to Larkin, the long-held standard remains clear: “The criteria has always been that if you either win the league or the European Cup, you go on it.”

Larkin is already moving forward, having commissioned a designer to mock up new versions of the banner. “The majority who help out with the banner think we should get it updated and I agree with them,” he explains. “Slot deserves it.”

But not everyone in the Irish Kop is convinced.

Liam Flanagan voices a common concern among those urging caution: “You don’t want to be slapping every manager who comes along on it. Slot has done great, but he hasn’t built his own team yet. He needs to carry that success on to become an even worthier candidate.”

That perspective speaks to a deeper ethos within Liverpool’s culture — the value of sustained excellence over fleeting brilliance. One title is historic, no doubt. But is it enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Shankly or Paisley?

Defending the Decision

Ger Kane isn’t having any of it. “Just put him on the ****ing banner! He has won the league in his first season. We always said the criteria since Shankly was anyone who wins the league or the European Cup gets their head on it. I’m firmly in that camp.”

Kane’s view highlights how emotion and identity shape football decisions. Liverpool’s traditions don’t live in policy documents — they exist in collective memory, handed down through generations. If the unwritten rule has always been silverware at the summit, then Slot has met the mark.

Still, for some, there’s an intangible element to greatness. A sense that more is needed than one glorious campaign. As Flanagan implies, true status may require seasons of stewardship, challenges overcome, and teams moulded in your own image.

A Banner That Tells a Story

The banner first appeared during Benítez’s reign in the 2009–10 season, excluding Klopp at the time. It was inspired by the Five Heads of Communism painting and created by local artist David Neve. But instead of Marx, Lenin, and Mao, this version told a story of Liverpool’s leadership — of how philosophy and personality shaped footballing glory.

Crucially, the idea was born out of passion, not commercial gain. “We were coming over to games from Ireland so often, we wanted to add to the atmosphere,” Larkin says. “Not many clubs put managers on a pedestal the way we do. Most clubs have banners just about current or ex players, but Liverpool is different.”

That difference is the reason the debate is so intense. This is not just an image — it’s an identity. Where you place a face, and when, matters.

Why Fans Care So Deeply

Slot’s success, however brilliant, came with a squad assembled under Klopp. That’s not to discredit the achievement, but it adds nuance to the argument. Can you be enshrined before truly stamping your own blueprint?

“It goes back to Shankly,” Kane says. “Everyone bought into him. He was the most important person at the club and put Liverpool on the road to becoming the club we are today.” In that light, inclusion on the banner isn’t just a reward — it’s a declaration of lasting impact.

The Athletic’s report also underscores how fan groups like the Irish Kop have become custodians of tradition. Their efforts — from the Hillsborough Justice Campaign to a memorial for Paisley — are rooted in community. They deserve respect, not just for what they produce, but for how they sustain the soul of the club.

And as Larkin puts it plainly: “There are no membership fees, we’re not an official supporters’ club… It’s just about helping people out.”

Conclusion

Arne Slot’s addition to the banner would mark a significant chapter in Liverpool’s evolving story. Whether it feels premature or perfectly timed depends on your view of what makes a manager worthy of artistic immortality.

Slot has cleared the historical bar, technically. But the Kop is not a place for stats alone. It’s a temple of emotion. And few debates are more emotional than deciding whose face gets to look down on it.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Excited Liverpool Fan Perspective

There’s no denying the buzz around Arne Slot. You don’t walk into Anfield, lift the Premier League in your first year, and expect it to go unnoticed. But putting his face on that iconic banner? That’s another level entirely. Still, it’s hard not to get caught up in the romance of it. He’s brought the title home. He’s earned something.

Yes, it’s true — this isn’t his squad, not yet. But you don’t get handed the keys to a car like this and just keep it running. You take it up a gear. And that’s what Slot has done. The football’s been electric, the man management superb. There’s a humility about him that Liverpool fans connect with.

Flanagan’s hesitancy is fair. We’ve seen flashes in the pan before. But this feels different. The Dutchman’s cool head, tactical control, and connection with the supporters make him a natural heir to Klopp. If anything, adding Slot now sets a marker: excellence is acknowledged, no matter how new. And let’s be honest — it’ll look bloody brilliant with him up there.