Feyenoord’s technical director Dennis te Kloese insists that he ‘immediately’ turned down Tottenham Hotspur when the Premier League giants came calling.
Speaking to ESPN, Te Kloese admits that Arne Slot – the coach who guided Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title since 2017 and only their second in the 21st century – was ‘very close’ to taking over in North London before Tottenham Hotspur turned their attention to Ange Postecoglou.
Slot, however, was not the only member of Feyenoord’s title-winning roster with admirers in the English capital.
Te Kloese, the club’s technical director since 2022, has his fingerprints all over this meticulously-crafted squad, and the resignation of Fabio Paratici in May opened the door for the 49-year-old to potentially join Slot at Tottenham’s space-age stadium.
Tottenham wanted to hire two Feyenoord heroes
“Arne Slot was closer (than me to joining Tottenham),” Te Kloese tells ESPN. “I think that Slot was very close to a transfer for Tottenham. That is why we are happy that he is still here. We also hope that that choice works out well for him.
“I honestly hope that we will be in the same position next year package, because that would mean that we have had a good year.
“I have no interest in working elsewhere. Personally, it is not a good time to go elsewhere,” Te Kloese adds. “My family is just starting to get used to the Netherlands, even though the weather is less favourable now!
“Tottenham’s interest is flattering, of course. But I immediately gave that club a ‘no’.”
Tottenham and Feyenoord still unbeaten
Feyenoord have drawn their last two games but remain unbeaten after five. Tottenham, meanwhile, are yet to lose under Postecoglou either; Saturday’s stunning comeback victory over Sheffield United making this Spurs’ best start to a league season since the World Cup was sitting pretty in England’s trophy cabinet.
They couldn’t? Could they?
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