Loyalty Over Legacy: Why Marino Pusic Turned Down Arne Slot’s Call to Liverpool
In the high-stakes world of elite football, an invitation to join the coaching staff at Anfield is rarely declined. For Marino Pusic, the prestige of the Premier League and the chance to reunite with a trusted mentor were weighed against a far more harrowing reality: a football club operating in the heart of a war zone.
Pusic, the current head coach of Al-Jazira in the UAE, recently revealed that he was approached by Arne Slot to become his right-hand man at Liverpool in 2023. It was an offer that could have fundamentally altered the trajectory of Pusic’s career, placing him at one of the most storied institutions in global sport. Instead, Pusic walked away.
The revelation came during an interview with Voetbal International, where the former FC Twente boss explained that the decision had nothing to do with footballing ambition and everything to do with the human cost of the conflict in Ukraine.
The Offer and the Dilemma
The approach came after Pusic had completed his first season in charge of Shakhtar Donetsk. Having previously worked with Slot at Feyenoord, Pusic was a natural choice for a manager looking to build a trusted inner circle upon transitioning to the English game. Slot’s admiration for Pusic’s tactical mind and leadership was clear, and the offer to move to Liverpool represented the pinnacle of professional recognition.
“Arne asked if I wanted to join him at Liverpool,” Pusic noted. “I considered that a great honour, but it didn’t feel right to abandon.”
For most coaches, the lure of the Premier League is an irresistible force. However, Pusic found himself anchored by a sense of duty to the players and staff at Shakhtar Donetsk. The club was navigating the unimaginable strain of wartime, and Pusic felt that abandoning his post during such a volatile period would be a betrayal of the bonds he had formed with his squad.
Coaching Amidst Conflict
Managing a football team is typically a matter of tactics, fitness, and psychology. At Shakhtar, Pusic found that his role expanded far beyond the touchline. He described the period as emotionally overwhelming, where the daily reality of war bled into every training session and team meeting.
The bonds formed at Shakhtar were forged in a crucible of shared trauma. Pusic recalled moments where players and staff were confronted with news that loved ones—family members, friends, or acquaintances—had been killed in the conflict. In those instances, the traditional hierarchy of coach and player vanished, replaced by a mutual struggle for survival and mental resilience.
“You are talking about life and death together,” Pusic explained. “That is how you build a close bond.”
Despite these crushing circumstances, Pusic guided Shakhtar to a level of performance that he believes is unmatched by any other club operating during wartime. Under his leadership between 2023 and 2025, the club secured a national title and two national cups, while managing to pick up 13 points across two Champions League campaigns.
Slot’s Search for a Dutch Core
The attempt to recruit Pusic highlights Arne Slot’s consistent preference for working with Dutch coaching talent. Since taking over at Liverpool in 2024, Slot has sought to replicate the synergy he enjoyed during his tenure at Feyenoord.
The path to finalizing his backroom staff, however, has been marked by logistical hurdles and shifting personnel. Slot initially hired Johnny Heitinga as his assistant, but Heitinga eventually departed for Ajax. He was subsequently replaced by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The recruitment process also saw a failed attempt to bring Etiënne Reijnen to Anfield. Despite Slot’s desire to include the Feyenoord assistant in his setup, Reijnen was unable to secure a necessary work permit, which ultimately paved the way for Heitinga’s initial arrival.
For readers unfamiliar with the complexities of UK immigration, work permits for non-EU coaching staff can be a significant barrier, often requiring proof of elite-level international experience or specific governing body endorsements.
The Outcome at Anfield
While Pusic chose the stability of his commitment to Shakhtar over the ambition of a move to England, Slot’s transition to Liverpool proved to be a historic success. In his first season at the helm, Slot led the Reds to a Premier League title, becoming the first Dutch manager to ever win the competition.
The victory solidified Slot’s standing in the English game and validated his tactical approach. Yet, the story of Pusic’s refusal adds a layer of human texture to the narrative of Slot’s rise. It serves as a reminder that behind the headlines of trophies and transfers are individual choices driven by loyalty and morality.
Pusic eventually moved on from Shakhtar to accept the head coaching role at Al-Jazira in the UAE, but the decision to stay in Ukraine during the height of the crisis remains the defining moment of his managerial journey.
Key Details: The Pusic-Slot Connection
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Offer Date | 2023 (Following Pusic’s first season at Shakhtar) |
| Proposed Role | Assistant/Right-hand man to Arne Slot at Liverpool |
| Reason for Refusal | Loyalty to Shakhtar Donetsk during wartime |
| Shakhtar Honours (Pusic Era) | National Title, Two National Cups |
| Current Role (Pusic) | Head Coach, Al-Jazira (UAE) |
The sporting world often views missed opportunities as regrets, but for Marino Pusic, the choice was a matter of principle. While he missed the chance to be part of a title-winning campaign at Anfield, he gained a legacy of leadership during one of the darkest periods in the history of Eastern European sport.
With Arne Slot continuing to evolve the Liverpool project and Pusic establishing himself in the UAE, the two former colleagues remain linked by a mutual respect that transcends the boundaries of a missed job offer.
Keep an eye on Archysport for further updates on Liverpool’s coaching staff and the ongoing developments in the Premier League.
