‘Slot is the best coach in the world, he made me who I am today’

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·15 November 2024

‘Slot is the best coach in the world, he made me who I am today’

Although now of Benfica, Turkish international Orkun Kokcu is very grateful for the period he had with Arne Slot at Feyenoord. In a recent conversation with TRT Spor, the Rotterdam youth graduate was very complimentary about his former coach and calls him ‘the best in the world’.

“Slot is like a father to me. He made me who I am,” Kokcu said of his former coach.

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“Slot gave my game a boost in the first season. We reached the final of the Conference League and a number of clubs from the top six of England showed interest. In the end, the transfer did not go through. The following season, he appointed me captain and increased my responsibility.”

Eventually, Kokcu won both the title and the Johan Cruyff Shield with Slot. The coach then left for Liverpool and the Turkish midfielder has now evolved to a regular starter for Benfica.

Kokcu also briefly spoke of the time he spent with Robin van Persie, now coach of SC Heerenveen:

“He loved coaching the young boys and taught me to play with my chest out.”

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield