Kerkez on Slots Exit: My…

CHICAGO — Milos Kerkez was asleep when he heard the shocking news. Liverpool had terminated head coach Arne Slot’s contract less than a week after the end of the team’s disappointing 2025-26 season. It was a reasonable decision, but the speed of Slot’s departure took many players by surprise.

“I was really taken aback,” Kerkez recounted to reporters, including ESPN, at Liverpool’s preseason hotel in downtown Chicago. “I was in Serbia, asleep, when my brother woke me up with the news. I couldn’t believe it; I thought, ‘Wow.’ We’ve exchanged a few messages since then.”

Kerkez likely didn’t anticipate such a turn of events when he joined Liverpool for £40 million from AFC Bournemouth last summer. He joined shortly after Liverpool won the Premier League title under Slot’s guidance. However, the past year has been a steep learning curve for both the player and the club.

Liverpool secured UEFA Champions League qualification in the final match of the season, finishing fifth. Kerkez managed to turn around a rocky start at Anfield, emerging as one of the few bright spots in a grim season. However, many believe that the Hungarian international has yet to realize his full potential, making his reunion with former Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola, who took over for Slot last month, an exciting prospect.

“I was truly happy to hear about Iraola’s appointment,” said Kerkez. “He improved my game significantly during the two years I spent with him. I believe he is a perfect fit for us because he knows the type of football we want to play.”

Indeed, Iraola’s reputation for promoting an attacking style at Bournemouth made him a popular choice to replace Slot. The Basque coach led his first preseason match for Liverpool—a 4-2 win against Sunderland—in Nashville, Tennessee, and while the team still has a way to go, the initial signs are promising.

“It’s all about the intensity,” Kerkez observed. “He encourages high pressing and one-on-one battles all over the pitch. After training, everyone is exhausted, which shows how much he is pushing us to prepare for the season. We need to be in excellent shape to meet his demands, but I’m confident we’ll be fine.”

“He is very professional. He talks when needed but maintains a level of distance with the players, treating everyone equally. His approach combines professionalism with a strong work ethic,” he added.

Intense training commenced as Liverpool arrived in Chicago last week, with Iraola alternating between single and double training sessions to ramp up the players’ readiness for the new season. He is mirroring the rigorous training protocols that defined his tenure at Bournemouth, including a demanding “Consequences” game—an exhausting running challenge for the losing side in small-sided matches.

This demanding style doesn’t seem to impact Kerkez negatively; rather, he embraces it, showing a playful side even during serious discussions in Illinois. The 22-year-old noted he received numerous congratulatory messages from friends mistakenly believing he had married after posting pictures from his brother Rade’s wedding on social media.

The youngest of three brothers—his sibling Marko plays professionally for Greek club Aris FC—Kerkez resides in England with his parents, Sebastijan and Tijani. Since relocating to Merseyside, they have forged a close friendship with UFC fighter and Liverpool supporter Paddy Pimblett. Kerkez credits his father for keeping him grounded and often giving him rides to training.

“They play an essential role in my life,” he shared. “Although my brothers have their own lives, it’s great to have my parents here with me. My dad also keeps me grounded, reminding me not to get carried away after a couple of good performances. He’s always there to bring me back down to earth.”

Despite his jovial nature, staff members at Liverpool’s preseason camp in the U.S. have recognized Kerkez—along with fellow Hungary international Dominik Szoboszlai—as taking on added responsibilities as one of the senior players during the tour. Under Iraola at Bournemouth, Kerkez received a spot on the PFA Team of the Year, and there’s optimism that his game will reach new heights with Iraola at Anfield.

“Iraola always emphasized the importance of strong defending,” Kerkez explained. “For him, that’s the priority. As a fullback, your primary responsibility is to defend hard. Anything you contribute going forward is a bonus. I always focused on solid defending followed by supporting the wingers.”

“He made me realize that as long as I do my job, I have the freedom to express myself creatively on the pitch. We had a fantastic team, and the success was definitely a collective effort—not just mine. He grants you the freedom to showcase your skills,” said Kerkez.

Despite significant improvement throughout last season, Kerkez understands he still needs to win over some critics at Anfield, and he follows in the footsteps of legendary left-back Andy Robertson, who recently departed for Tottenham Hotspur. Kerkez has acknowledged the support Robertson offered him during his debut season at the club.

Originally from Serbia, Kerkez is eligible to play for Hungary through his paternal grandmother, and he believes that his upbringing in the Balkans—where he learned to drive a truck at the age of 10—has instilled a perspective that helps him navigate the pressures of professional football.

“I don’t think much about ‘pressure’ and those kinds of things,” he stated. “I grew up differently in Serbia. To me, it’s just a job: do your work well. Sure, it’s harder—I’ve witnessed how things spiral when the team loses and things aren’t going well. Being at a top club like this means you have to perform, but that comes with the territory.”

Kerkez and Liverpool’s next challenge will be against Championship side Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York on Wednesday. Following that, they will return to Chicago to face Leeds United, before wrapping up their preseason with friendlies against Monaco and Como at Anfield, setting the stage for the new era with Iraola starting next month against Newcastle United in the Premier League.

“The team is progressing well,” Kerkez noted. “In the beginning, some were adjusting, but now they are improving significantly. I think everyone appreciates how [Iraola] operates. I enjoy it, they appreciate it, and it suits our team perfectly.”