The Dutch captain, who shared a compatriot connection with the 47-year-old Slot, published the tribute on his Instagram story the morning after the dismissal was announced — less than 24 hours after the news broke on Saturday.
"We'll never forget winning the Premier League in our first season together. Thank you, Trainer, and best of luck to you and your family for the future."
The message was brief and direct. Van Dijk chose not to address the circumstances of the departure, focusing entirely on the achievement of the 2024-25 title win — a campaign in which Liverpool finished with 88 points, equalling the club record set under Jürgen Klopp.
Slot's sacking came six days after the season ended with a 1-1 draw against Brentford at Anfield that secured Champions League qualification for next season. The 2025-26 campaign produced a fifth-place Premier League finish with 60 points, 25 points behind champions Arsenal, and an exit in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Slot released his own statement following the announcement, saying: "It's been an amazing ride together with Liverpool. I am so grateful that we were able to win the league last season."
Liverpool's ownership were measured in their tribute, acknowledging that the sacking was "not a decision which has been reached lightly" while stating that "change is necessary" to move the club forward. The reference to the loss of Diogo Jota, who died in a road accident in December, was among the most personal passages in an unusually candid statement.
Van Dijk himself is preparing for the World Cup with the Netherlands. His own contract at Liverpool expires in June 2027.