A former Everton defender has been sacked just 15 games into his first spell as a manager.
Everton have a number of former players trying their hand at management, with Mikel Arteta perhaps the most successful and high-profile one.
Wayne Rooney has given management a good crack, but has been largely unsuccessful and was most recently sacked by Plymouth Argyle last December.
Ironically, another former player, Tom Cleverley, is now Plymouth boss, although he’s really struggling as his side sit 22nd in League One. Cleverley was interviewed by Southampton before joining the Pilgrims.
Now, a defender who played under David Moyes at Everton has just lost his job after a very short period in charge overseas.
Ajax manager John Heitinga.
Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Former Everton defender John Heitinga sacked by Ajax
John Heitinga spent five years on Merseyside with Everton and made a whopping 140 appearances for the club.
Since hanging up the boots in 2016, Heitinga has worked as a coach at Ajax before taking an assistant management role with Moyes at West Ham United.
He spent last season at fierce rivals Liverpool and helped Arne Slot win the Premier League title. Off the back of that, Ajax brought him back as the first-team head coach in May.
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But, the Dutchman has lasted less than six months in charge of the European giants, winning five of his first 15 games.
Ajax, who finished a point behind league winners PSV last season, currently reside in fourth place and are eight points off the summit.
They’ve lost all four of their Champions League group stage games, too.
Comp Matches W D L Points PPM
Eredivisie 11 5 5 1 20 1.82
UEFA Champions League 4 0 0 4 0 0.0
Heitinga’s Ajax record