John Heitinga has become Liverpool’s third ex-coach to join a Premier League rival.
Heitinga won the title last season as one of Arne Slot’s two assistants alongside Sipke Hulshoff before leaving to take the reins at former club Ajax in the summer.
However the former Everton defender lasted little more than six months into his second spell in the dugout at the Johan Cruyff Arena before he was sacked.
It had been suggested Heitinga could potentially rejoin Slot’s backroom staff after Eredivisie return was curtailed despite being replaced by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
But the 42-year-old has instead joined Tottenham’s inner circle to become first-team assistant coach under Thomas Frank, who has hailed the Dutchman’s arrival.
He said: “John is a great addition to our coaching staff.
“His ability, personality and character will add huge value both on and off the pitch.
“He had an impressive playing career across Europe – including five years in the Premier League – and with the Dutch national team.
“As a former defender, that will be one of his main responsibilities on the training pitch, and he brings great coaching and management experiences from all levels of the game, which will really help us moving forward.”
Heitinga is the third former Liverpool coaching stalwart to join one of their top flight rivals this season, following in Pep Lijnders and Thomas Gronnemark’s footsteps.
Jurgen Klopp’s one-time deputy Lijnders linked up with Manchester City while throw-in coach Gronnemark confirmed this week that he is working with Arsenal.