Image Credits: Imago Images
The managing staff merry-go-round continues this January with Tottenham Hotspur snapping up a former Liverpool assistant. The Reds have already let go of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs, with Arne Slot confirming at the start of January: “He is a very good human being, a very promising young English coach, but as things sometimes happen in January or in June, both go either way and that is what happened over here as well.”
And now Tottenham have officially signed former Liverpool assistant manager John Heitinga. It follows after he was dismissed as Ajax manager in November of last year.
After a brief spell as first-team assistant Liverpool, where he helped Arne Slot’s side secure the Premier League title in 2024-25, Heitinga returned to Ajax as permanent head coach in May 2025. However, his tenure lasted just six months.
A Spurs statement read: “We are delighted to welcome John Heitinga to the Club as First Team Assistant Coach, joining Thomas Frank’s coaching staff”
Head Coach Thomas Frank said of the appointment: “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 not the only ex-Liverpool coach who recently joined Frank’s backroom staff. The North London side signed Fabian Otte as First Team Goalkeeper Coach in the summer, with Otte only spending a year at Anfield before the switch to Spurs.
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