Liverpool have had many heroes during their unexpected Premier League title-winning campaign.
The Reds toppled Manchester City to become the first winner of the English top division since they repeated the trick in 2020.
Arne Slot has taken much of the applause for masterminding a sensational season, while Mohamed Salah has undoubtedly been the star man on the pitch.
There have been other key performers as well, with Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister leading the way for the rest of the Liverpool squad.
Away from the pitch, though, Slot does not deserve complete credit. While the Dutch coach has brilliantly navigated the switch from the Eredivisie to England, he has been aided by a brilliant Liverpool coaching staff.
Amid his trusted lieutenants is John Heitinga, whose reputation as a burgeoning star in the making is starting to precede him.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
John Heitinga wins Mark van Bommel praise
Heitinga was an interesting late appointment by Slot during the summer. Given his status as a former Everton player of five years, his addition certainly raised a few eyebrows.
However, the 41-year-old has dispelled any initial doubts to become a key cog in Slot’s winning machine.
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Heitinga even filled in for the Liverpool head coach on two occasions, with Slot and Sipke Hulshoff getting themselves in disciplinary trouble.
Given his reputation, it is no surprise that Heitinga has been linked with manager’s jobs in England and beyond. And according to his former Netherlands teammate Mark van Bommel, he has more than earned his stripes.
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“I did my licence with him [Hulshoff] in the same year. I know them both,” Van Bommel told The Daily Mail of Slot’s number twos. “I know Johnny a little bit better as I played with him in the national team. Johnny is a smart guy who works really hard, trying to develop the team every day with video and with tips and conversations.
“He speaks with Arne and Sipke all the time to develop the team as soon as possible. He is also a natural, none of it is for show, you know? This is how he is as a person. He gave everything as a player and he played for Everton, now he is winning the league with Liverpool!’”
Will Heitinga leave Liverpool?
When he was linked with taking over at West Brom and Stoke in the New Year, Heitinga’s agent came out to crush speculation and insist he was focused on winning the title with Liverpool.
Now that this has been achieved, though, it will be interesting to see what the former defender’s next move is.
Clearly, Liverpool fans should be hoping he remains at Anfield. Heitinga has obviously been a hit with the Reds players and has Slot’s trust as well. Losing him would be a blow.
However, with plenty of clubs set to be on the lookout for a new manager, there is perhaps a possibility that Heitinga wants to take that next step.
For now, with the season still ongoing, nothing has suggested that he is leaving. But it would not be a surprise if that does eventually come to pass.