Former Everton and Netherlands defender Johnny Heitinga has already spent time in charge of Ajax and is now set to leave Liverpool to make his return to the Dutch side
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John Heitinga and Arne Slot
John Heitinga and Arne Slot(Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media)
Ajax will appoint Liverpool assistant Johnny Heitinga as their new coach by the end of the week. The Amsterdam giants have moved quickly to replace Francesco Farioli with the former Everton defender after the Italian paid the price for a late-season collapse that saw his team surrender the Eredivisie title.
Talks progressed quickly after Liverpool gave permission for Heitinga and his advisors to meet with Ajax following the Reds’ title win. Kop boss Arne Slot brought Heitinga in from West Ham last summer when he arrived at Anfield to replace Jurgen Klopp.
Slot made it clear that he would not stand in the 41-year-old Dutchman’s way if he wanted another shot at the biggest job in Holland. Heitinga, who started his playing career in the Ajax academy, returned to the club to accept a coaching role in the youth set-up in 2017.
He had a brief stint in temporary charge of the first team in January 2023 when Alfred Schreuder was sacked - and was shocked not to get the job on a permanent basis at the end of the season after guiding the team to a third-place finish and qualification for the Europa League.
Heitinga’s experience of the Premier League was a vital ingredient of Liverpool’s Premier League triumph in Slot’s first season at the club. He also played for Atletico Madrid, Fulham and Hertha Berlin.
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Farioli was axed after Ajax blew a nine-point lead in the final five games of the season to be pipped to the Dutch title on the last day by PSV Eindhoven.
Heitinga took charge of Liverpool earlier this season, when Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were both suspended. The Dutchman oversaw the Reds' February clash with Newcastle, which resulted in a 2-0 win.
Liverpool boss Slot has spoken highly of his coach. "One of the reasons why we work together is because we have so much in common, if it’s about playing style, game model or the changes we make during the game," he said during the season.
Liverpool Assistant manager John Heitinga reacts with Coach Aaron Briggs during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC
Liverpool assistant manager John Heitinga was on the touchline against Newcastle(Image: Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)
"John Heitinga is now here with me for the first half season and I couldn’t have wished for more. Very, if I say, talented, I do not even rate him high enough because he’s more than that already, he’s been a head coach himself but he’s still young.
"He grew into our staff from the start in a very good manner. He has the same idea about football, that’s why I chose him to come to us as well. But the way he is with the boys is very positive. All the things we do we do together."
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