John Heitinga is set to be named as the new head coach of Ajax, with the 41-year-old reaching an agreement over terms to replace Francesco Farioli.
The former Everton defender joined Arne Slot’s coaching staff last year when he took up an assistant role at Liverpool, but Heitinga will return to the club where he coached for half a season on an interim basis in 2023.
Sources have told Liverpool.com that Heitinga and Ajax are in "total agreement", although nothing has been officially signed. It is not clear if Liverpool has yet been formally approached, but it is believed there will be no obstacles to Heitinga’s departure.
Slot all but admitted that himself last week when asked about his assistant’s future. “If Ajax would be smart they would consider him,” the Liverpool boss said. “He is ready to take on a job like that. If John is smart, he would stay here one more season.”
While Heitinga is a popular choice among the hierarchy at Ajax, he was not the club’s first choice as head coach. Erik ten Hag was the preferred candidate, but the former Manchester United manager was already deep in negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen to replace Xabi Alonso when Ajax approached him.
It is also understood Ten Hag was not keen on a return to the Netherlands at this stage in his career.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and Liverpool assistant coach John Heitinga looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between PSV Eindhoven and Liverpool FC at PSV Stadion
Heitinga joined Slot last summer as one of his two assistant coaches at Liverpool. (Image: Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
Go Ahead Eagles coach Paul Simonis was also considered by Ajax. The 40-year-old won the KNVB Cup with Go Ahead Eagles last season, his first season as a senior coach, while also finishing seventh in the Eredivisie.
However, Ajax felt Heitinga would bring more maturity and coaching experience to the role. He has already taken charge of the Amsterdam club's Under-19s, second team, and senior side, while also making over 200 appearances during his playing career at Ajax.
Heitinga’s managerial stint at the Johan Cruyff Arena ended in the summer of 2023 after half a season in interim charge. Despite an impressive start to his premiership, Heitinga lost control of the dressing room in the final months of the campaign, resulting in a dramatic drop in results.
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: John Heitinga of Everton looks dejected after defeat in the FA Cup with Budweiser Semi Final match between Liverpool and Everton at Wembley Stadium on April 14, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Heitinga spent four and a half years at Everton during his distinguished playing career. (Image: Getty Images)
Ajax finished third, and Sven Mislintat (then director of football) opted to appoint Maurice Steijn as permanent coach. That decision is believed to have irked Heitinga, but with Mislintat now out of the picture, that particular barrier to his return has been removed.
Marijn Beuker (director of football) and Alex Kroes (technical director) agreed that Heitinga was the best candidate for the role after Ten Hag’s rejection. He also has the support of influential board members Louis van Gaal and Danny Blind.
Michael Reiziger was another name mentioned in local reports, but Liverpool.com understands he was never under serious consideration. Instead, it’s Heitinga who will take over the vacancy, to be assisted by Marcel Keizer.
It leaves Slot with a space to fill in his coaching staff, although sources have stated his departure would not have been felt as keenly as Sipke Hulshoff, who is seen as Slot’s right-hand man.