Liverpool have given John Heitinga permission to speak to Ajax over their vacant managerial role, one of those touted as his success is former Reds striker Dirk Kuyt
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Former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt.
Former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has been tipped to succeed John Heitinga on Arne Slot's backroom staff at Anfield.
(Image: Photo by TOM GOYVAERTS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool hero Dirk Kuyt has previously raved about Arne Slot amid links that the former striker could rejoin the Reds as John Heitinga's successor. Fresh off celebrating Liverpool's historic 20th English league title, it emerged that Eredivisie giants Ajax wanted to appoint Heitinga as their new head coach.
The Reds gave the Dutch outfit permission to hold talks despite the 41-year-old only joining the club last summer. Ajax are on the hunt for another new manager after Francesco Farioli stepped down following their collapse at the end of the season, which saw them relinquish a nine-point lead at the summit.
Should Heitinga leave Anfield, the ECHO reported on Wednesday that Liverpool would look to appoint his successor to join the backroom staff as the Reds look to defend their top-flight crown next season.
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Reports have suggested Kuyt, who is currently in charge of Belgian side Beerchot, is an option to join Slot, Sipkhe Hulshoff, Aaron Briggs and co in the Anfield dugout.
The 44-year-old has previously given Slot a glowing assessment after discussing the Liverpool head coach ahead of his debut season in the Premier League, which ended in a triumph.
"Arne loves the game and thinks about football 24/7," he told The Athletic.
"That passion shines through when he speaks.
"He’s always studying other teams and thinking about how his team can improve and evolve.
"Tactically, he’s very strong. What people like most in Holland, where his reputation is so high, is that he has his own vision, his style of play.
"Nowadays managers always get compared. Is it the Jurgen Klopp style? Is it the Jose Mourinho style? Is it the Pep Guardiola style?
"The answer is that Slot has his own style. He doesn’t copy anyone. He knows exactly what he wants and he believes in it. It’s attractive, attacking football.
"He likes to play an aggressive defence, high intensity, with the game played in the opponent’s half, but it’s his way. It’s different from Klopp but a lot of the principles are the same.
“What struck me about Arne was his ability to make the players believe in what he believes in. I talked to some of them when I was there and they all spoke so highly about him.
"They love how he organises the training sessions and how he gets his ideas across. He’s an excellent communicator and man manager."
Slot acknowledged that Heitinga should be considered as an option for the Ajax job but admitted that his services could be better served at Anfield for one more year.
"If Ajax would be smart, they would consider him," said the Reds boss.
"He is ready to take on a job like that.
"If John is smart, he would stay one more season."