Heitinga returns to Ajax to take over as coach
The 41-year-old Heitinga returns to the club where he started his career as a player, replacing Francesco Farioli who resigned last week after Ajax's spectacular title collapse.
He has signed a two-year contract and will be assisted by Marcel Kaizer, who had a brief spell in charge of Ajax in 2017.
Heitinga spent the past season working under Arne Slot at Premier League champions Liverpool. He also had a stint on David Moyes's coaching staff at West Ham.
"I am incredibly excited to start. The last years in England have done me a lot of good," Heitinga said in a club statement.
"I've been able to develop further alongside David Moyes and Arne Slot, while also getting a behind-the-scenes look at two major clubs.
"I'm ready to continue as a head coach and I'm honoured to be given that opportunity at Ajax."
Ajax suffered a painful end to the season after blowing a nine-point lead with five matches to play, allowing PSV Eindhoven to snatch the league title on the final day.
Farioli revived the fortunes of a team coming off a dismal fifth-place finish in the 2023-24 campaign, but he decided to leave due to "different visions" with the club board.
Former Atletico Madrid, Everton and Fulham centre-back Heitinga retired in 2016 after a brief second spell with boyhood club Ajax.
He played 87 times for the Netherlands but was sent off in extra time in the 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Montemurro appointed new Australia women's football coach
The 55-year-old, who steered French powerhouses Lyon to their fourth consecutive women's league title last month, said it was "the honour of a lifetime". "This team means so much to so many Australians, and I'm humbled by the opportunity to help shape its next chapter," he said. "I've followed their incredible journey closely and am energised by the passion, resilience, and identity they've built." The Matildas captivated the nation and won legions of new fans with their run to the last four of the World Cup on home soil in 2023. But an underwhelming Paris Olympics last year saw Tony Gustavsson depart and they have been without a permanent head coach since. Tom Sermanni, a 70-year-old Scot, has been in temporary charge during a protracted recruitment process, with the side sliding to 16th in the world. "Joe brings world-class experience, a deep understanding of the Australian football landscape, and a genuine connection to our national identity," said Football Australia interim chief Heather Garriock. "Importantly, he has spent the last decade coaching at the very highest levels of the women's game in Europe and brings with him an unparalleled understanding of what is required to compete and succeed at the top of modern football." Montemurro, who won trophies with women's teams at Lyon, Juventus, Arsenal and Melbourne City, will lead the Matildas to the Asian Cup on home soil next year, then through qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
France 24
8 hours ago
- France 24
Hundred hero Root 'still got a lot to give'
England's pursuit of 309 in Cardiff on Sunday was in dire straits at 2-2, with the hosts in fresh trouble at 133-5. But Root's ODI best of 166 not out off 139 balls sealed a three-wicket win an an unassailable 2-0 lead with one to play at the Oval on Tuesday. His innings at Sophia Gardens also saw star batsman Root become England's highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, surpassing retired World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan's tally of 6,957 "It's a sign you're getting old, having played as many games as that," said the smiling 34-year-old after becoming the first England batsman to go past 7,000 ODI runs. But Root, also England's record Test run-scorer and the top-ranked batsman in that format, was adamant he remained as run-hungry as ever. "I want to give as much as I can for England for as long as I can," he said. "I've still got a lot to give and a lot more runs in there and hopefully, an innings like that shows that. "Until that desire, that want to get better every day, want to add to the group and want to be not out at the end of a chase like that, when that's not a burning desire any more, it will be time to stop. "It doesn't feel like that's anywhere near the case at the moment and I'll keep just trying to do my part in helping us win games and series down the line." Brook's 'cricket intelligence' Harry Brook has overseen England's first ODI series triumph since September 2023 after taking over as white-ball captain from Jos Buttler, who rarely had a full-strength squad to choose from during his time as skipper. "I've played a huge amount of cricket with Jos and almost felt guilty that I wasn't able to be there for him throughout a lot of his tenure," said Root, who played just 19 ODIs between England's 2019 World Cup triumph and their woeful 2023 title defence as priority was given to the Test side. He added: "I want to play as much as I can for England. If I'm going to make the team better, then absolutely." West Indies, capitalising on some slack England fielding, were all set for a huge total at 170-2 after 30 overs, with Keacy Carty making a fine hundred. But they were held to 308 all out off 47.4 overs, with leg-spinner Adil Rashid taking four wickets and fast bowler Saqib Mahmood three. Root, while saying Brook is an "idiot" beyond the boundary, praised his fellow Yorkshireman's tactical nous on the field after England won with seven balls to spare. "As much as he's an idiot away from cricket –- and I can say that because I've known him forever –- he's very cricket intelligent," said Root. "He understands the game exceptionally well."
France 24
10 hours ago
- France 24
Majestic Root's ODI best seals England's series win over the West Indies
England were faltering at 2-2, chasing 309 for victory, after both Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett were out for ducks at Sophia Gardens. But star batsman Root's 166 not out saw England finish on 312-7 as they won with seven balls to spare ahead of Tuesday's finale at the Oval, despite West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph's fine return of 4-31 from his maximum 10 overs. Root received good support from England captain Harry Brook (47) -- a series winner in his first campaign as permanent white-ball skipper -- in a stand of 85. Will Jacks (49) then helped Root add 143 in 20 overs during a sixth-wicket partnership that took England to the brink of victory. This match also saw Root become England's leading ODI run-scorer, his tally of 7,082 runs in 168 innings surpassing retired World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan's mark of 6,957 in 207. "From being 2-2, it was nice to be there at the end and get us across the line, winning the series with one game to go," said player-of-the-match Root at the presentation ceremony. 'Amazing' Meanwhile an elated Brook said: "Root -- he is only getting better with age is that boy! It is amazing to have him in the side." The West Indies were much-improved with both bat and ball following their humiliating 238-run loss at Edgbaston on Thursday, where England made exactly 400. But despite the in-form Keacy Carty's 103 they were ultimately made to pay for not compiling a truly huge total when well-placed on 205-2 at Sophia Gardens. "With the position we were in around that 35-over mark, we should have put on 30 to 40 more runs at least," said West Indies captain Shai Hope. The West Indies were dismissed with 14 balls left as veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid took 4-63 and paceman Saqib Mahmood, with two wickets in two balls, 3-37. But their 308 all out looked a challenging total as England openers Smith and Duckett failed to score a run between them. Root survived a tight lbw appeal from all-rounder Matthew Forde on seven thanks to umpire's call before, next ball, Brook was dropped by diving wicketkeeper Hope off fast bowler Jayden Seales. But the Yorkshire duo's stand was broken when Brook mishooked a Joseph bouncer to Seales in the deep. And 87-3 became 93-4 when Joseph had Jos Buttler playing on for a duck after a rising delivery deflected onto the stumps off the batsman's elbow. England were still faltering at 133-5 when Barbados-born Jacob Bethell, who made 82 at Edgbaston, was lbw to off-spinner Roston Chase for 17. Root, however, hoisted Gudakesh Motie for six and next ball swept the left-arm spinner for four to go to his 18th ODI hundred. He then surpassed his previous highest score at this level of 133 not out against Bangladesh at the Oval in 2017 when he drove paceman Justin Greaves for a classic straight six. Jacks' fine supporting innings ended when he was lbw to Joseph but England, at 276-6 in the 44th over, now needed under a run-a-ball to win. Root completed his first ODI score of 150 with a majestic cover-driven four off Forde before hitting the winning runs when driving Seales down the ground. Earlier, Carty struck his third hundred in four innings after Brook sent West Indies into bat. England were not as sharp in the field as they had been at Edgbaston, with Carty missed on one and 41 in two of four dropped catches in the innings. Carty and Brandon King (59) shared a second-wicket stand of 141 following the loss of teenage opener Jewel Andrew for a duck before Hope made 78. The 28-year-old Carty completed his century when he late cut Bethell for a 13th four in 102 balls faced. But he was out soon afterwards when stumped by Buttler off part-time spinner Jacks.
