Heitinga returns to Ajax to take over as coach
John Heitinga (L) had been working under Arne Slot at Liverpool (Paul ELLIS)
Former Netherlands defender John Heitinga has been appointed as the new coach at Ajax, the Dutch club announced on Saturday.
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.
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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."
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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.
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