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Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Heitinga to be named new coach of Ajax, says Dutch media
Heitinga to be named new coach of Ajax, says Dutch media AMSTERDAM - Ajax Amsterdam have reached agreement with John Heitinga to take over as new coach, with former club coach Marcel Keizer to serve as his assistant, several Dutch media reported on Friday. The 41-year-old Heitinga moves from Liverpool, where he was one of Arne Slot's assistants in their Premier League-winning season. He will sign a two-year contract, reports across all major Dutch media outlets added, replacing the Italian Francesco Farioli, who resigned earlier this month after Ajax blew a nine-point lead and were pipped to the league title by PSV Eindhoven. There has been no announcement yet from Ajax. Heitinga, who won 87 caps for the Netherlands, worked previously as an assistant to then Jong Ajax coach Keizer in the 2016-17 season. The club's reserves compete in the Dutch second division and were second that season but were not allowed promotion. Heitinga was also acting coach of Ajax from January to June 2023 after the firing of Alfred Schreuder and took them to a third-place finish, as well as the Dutch Cup final, where they lost to PSV on penalties. However, he was not offered the post permanently after that. Keizer was promoted to Ajax coach in mid-2017 but dismissed after five months in charge and replaced by Erik ten Hag, who went on to have a successful run in charge of the Amsterdam side. Ten Hag had been a candidate to return to Ajax for next season but chose to take up an offer from Bayer Leverkusen instead. Heitinga came through the Ajax youth ranks as a player and won two league titles in his eight years in the first team, before going on to play for Atletico Madrid, Everton, Fulham and Hertha BSC. He returned to Ajax in 2015 but soon retired after an assortment of injuries. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Heitinga to be named new coach of Ajax, says Dutch media
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Southampton - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - March 8, 2025 Liverpool assistant manager Johnny Heitinga looks on REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -Ajax Amsterdam have reached agreement with John Heitinga to take over as new coach, with former club coach Marcel Keizer to serve as his assistant, several Dutch media reported on Friday. The 41-year-old Heitinga moves from Liverpool, where he was one of Arne Slot's assistants in their Premier League-winning season. He will sign a two-year contract, reports across all major Dutch media outlets added, replacing the Italian Francesco Farioli, who resigned earlier this month after Ajax blew a nine-point lead and were pipped to the league title by PSV Eindhoven. There has been no announcementyet from Ajax. Heitinga, who won 87 caps for the Netherlands, worked previously as an assistant to then Jong Ajax coach Keizer in the 2016-17 season. The club's reserves compete in the Dutch second division and were second that season but were not allowed promotion. Heitinga was also acting coach of Ajax from January to June 2023 after the firing of Alfred Schreuder and took them to a third-place finish, as well as the Dutch Cup final, where they lost to PSV on penalties. However, he was not offered the post permanently after that. Keizer was promoted to Ajax coach in mid-2017 but dismissed after five months in charge and replaced by Erik ten Hag, who went on to have a successful run in charge of the Amsterdam side. Ten Hag had been a candidate to return to Ajax for next season but chose to take up an offer from Bayer Leverkusen instead. Heitinga came through the Ajax youth ranks as a player and won two league titles in his eight years in the first team, before going on to play for Atletico Madrid, Everton, Fulham and Hertha BSC. He returned to Ajax in 2015 but soon retired after an assortment of injuries. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cairo; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Daily Record
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Mats Knoester reveals how Dimitar Mitov got him off the hook as Aberdeen cup hero shares Celtic penalty secret
The defender didn't need to step up from 12 yards in the Hampden shootout thanks to his goalkeeper Mats Knoester admitted he was on Aberdeen's fifth penalty before Dimitar Mitov stole the Scottish Cup final glory. The Dutchman was on the final spot kick but his keeper saved from Alistair Johnston to seal the 4-2 shootout win. That let Knoester off the hook and he was able to celebrate Aberdeen lifting their first Scottish Cup in 35 years. The 26-year-old confirmed: 'I was the fifth penalty. They (my practices) were good so I had confidence. 'But, of course, it's nice if you can finish it early. The earlier, the better. I was ready but Dimi saved it. I gave him the biggest hug afterwards.' The defender has won the Hungarian league with Ferencvaros and was part of Feyenoord 's squad when they won the Dutch Cup but he is in no doubt this one with Aberdeen tops the lot. He stated: 'I had one medal up to now. 'This one is the best by far. 100%. 'It was better than winning the league because it means more. 'In Ferencvaros, you are expected to win every year and here it has been so long. There are more emotions. 'It is hard to put into words. Just look around and take it all in then you have your answer. It is a lot to take. It means a lot. 'I was also man of the match as well, I doubled up so that was really good.' Aberdeen were written-off in most quarters and being written off makes that success even sweeter. The January signing added: 'It is first about belief in yourself personally and your team in the tactics. I shutdown all the noise around me and then you prove them wrong in the end. It is the best feeling.' Celtic had won their last four meetings but Thelin produced a curveball by going for a three man defence for the first time this season, with Knoester on the left of it. The Aberdeen defender acknowledged: 'We had previous matches with Celtic. They are a good team and win a lot of prizes. 'We knew we had to change our tactic and maybe do something different. This was our plan and it worked out well. I am very happy with that.' Knoester was named man of the match and picked up a winner's medal. Aberdeen also claimed guaranteed European group stage football. Knoester joked: 'Yeah, so we have it all now, huh? Nobody would say that before. So, I think that's the nicest thing.' He was glad most of his family had travelled from Holland to be there for his big day. They also got into the swing as Aberdeen celebrated its first trophy in 11 years. The last Scottish Cup win was back in 1990. It included Dutchmen Hans Gillhaus and Theo Snelders and now Knoester continues that proud trend. He beamed: 'Everybody was here, my mum and dad as well, my brothers. It means a lot. You wouldn't see it on my dad's face, but inside, he would have been very happy, emotional and everything. 'In our family we are calm. You don't see it from the outside, but definitely from the inside, it means a lot.'
Courier-Mail
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Socceroos: Max Balard eager to make Socceroos debut
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News. Fresh from a satisfying debut season in European club football, former Central Coast Mariners star Max Balard is eager to graduate from fringe Socceroo to midfield regular in Australia's line-up. Balard, 24, said he had 'improved immensely' from playing for Dutch club NAC Breda in the Eredivisie, the highest level of football in the Netherlands. 'My growth has gone amazing,' Balard said from the UAE, where he is part of a training squad assembled by national team coach Tony Popovic ahead of the Socceroos' FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month against Japan and Saudi Arabia. 'The speed of the game in the Netherlands is a lot quicker than what I had experienced in Australia, and thankfully, I am at a club where they give me my opportunity to play. 'It's helped me improve my game even more, both physically and technically. It's an experience that I've really taken with both hands.' Balard started in 33 of NAC Breda's 34 Eredivisie games in the 2024-25 season, and was also a starter in the club's only Dutch Cup match. 'I'm very grateful to the club for giving me my opportunity in such an amazing league with amazing players, where you're playing against Dutch internationals every second week pretty much,' he said. 'I feel like I've still got a lot of progress to do. I'm very excited for what the future holds.' The immediate future could include a maiden Socceroos cap in the upcoming weeks. It's an honour many feel is overdue, but Balard is just grateful to be given the chance by Popovic to prove himself at the current training camp. 'I'm really happy to be here,' he said. 'I'm really looking forward to showing that I'm a player that deserves to be here and that I'm ready to play.' With Socceroos star Jackson Irvine sidelined with a foot injury, there is a vacancy in Australia's midfield. And while Balard acknowledged that his style of play differed to Irvine's, he was confident of being able to play an important role in the Socceroos' engine room if given the chance. 'I'm more of a defensive-type style (of midfielder that Irvine), so I like to get on the ball, build up, and play like that, but I also have the qualities to get in around the edge of the box and score,' he said. '`Jacko' has been immense for the national team for many years now, and to see him go down was unfortunate because you never want to see any players go down. 'You want our country to have our best players ready to play. He's been incredible … (but) I definitely understand that there's an opportunity, and I'm working hard every day to make sure that I put my best foot forward and show the coaches what I can do.' Originally published as Dutch delight has Max Balard confident of success at international level
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ruud van Nistelrooy told next job is clear as Leicester 'shortlist three' managers
Ruud van Nistelrooy faces an uncertain future as Leicester City boss after the Foxes' relegation was confirmed, with one key option for his next job being touted Ruud van Nistelrooy has been told where his next destination should be as his future as Leicester boss hangs in the balance. The Dutchman was tasked with keeping the Foxes afloat in the Premier League when he was appointed in November. However, the club's relegation to the Championship was confirmed on Sunday following a 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool. Leicester have gained only eight points from 20 matches under the former Manchester United striker. Van Nistelrooy has admitted that he is still waiting to find out if he will keep his job and is due to meet with the club's owners and board members in the near future. Sky Sports News has reported that the 48-year-old will stay in charge until the end of the current season, but a shortlist of three potential replacements has already been drawn up. The contenders are said to include former England interim manager Lee Carsley, Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl and ex- Southampton coach Russell Martin. If Van Nistelrooy does get the axe then he will need to work hard to repair his damaged reputation. And former United and Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster believes a return to the Netherlands might be in order as he nurses his wounds. At the outset of his coaching career, he was afforded opportunities within PSV 's youth ranks, before later becoming first team manager and winning the Dutch Cup, only to leave the club after citing a lack of support. Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, Foster said: "I'm pretty sure that when they get relegated, they can sack him for free, basically, and that's probably what will happen. I think Ruud probably needs to get back to Holland, get his name and his stock a bit higher and get a bit of success." Van Nistelrooy enjoyed a four-game spell as United's interim manager earlier this season, overseeing three wins and a draw following the sacking of Erik ten Hag. He later left when Ruben Amorim was appointed and, despite his disastrous stint in charge at Leicester, Foster surprisingly claimed he would have done a better job than the former Sporting Lisbon boss in the short term.. He said: "Would Ruud van Nistelrooy have done a better job than Ruben Amorim at Man United, if he'd have stayed on? I think it's 'probably' because he had that respect, and I just don't think that you could do much worse than Amorim has done." Responding to the suggestion that Van Nistelrooy wouldn't have been a permanent solution, Foster added: "I don't think Amorim is [a long term fix] either, to be honest with you. Amorim set his stall out last week when they won that game against Lyon and then he said he was basically going to play the kids for the rest of the season. "It just signals that the Premier League doesn't matter so subconsciously, all of those players will take their foot off the gas a little bit." It's been claimed that Van Nistelrooy, whose deal at Leicester runs until the summer of 2027, is reluctant to depart without compensation. If he were to be sacked before the end of June, it's been reported that the Foxes may struggle to comply with PSR (profit and sustainability) rules for the current financial year.
