Latest news with #JohnHeitinga
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Liverpool 'considering former star to replace John Heitinga as Arne Slot's assistant at Anfield'
A former Liverpool star could be set to come in to take the role of Arne Slot 's assistant manager after it was confirmed that John Heitinga is leaving to take over as boss of Ajax. The former Everton defender arrived at Anfield last summer and has served as Slot's No 2 throughout their Premier League-winning campaign. However, Heitinga will have no involvement for the Reds in the 2025-26 campaign after coming to an agreement to take charge of Ajax. The 41-year-old will now return to Amsterdam for the fourth time, having enjoyed two spells at the club as a player and a brief stint in charge of the senior side in 2023. Heitinga has agreed a two-year contract and replaces Francesco Farioli, who departed the club after a single season in charge. And Liverpool have already started considering replacements with an ex-player high on their list, according to the Liverpool Echo. That player is Dirk Kuyt, who made 285 appearances for the Reds between 2006 and 2012. He is expected to leave his job as Beerschot manager following their relegation from the Belgian Juliper Pro League. Kuyt took charge of the Belgian outfit in 2023 and clinched promotion to the top flight in his first season. However, he was unable to keep his side up there as they dropped straight back down. Heitinga will be joined in the dugout by fellow Ajax academy graduate Marcel Keizer. 'John is a good coach with enormous drive,' said Ajax technical director Alex Kroes. 'He is ambitious and has further developed himself over the past few years in the Premier League and Champions League. 'John knows the club well and we are convinced that he, together with Marcel, will help improve our players and build on the progress made since last summer.' The most successful club in the history of Dutch football, Ajax have not won an Eredivisie title since Erik ten Hag led the club to victory in 2022.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Andy Robertson makes feelings clear as Liverpool confirm exit with best wishes
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has penned a farewell message to John Heitinga on social media following confirmation that the Dutchman has left Anfield to join Ajax Andy Robertson is among those who have sent well wishes to John Heitinga, who has left his role as Arne Slot 's assistant to become the new head coach of Ajax. Heitinga, 41, joined Liverpool last summer as part of Slot's new backroom team. It turned out to be a hugely successful one for Slot and his team with Liverpool going on to win the Premier League title at the first time of asking. And for Heitinga, it's one and done, with the former Everton defender departing Anfield to start his own journey as a No.1 with Ajax. The news was confirmed by all parties on Saturday morning and Robertson was one of the first players to pay tribute to Heitinga and wish him well in his new role. The Scot shared a snap of him and Heitinga celebrating the Reds' title win on last week's bus parade with the message: "Success this season wouldn't of been possible with you! "Good luck legend." The club also commented on Heitinga's departure with an official statement, which read: "Liverpool FC can confirm John Heitinga is to depart the club to take up the role of Ajax head coach. "The 41-year-old leaves the Reds after one season in the backroom team, operating as assistant coach to Arne Slot. He now assumes a position in charge of former club Ajax in his native Netherlands. "John leaves with our gratitude and appreciation for his role in our 2024-25 Premier League title win." Heitinga heads to Amsterdam to succeed Francesco Farioli, who left his post in the aftermath of the club's failure to win the Dutch title due to a spectacular implosion in the final weeks of the 2024-25 campaign. The former centre-back made over 200 appearances for Ajax during his playing career and has also had spells as the club's reserve team boss and as interim head coach. Liverpool will now assess their options in terms of appointing a successor to Heitinga ahead of the new season.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Ajax appoint Heitinga as new coach
AMSTERDAM: Ajax Amsterdam have named John Heitinga as their new coach, with the former Netherlands defender signing a two-year deal, the Eredivisie club confirmed on Saturday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Heitinga, who grew up in the club's youth ranks and was part of Ajax's senior squad for seven and a half seasons, was one of Arne Slot's assistants at Liverpool in their Premier League-winning season. Ajax has reached an agreement with John Heitinga regarding the coach's move to Amsterdam. Heitinga is signing a contract with Ajax as head coach until June 30, 2027 — AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 31, 2025 Former club manager Marcel Keizer will serve as Heitinga's assistant and has signed a contract of the same duration, Ajax added. 'John knows the club well,' Technical Director Alex Kroes told the club website. 'We are convinced that he, together with Marcel, will help improve our players and build on the progress made since last summer in terms of, for example, elite sporting culture and discipline.' Heitinga replaces Italian Francesco Farioli, who resigned earlier this month after a year in charge. Record 36-time champions Ajax finished the season second after blowing a nine-point lead as they were pipped to the league title by PSV Eindhoven on the final day. Ajax last won the league in 2021-22. 'It's good that it's decided early on in the summer break that they will be in charge from the end of June. (We) can now continue working with John and the other parties involved on the squad composition for the coming season,' Kroes added. Former Atletico Madrid and Everton defender Heitinga coached youth and reserve teams at Ajax after he retired from playing, following his return to Ajax, in 2016. He was also briefly appointed as acting coach of Ajax in 2023 after the firing of Alfred Schreuder. Heitinga, who won 87 caps for the Netherlands, was then David Moyes's assistant at West Ham United before taking on the same role at Liverpool. 'I am incredibly excited to start,' Heitinga said. 'The last years in England have done me a lot of good. 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 honored to be given that opportunity at Ajax.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Liverpool assistant departs the club after their Premier League triumph to become head coach of Dutch giants Ajax
A Liverpool coach has departed the club after accepting the vacant head coach position at Dutch side Ajax. In his first season on Merseyside Arne Slot led the Reds to their first Premier League title since 2020. In doing so the club have now drawn level with bitter rivals Manchester United for the most successful English team in league history, with both sides having lifted the title 20 times. Slot has wasted little time looking towards the defence of Liverpool's title, with the club now frontrunners to sign Florian Wirtz this summer and with Jeremie Frimpong arriving from Leverkusen. However, one Dutchman who will have no involvement for the Reds in 2025-26 is former assistant boss John Heitinga after he agreed to become manager of Ajax. The former Everton defender arrived at Anfield last summer and has served as Slot's No 2 throughout their Premier League-winning campaign. However, the 41-year-old will now return to Amsterdam for the fourth time, having enjoyed two spells at the club as a player and a brief stint in charge of the senior side in 2023. Heitinga has agreed a two-year contract and replaces Francesco Farioli, who departed the club after a single season in charge. The former defender will be joined in the dugout by fellow Ajax academy graduate Marcel Keizer. 'John is a good coach with enormous drive,' said Ajax technical director Alex Kroes. 'He is ambitious and has further developed himself over the past few years in the Premier League and Champions League. 'John knows the club well and we are convinced that he, together with Marcel, will help improve our players and build on the progress made since last summer.' The most successful club in the history of Dutch football, Ajax have not won an Eredivisie title since Erik ten Hag led the club to victory in 2022.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ajax hires Liverpool assistant John Heitinga as new head coach
FILE - Amsterdam's head coach John Heitinga, center, after the Europa League playoff second leg soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Ajax Amsterdam in Berlin, Germany, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File) AMSTERDAM (AP) — Ajax hired John Heitinga as head coach on Saturday to replace Francesco Farioli nearly two weeks after the Italian resigned following the team's late-season collapse. Heitinga, who had a spell as Ajax's interim manager in 2023, spent the past season as an assistant coach to Arne Slot at Liverpool, which won the Premier League title. Advertisement The 41-year-old former Ajax center-back came through the Dutch club's youth program and made more than 150 appearances for the team. He also played 4 1/2 seasons at Everton. The former Dutch international takes over a team that finished second to PSV Eindhoven after squandering a nine-point lead in the Eredivisie title race. 'I am incredibly excited to start,' said Heitinga, who was an assistant at West Ham two seasons ago. 'The last years in England have done me a lot of good. 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.' ___ AP soccer:
