Latest news with #MarcelKeizer
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.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Heitinga leaves Liverpool to become Ajax head coach
John Heitinga has left his role as Liverpool's assistant boss to return to Dutch club Ajax as their head former Netherlands defender made more than 200 appearances for Ajax before having spells as their reserve team boss and interim head 41-year-old has rejoined the club on a two-year contract and will be assisted by another Ajax academy product, Marcel succeeds Francesco Farioli, who left Ajax last week after his sole year in charge ended with an end-of-season seven games left Farioli's team were nine points clear at the top of the Eredivisie, but ended up finishing a point behind champions PSV Eindhoven. That meant a third straight season without a trophy for Ajax, who have won the Dutch title a record 36 times."John is a good coach with enormous drive," said their 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."Ajax won 14 of Heitinga's 22 games in charge at the end of the 2022-23 season to finish third in the then spent 2023-24 as West Ham's first-team coach under David Moyes before joining Arne Slot at Liverpool last summer, and they helped the Reds win their second Premier League title in Slot's first season in charge."I am incredibly excited to start," said Heitinga, who also played for Atletico Madrid, Everton, Fulham and Hertha Berlin."The last years in England have done me a lot of good. I'm ready to continue as a head coach and I'm honoured to be given that opportunity at Ajax."
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Ajax appoint Heitinga as new coach
May 31 (Reuters) - 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. 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. 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 honoured to be given that opportunity at Ajax."
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Ajax appoint Heitinga as new coach
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. 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. 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.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Heitinga to be named new coach of Ajax, says Dutch media
AMSTERDAM, May 30 (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 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.
