Latest news with #RyanGravenberch
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
New Ajax coach Heitinga: Slot's sidekick and Gravenberch's ‘mentor' who always had big ambitions
For Johnny Heitinga, Liverpool was a fleeting visit. In and out quicker than you can say 'Premier League champions' and with a CV that now looks significantly stronger than when he arrived nine months ago. Heitinga, who was assistant first-team coach to Arne Slot, is joining Ajax as their new manager on a two-year contract after playing an important role in clinching the title at Anfield. Advertisement The former Netherlands international, who had no previous relationship with Slot when he joined last summer, was hired to bring in Premier League experience and vital know-how during a time of transition. He went on valuable scouting missions for Slot, helped certain individuals like Ryan Gravenberch thrive, and worked closely with Liverpool's strikers as part of a multi-functioning coaching team that quickly found the magic formula. Slot recognised Heitinga as a bright coach with similar ideas to him around playing style. His time working under David Moyes at West Ham United gave him an advantage of knowing the ins and outs of the Premier League at a time when Slot and Sipke Hulshoff were untested. His passion for the game was clear and he worked with intensity at Liverpool. 'He grew into our staff from the start in a very good manner,' Slot told reporters earlier in the season. Yet it was no secret he had an eye on becoming the main man elsewhere in the future. Heitinga has long harboured ambitions to manage at the top level and for years, Ajax was seen as the dream job. The club in Amsterdam where he was schooled at their famous academy — and where he spent 18 years before moving to Atletico Madrid and then Everton — holds a special place in his heart. When he retired early and switched focus to coaching, he began with the youngsters at Ajax, then their under-19s where The Athletic watched his intense training sessions in February 2020 and listened to his thoughts about the future. Heitinga moved up to coach the reserve team and in January 2023, when Alfred Schreuder was sacked with the first team sitting fifth in the Eredivisie, seven points behind Slot's league-leading and title-bound Feyenoord, he achieved his target of taking control of the first team, albeit in awkward circumstances. Advertisement For the second half of the 2022-23 season, as interim manager, he promoted a style to keep possession, press high and win the ball back quickly. He was disappointed when he was not appointed permanently, having won 14 and lost five of his 24 matches. Ajax, who finished third, went on to suffer greater embarrassment in the times that followed, dropping to the foot of Eredivisie by October 2023 after the failed appointment of Maurice Steijn. Although their most recent season was an improvement on previous years, an astonishing late title collapse was one of the worst seen in history. With five games remaining, Ajax were nine points clear at the top of the table and required seven points for a 37th top-flight crown yet inexcusably surrendered to PSV Eindhoven. Manager Francesco Farioli shed tears on the final day and was gone 24 hours later, which has opened up the door for Heitinga. Football moves quickly and just over a month ago, when Liverpool were putting the final pieces to their title-winning season — and Ajax were expected to do the same in the Netherlands — Heitinga's short-term future looked considerably different. Leaving Liverpool this summer was still a possibility but only if the right opportunity presented itself. Heitinga was linked with jobs in the Championship last season but was committed to seeing out the campaign on Merseyside with so much on the line. When other clubs showed an interest towards the back end of 2024, Liverpool were still chasing down the title and competing in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup. The chance to be a part of something special was a motivating factor for staying, so he decided to weigh up his options at a later stage. Slot spoke publicly before the final game of the season to say that Ajax 'would be smart' to consider him, adding he believed Heitinga was ready to make such a move, although clearly the head coach did not want to lose one of his newly-found trusted allies. Advertisement 'If John is smart, he would stay one more season,' Slot continued. One of the legacies he will leave behind is the reshaping of Gravenberch as a No 6, the position he tested the Dutch international in when they worked together in the under-19s at Ajax. 'John has been a really big help,' Gravenberch said earlier this month. 'At the club, you have mentors and he is my mentor. I watched clips with him. I had conversations with him about the position. It might have looked easy but it was not. A lot of work went into it.' Jarell Quansah also spoke about Gravenberch's input, telling reporters earlier this season: 'I can always lean into him. He was an established centre-back who had a great career, so I can always pick his head. He often comes to me, too. Maybe I am trying to do stuff by myself but he will come to me and show me clips, help me find a positive mindset for any game I play in.' Finding the right replacement to continue working alongside a coaching team that also includes Aaron Briggs will now be important for Liverpool. The search is on but there's no rush to make an appointment. Heitinga leaves with the appreciation of everyone at the club for the role he played in this season's title success, including standing in for the suspended Slot and his assistant Hulshoff for the vital 2-0 win over Newcastle United in February.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'Phenomenal speed' - what does Frimpong bring to Reds?
The arrival of Jeremie Frimpong at Liverpool is intended to help soften the blow of losing Trent to his numbers, the 24-year-old is arriving at Anfield with serious was one of the strongest runners in the Bundesliga in 2024-25, making 1,021 sprints, 2,116 intensive runs, registered a maximum speed of 36.34 km/h, and covered a distance of 259.6km over 33 is also Bayer Leverkusen's final game of the season, a 4-2 home defeat by Borussia Dortmund on 11 May, he played as a midfielder and scored. It was Frimpong's 23rd goal in 133 Bundesliga also completed 38 sprints - more than any other player on the pitch."What I find phenomenal is his speed when he is standing still and those kind of first few steps," former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger."That's what he's got and he loves going forward. So he is equipped to be a wing-back."Defensively, he is still a very good player but he is not your typical right-back that you see playing for teams like Inter Milan, who might defend for 90 minutes."Of course, there is a lack of height with him. But with his pace, drive and determination to set goals up, to get to the byeline and pull balls back, then wing-back is probably his best position."Will Frimpong make an instant impact in the Premier League?With Netherlands team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch in the Liverpool dressing room, he will be surrounded by some familiar faces as he looks to settle quickly."People are talking about Conor Bradley being Liverpool's first-choice right-back next season and I get that, but you need fierce competition and Frimpong would provide that," added BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton."I know what an attacking threat he is, how quick and dynamic he is, and how good he is in one-v-one situations."Read more about what Liverpool can expect from Frimpong
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Liverpool sign Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m from Bayer Leverkusen - as Trent Alexander-Arnold's replacement pens five-year contract
Liverpool have finalised the signing of Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong after activating his £29.5million release clause. The right wing-back has inked a five-year contract at Anfield and becomes their first summer signing after completing his medical earlier this month. His challenge is to fill the boots of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is leaving at the end of his contract and widely expected to join Real Madrid. But Frimpong's record speaks glowingly of his potential. The 24-year-old has scored 28 goals in the last three seasons and assisted a further 35. He has become one of Europe's most talked-about defenders under Xabi Alonso, playing a key role in Leverkusen's unbeaten domestic double last season. The 12-time Dutch international links up with his countryman Arne Slot, who he knows well, and his international team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch. He first landed in the UK a few days ago and has now been confirmed as the first signing of what Slot says will be a big summer. Frimpong has already been making himself popular by congratulating Gravenberch on winning the Premier League's Young Player of the Year Award. Evidently eager to adapt his English to align with the local Scouse dialect, Frimpong jokingly commented on Gravenberch's post: 'Ryan laaa,' followed by a heart emoji and trophy emoji. A product of the Manchester City academy, Frimpong moved to Celtic in 2019, where he quickly became a fan favourite and won a domestic treble in his first season. He joined Leverkusen in January 2021 and has since developed into one of Europe's most dynamic right-sided defenders. A key attribute is his pace. He clocked 36.34kph this season, ranking him as the seventh-quickest player in the Bundesliga. Frimpong has earned 12 senior caps for the Netherlands. He was part of the Dutch side which reached the semi-finals of the Euros, even assuming a more attacking role due to the competition at right-back with Denzel Dumfries and Lutsharel Geertruida. Liverpool also remain keen on Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez and a centre-back after missing out on his club mate Dean Huijsen, who is joining Real Madrid for £50m. Kerkez could cost in the region of £45m and his arrival will provoke questions about the futures of Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas. Meanwhile, the Reds appear to be closing in on Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz. He will command an enormous transfer fee even if Liverpool manage to haggle it down from the £126m that Leverkusen want. Wirtz, 22, known as 'Flo' to his friends, won the Bundesliga player of the season last year for his starring role in Bayer Leverkusen's against-the-odds title triumph and unbeaten domestic campaign. With 34 goals and 35 assists across the last two seasons, he is somebody who can make a sharp difference at the business end of the pitch. Meanwhile, Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) and Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) have all been linked as No 9s.
The National
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Liverpool 2024/25 season review and player ratings: Salah and Gravenberch 9, Alexander-Arnold 8
Season synopsis Premier League final position: First Uefa Champions League: Last 16 FA Cup: Fourth round League Cup: Final, beaten 1-0 by Newcastle United Of all the outcomes predicted for the first year of Arne Slot's reign at Anfield, winning the Premier League was well down the list. Succeeding Jurgen Klopp was viewed as challenge enough and, allowing for the transition, a top-four finish was deemed eminently acceptable. Fast forward to the end of April and Liverpool had the Premier League title wrapped up with four games to go after a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham. The foundations of Slot's quiet Anfield revolution has been grounded in intelligence, humility and devotion to a clarity of purpose. Mohamed Salah's sublime form went some way, too. Liverpool were the model of consistency under the level-headed Slot. They barely missed a beat in losing just one league game, at home to Nottingham Forest, before April with their early season parsimonious defence marshalled by a back-to-his best Virgil van Dijk. Others made more than noteworthy contributions, and the reinvention of Ryan Gravenberch may prove to be Slot's lasting legacy. The awful scenes that marred Liverpool's title celebrations, when a driver rammed his car into a packed crowd, injuring 27, will hopefully not take too much gloss of what was an excellent season. Best performance of the season Arsenal 2 Liverpool 2: Liverpool were well into their stride by the time they travelled to North London in late October, but Arsenal had designs of their own on the Premier League title. The Gunners twice led through Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino but equalisers from Van Dijk and then Salah ensured a valuable point and preserved a vital lead at the summit. It was the type of gritty result upon which titles are won. Worst performance of the season Newcastle 2 Liverpool 1: Slot hardly put a foot wrong in his debut season in England, but his decision to persist with zonal marking in March's League Cup final was painful to watch. Alexis Mac Allister – all 1.76 metres of him – was given the unenviable task of man-marking Dan Burn, Newcastle's giant 2.01m-tall centre-back, at set pieces and, to put it bluntly, just didn't measure up. Time and again Newcastle targeted their giant captain. Time and again Burn won the aerial duels uncontested. The only surprise was that it took until the 45th minute for Burn to score. Thriller of the season Tottenham 3 Liverpool 6: Liverpool handed out a merciless thrashing to Tottenham Hotspur in front of their own fans in late December. Liverpool had already had several opportunities before Luis Diaz headed in after 23 minutes, Mac Allister doubling their lead with another header 13 minutes later. James Maddison gave Spurs hope of an unlikely comeback when he curled home before half time, but that was snuffed out in first-half stoppage time when Salah set up Dominik Szoboszlai for a simple finish. Salah drew level with Billy Liddell's record of 228 Liverpool goals when he extended Liverpool's advantage from close range after 54 minutes, then went into fourth place in the club's all-time list of scorers on his own when Szoboszlai repaid the first-half compliment to play the Egyptian in for his second. Dejan Kulusevski scored for the fifth successive game with 18 minutes left, while another from Dominic Solanke threatened to give the scoreline an unrealistic appearance until Diaz swooped for his second and Liverpool's sixth. Player of the season Mohamed Salah: For a significant chunk of 2024/25, Salah was quite simply the best player on the planet. His numbers are always worth highlighting: 29 Premier League goals, 18 assists (34 and 23 in 52 appearances across competitions). It wasn't that Salah was imperial; he was unplayable. Few left-backs will have had a good night's sleep before or after facing the Egyptian, and if he doesn't go on to win the Ballon d'Or this year, then he never will. No doubt there was some gamesmanship on his part during protracted contract negotiations, but Liverpool blinked first and Salah got what he wanted. After this season, it's hard to argue against it. Goal of the season You can take your pick from a plethora of Salah strikes, with the Egyptian's trademark cut in from the right and curl into the top corner with his left a feature throughout the campaign. But for sheer brute force and strength of will, it has to be Mac Allister's long-range strike in a losing effort to Fulham. The Argentine picked up the ball 10 yards inside Fulham's half, held off one challenge before unleashing an unstoppable drive that sailed straight into the top corner. Ratings All marks out of 10. Manager Arne Slot – 9.5 An incredible first season ended with a Premier League title, securing Salah's future, and ensuring Klopp's name is consigned to the Anfield annals of history. Goalkeepers Alisson Becker – 8 Hailed as the best goalkeeper in the world by his manager. Liverpool's last line of defence is Mr Reliable, although the Brazilian missed several games through injury. Caoimhin Kelleher – 8 Is there a better back-up goalkeeper in England? The Irishman would walk into most teams, but appears content to bide his time behind Alisson. Defenders Joe Gomez – 6 Some assured displays before injury curtailed his season. Virgil van Dijk – 9 The most dominant defender in the division. The Dutchman was back to his bulldozing best and was rewarded with a new two-year contract. Ibrahima Konate – 7.5 There are few better than Van Dijk to do your apprenticeship under. The Frenchman is physically imposing but lacks his partner's ability to read the game. Still young and will improve. Jarell Quansah – 5 Was brought off at half time in Slot's first game of the season at Ipswich which seemed to knock his confidence. Failed to convince when called upon. Andy Robertson – 7 Some fans believe the Scotland international is past his best. While he may not be the marauder of old, Robertson exemplifies the controlled intensity that was a feature of Slot's Liverpool this term. Kostas Tsimikas – 6 Another season in which he was forced to play understudy to Robertson at left-back. The Greek was steady if unspectacular. Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8 Signed off his career at Liverpool with a second Premier League title. It's easy to forget just how good he was in the early part of the season. His passing range is nonpareil and the jeers from the Anfield faithful over his impending departure smacked of bitterness at losing such an incredible player. Conor Bradley – 7.5 A different player to Alexander-Arnold but adds more defensive stability at right-back and doesn't lack for adventure on forays forward. Midfielders Wataru Endo – 7 The most used substitute in the squad but usually only introduced to wind down the clock. The Japanese has one of the highest pass completion rates per minutes in the Premier League. Underrated. Dominik Szoboszlai – 8 Six league goals doesn't really tell the story of the Hungarian's contribution to the Reds' title-winning campaign. Instrumental to Liverpool's attacking play and his versatility is a real asset. Alexis Mac Allister – 8.5 Save for a horror show in the League Cup final, the Argentina international established himself as the team's midfield metronome. Curtis Jones – 7 His best season since breaking into the first team. The England international still hasn't nailed down a regular position but shone when asked to play in a No 10 role. Harvey Elliott – 6 Working his way back from injury but never more than a back-up player. Did score in the draw against PSG in the Uefa Champions League last-16 first leg. Ryan Gravenberch – 9 The most improved player in the Premier League by some distance. Underused by Klopp, the Dutchman became the lynchpin of Slot's team. A superb athlete who has made the holding position his own. Forwards Luis Diaz – 7 Offers attacking impetus down Liverpool's left channel. The Colombian had his best goal return (17 across competitions) since joining from Porto in 2022. Mohamed Salah – 9 Where do you start? Ended the season as the league's top scorer, assist maker and best player. And all against the backdrop of his contract saga. Tailed off by season's end, but the Egyptian's form up till April was simply sensational. Darwin Nunez – 6 Loved and appreciated for his tireless work ethic but the brutal fact remains that the Uruguayan is not the elite centre-forward the club covets. Federico Chiesa – 5 Signed from Juventus last summer, the Italian's adjustment to life on Merseyside has been hampered by injuries and the blistering form of Salah and Diaz. Cody Gakpo – 8 Found his feet playing under Slot. Has a more settled position at the tip of Liverpool's attack and repaid that faith with 18 goals across competitions. Diogo Jota – 7 Found it hard to dislodge Gakpo after returning from injury midway through the season. Still has plenty to offer. The National's Premier League team of the season
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ryan Gravenberch ban truth as Community Shield theory debunked after Liverpool red card
Ryan Gravenberch will not miss the Community Shield due to the red card he received on the final day of the Premier League season. Instead, the midfielder's suspension will carry over to the start of the new league campaign in August. It means Gravenberch, who played 49 games this term, will be eligible for the annual curtain raiser when Liverpool takes on Crystal Palace in the Community Shield. The date for that match has not been set but it will be played at Wembley on the weekend of August 9-10. The new Premier League season will start the following week, with the initial fixture list to be released on June 18. READ MORE: Danny Murphy makes bold Liverpool prediction if Florian Wirtz transfer is completed READ MORE: Arne Slot has already given verdict on John Heitinga leaving Liverpool to take Ajax job Gravenberch, therefore, won't be involved when Liverpool begins the defense of its title. The midfielder was shown a straight red card in the 68th minute of the Reds' final match of the season, also against Palace. Having miscontrolled the ball as Liverpool's last man back, Gravenberch lunged to regain possession but instead felled Daichi Kamada with the Palace man set to have a clear run at goal. Referee Darren England had little choice but to administer a straight red card despite teammate Virgil van Dijk's remonstrations. It meant a disappointing end to what was a fantastic season for Gravenberch, who won the Premier League Young Player of the Year Award. The 23-year-old started 37 of the 38 league games, the exception being the trip to Chelsea immediately after Liverpool was crowned champion. He is also likely to be selected in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season. Gravenberch's transformation into a holding midfielder proved to be integral to Liverpool's successful campaign, especially after missing out on Martin Zubimendi the previous summer. The Dutchman's impressive displays, flanked alongside Alexis Mac Allister were instrumental in Liverpool amassing such a huge lead at the top of the table heading into the spring months. 'During a phone call in the first conversation I had with Arne, he said to me: 'I see you as a No.8 but I want to try you as a No.6'," Gravenberch told The Athletic in a recent interview. "I played there against Manchester United in pre-season and after that game, he just put me there. I was like: 'OK, let's do it'. From that moment, I only played as a No.6. "I didn't play a lot in that position before but this season, that position has made me who I am now. I am not naturally a defensive midfielder. I also like to drive forward with the ball. It's been good so far."
