Heitinga leaves Liverpool to become Ajax head coach

John Heitinga has near his domiciled arsenic Liverpool's adjunct leader to return to Dutch nine Ajax arsenic their caput coach.

The erstwhile Netherlands defender made much than 200 appearances for Ajax earlier having spells arsenic their reserve squad leader and interim caput coach.

The 41-year-old has rejoined nan nine connected a two-year statement and will beryllium assisted by different Ajax academy product, Marcel Keizer.

Heitinga succeeds Francesco Farioli, who left Ajax past week aft his sole twelvemonth successful complaint ended pinch an end-of-season collapse.

With 7 games near Farioli's squad were 9 points clear astatine nan apical of nan Eredivisie, but ended up finishing a constituent down champions PSV Eindhoven.

That meant a 3rd consecutive play without a trophy for Ajax, who person won nan Dutch title a grounds 36 times.

"John is simply a bully coach pinch tremendous drive," said their method head Alex Kroes.

"He is eager and has further developed himself complete nan past fewer years successful nan Premier League and Champions League.

"John knows nan nine good and we are convinced that he, together pinch Marcel, will thief amended our players and build connected nan advancement made since past summer."

Ajax won 14 of Heitinga's 22 games successful complaint astatine nan extremity of nan 2022-23 play to decorativeness 3rd successful nan Eredivisie.

Heitinga past spent 2023-24 arsenic West Ham's first-team coach nether David Moyes earlier joining Arne Slot astatine Liverpool past summer, and they helped nan Reds triumph their 2nd Premier League title successful Slot's first play successful charge.

"I americium incredibly excited to start," said Heitinga, who besides played for Atletico Madrid, Everton, Fulham and Hertha Berlin.

"The past years successful England person done maine a batch of good. I'm fresh to proceed arsenic a caput coach and I'm honoured to beryllium fixed that opportunity astatine Ajax."