John Heitinga leaves Liverpool’s coaching staff to join Ajax as head coach

Liverpool have confirmed that assistant manager John Heitinga is leaving the club to take over as Ajax’s head coach.

The 41-year-old previously served as Ajax’s interim head coach for the latter half of the 2022/23 season, following the dismissal of Alfred Schreuder.

During his 22 matches in charge, Heitinga oversaw 14 victories.

The Premier League champions have yet to announce a replacement for Heitinga, but the search for a new addition to Arne Slot’s backroom staff is already underway.

Interview with Head Coach Heitinga. pic.twitter.com/qpqEB2utr8
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 31, 2025

Heitinga joined Slot’s team at Anfield last summer after holding a similar assistant role at West Ham United under David Moyes the previous season. He played a part in guiding Liverpool to the Premier League title.

The former centre-back also stepped in as caretaker manager during Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in February, while Slot and assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff were serving suspensions.

At Ajax, Heitinga will be replacing Francesco Farioli, who narrowly missed out on this season’s Eredivisie title to PSV Eindhoven after blowing a nine-point lead with six games remaining.

Heitinga said. “I am incredibly excited to start. 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.”

Heitinga made 218 first-team appearances over two spells at Ajax.

Technical Director Alex Kroes added: “John is a good coach with enormous drive.

“He is ambitious and has further developed himself over the past few years in the Premier League and the Champions League. Marijn and I spoke to him last year and have stayed in contact since.

“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 in terms of, for example, elite sporting culture and discipline.

“It’s good that it’s decided early on in the summer break that they will be in charge from the end of June.

“Marijn and I can now continue working with John and the other parties involved on the squad composition for the coming season.”