John Heitinga leaves Liverpool to take up head coach role with Ajax

After one year as an assistant coach to Arne Slot, John Heitinga has left Liverpool to become head coach of Dutch side Ajax.

Heitinga has taken over from Francesco Farioli, who departed the Johan Cruyff Arena after failing to win the Eredivisie, despite being nine points clear at the top of the league with five games remaining.

John Heitinga looks on from the sidelines. Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty images 

The 41-year-old former Everton defender has signed a deal running until 2027 to rejoin his former club, where he served as caretaker manager during the second half of the 2022/23 season.

Liverpool confirmed the news on Saturday, saying in a statement: "John leaves with our gratitude and appreciation for his role in our 2024–25 Premier League title win."

Earlier in the season, Heitinga had been linked with a managerial move to Championship side West Brom, before his agent shut down the rumours.

Heitinga and Slot on the touchline together. Photo by Rene Nijhuis/Getty images

Liverpool are now searching for a new assistant to Slot and Marino Pušić, who previously served as  Slot's assistant at both AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, is now available after stepping down as manager of Shakhtar Donetsk.

Meanwhile, Etienne Reijnen, who is currently an assistant coach at Feyenoord, was originally set to join Slot at Liverpool last year, but the move was halted due to work permit complications.