Former Liverpool Assistant Coach Appointed as Ajax Manager
Dutch football giants Ajax have appointed John Heitinga as their new manager, replacing Francesco Farioli. Heitinga, who was an assistant coach at Liverpool, returns to the club where he played 154 league games and had a brief stint as interim manager in 2023.
Heitinga’s appointment comes after Ajax’s disappointing finish to the Erection of the Eredivisie title last season, where they squandered a nine-point lead over PSV. As interim manager in 2023, Heitinga helped Ajax secure a third-place finish in the league.
Heitinga’s experience working alongside top coaches like David Moyes and Arne Slot at West Ham and Liverpool will undoubtedly benefit Ajax. “I’m incredibly excited to start,” Heitinga said. “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.”
Ajax technical director Alex Kroes praised Heitinga, saying, “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.”
Heitinga’s challenge at Ajax will be to bring success back to the club, which hasn’t won the Eredivisie title since 2022. With his experience and drive, Ajax fans will be hopeful for a strong season under his leadership
