Africa-Press – Eritrea. John Heitinga has been appointed as the next coach of Ajax Amsterdam.
The Eredivisie team announced on Saturday that the former Netherlands defender has agreed to a two-year contract.
Heitinga was one of Arne Slot’s assistants at Liverpool during their Premier League-winning season.
Heitinga was a member of Ajax’s senior squad for seven and a half seasons after growing up in the club’s youth ranks.
Heitinga’s assistant, Marcel Keizer, a former club manager, has agreed to a deal with Ajax for the same amount of time.
“John knows the club well,” Technical Director Alex Kroes told the club website.
“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.”
After a year in charge, Italian Francesco Farioli departed earlier this month, and Heitinga takes over.
Ajax, who have won the league 36 times, concluded the season in second place after blowing a nine-point advantage and losing to PSV Eindhoven on the last day.
The league title was last won by Ajax in 2021–2022.
“It’s good that it’s decided early on in the summer break that they will be in charge from the end of June.
(We) can now continue working with John and the other parties involved on the squad composition for the coming season,” Kroes added.
Former Atletico Madrid and Everton defender Heitinga coached youth and reserve teams at Ajax after he retired from playing, following his return to Ajax, in 2016.
He was also briefly appointed as acting coach of Ajax in 2023 after the firing of Alfred Schreuder.
Heitinga, who won 87 caps for the Netherlands, was then David Moyes’s assistant at West Ham United before taking on the same role at Liverpool.
“I am incredibly excited to start,” Heitinga said.
“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.
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