John Heitinga has left Arne Slot's Liverpool coaching staff to become the new manager of Dutch giants Ajax.

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Ajax confirm Heitinga appointmentWas previously interim bossLeaves Arne Slot's Liverpool staffFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Heitinga replaces Francesco Farioli at the Eredivisie club after they capitulated at the end of the 2024-25 season to lose out on the title to PSV. The Dutchman leaves a vacancy at Anfield, where he had worked underneath Slot this term, while he had previously spent time at West Ham with David Moyes.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT HEITINGA SAID

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."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Heitinga was previously interim head coach at Ajax, leading them to third place in the league in the 2022-23 season before the club chose to appoint Maurice Steijn. He now takes the job on a full-time basis.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR AJAX?

Heitinga's first job is to restore Ajax to their previous heights, the club having gone three seasons without an Eredivisie title. By finishing second in 2024-25, they did secure qualification for the Champions League – but the new boss may have to take on that challenge without club captain Jordan Henderson, who has been linked with a return to Sunderland.