The names of the two have been sang around for days. Heitinga was head coach at Ajax for four months in 2023 after the departure of Alfred Schreuder. After that season, the club chose another coach. The then technical director Sven failed called ‘the entire trip with Heitinga insufficient’ because he had not won the big competitions.
Experience in England
Then Heitinga became assistant trainer in England. First at West Ham United next to the experienced manager David Moyes; Last season he experienced the Liverpool national championship as an assistant to Arne Slot.
“In recent years in England have done me well,” said Heitinga. “In addition to Moyes and Slot, I was able to develop further and at the same time watching in the kitchen of two big clubs. I was able to do international experiences on it, be able to take a look at the biggest competition in the world. I am ready to continue as a head coach and I think it is honorable that I get that chance at Ajax.”
With that international experience, Heitinga says he has become a more complete trainer. “Every competition is a challenge in the English competition. You can see that in the analyzes that you make of every opponent. And also the Champions League, the intensity of the game and having to perform. But also: how do you build a team and how do you deal with that. That has been important in the past two seasons. “
About Faroli
Despite the successful season at Liverpool, Heitinga did not have to think long when the option to return was on the table. I started a conversation with Alex Kroes and Martijn Beuker and heard their ideas behind it. Now I really feel like starting.
Expected Is that Heitinga wants to play more attacking, more proactive football than his predecessor Francesco Farioli. Heitinga himself says that he mainly wants to build on the Italian’s work.
Heitinga lived only in England; His family stayed in Amsterdam all the time. “Then you have time left, so I saw a lot from Ajax last year. Ajax also developed further, Fharioli has put something down here. That is something we want to build on. A certain togetherness. You really see a team. That is something we stand for. ”
‘Always contacted’
Technical director Alex Kroes says he had already spoken to Heitinga last year. “After that we always kept in touch. John knows the club well and we are convinced that he will make our players better together with Marcel and will build on the progress that has been made since last summer, for example in the field of top sport culture and discipline.”