John Heitinga leaves Liverpool and is appointed as Ajax’s new head coach, leaving his role as assistant manager at Liverpool after one season.
The 41-year-old former Ajax centre-back, who made over 200 appearances for the club as a player, signed a contract until June 30, 2027. He replaces Francesco Farioli, who resigned after Ajax squandered a nine-point lead in the Eredivisie, finishing second to PSV Eindhoven. Heitinga, joined by assistant Marcel Keizer, previously served as Ajax’s interim coach in 2023, winning 14 of 22 games.
His experience at Liverpool, contributing to their 2024-25 Premier League title, has bolstered his coaching credentials. Ajax’s technical director, Alex Kroes, praised Heitinga’s drive and coaching ability.
Heitinga served as assistant manager at Liverpool for the 2024-25 season under head coach Arne Slot. Joining in the summer of 2024, he was part of the coaching staff that led Liverpool to the Premier League title, finishing with 92 points, eight ahead of rivals.
Heitinga’s role focused on tactical support and player development, leveraging his experience as a former Premier League defender. His contributions were praised for aiding Liverpool’s dominance, with the team conceding just 26 goals, the second-best defensive record in the league. He left Liverpool after one season to take the head coach position at Ajax, announced on June 2, 2025.
John Heitinga’s tactical approach, shaped by his playing career and coaching stints, emphasizes high-pressing, possession-based football with defensive solidity. While specific details of his strategies at Ajax in 2025 are still emerging, insights from his time as a coach, including his interim spell at Ajax in 2023 and assistant role at Liverpool in 2024-25, provide a clear picture.
- High Press and Intensity:
- Heitinga’s teams employ an aggressive pressing game to win the ball high up the pitch, inspired by modern Dutch and Jürgen Klopp-influenced systems. At Liverpool, he contributed to a pressing structure that led to 28% of turnovers occurring in the opponent’s half during the 2024-25 Premier League season.
- During his 2023 Ajax interim stint, his side averaged a PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) of 9.2, indicating a proactive, high-pressing approach.
- Possession with Purpose:
- Rooted in Ajax’s Total Football philosophy, Heitinga favors controlled possession but prioritizes quick, vertical transitions. His 2023 Ajax team averaged 62% possession, with a focus on breaking lines through central midfielders or wingers cutting inside.
- At Liverpool, he supported Slot’s system, which saw the team rank second in the Premier League for passes into the final third (1,892 passes), blending patient build-up with rapid attacks.
- Defensive Organization:
- As a former centre-back, Heitinga emphasizes compact defensive structures. His Ajax side in 2023 used a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, maintaining a high defensive line but with disciplined midfield cover to limit counter-attacks.
- Liverpool’s 2024-25 campaign, where Heitinga played a coaching role, saw the team concede only 26 goals (second-best in the league), with a focus on zonal marking and quick recovery to block central spaces.
- Flexibility and Adaptability:
- Heitinga adjusts formations based on opponents. At Ajax in 2023, he alternated between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 to counter low-block teams, often deploying a double pivot to free up attacking midfielders.
- His Liverpool experience under Slot honed his ability to tweak in-game tactics, such as shifting to a 4-4-2 press against possession-heavy teams like Manchester City.
- Youth Integration:
- Aligned with Ajax’s tradition, Heitinga integrates academy talents into the first team. In 2023, he gave debuts to players like 18-year-old Jorrel Hato, using their versatility to maintain tactical fluidity.
- His coaching at Liverpool included mentoring young defenders, ensuring they adapted to high-intensity systems.
As Ajax’s new head coach, Heitinga is expected to blend his Liverpool-honed pressing game with Ajax’s possession roots. Early reports suggest he’s implementing a 4-3-3 with a single pivot, allowing creative freedom for players like Kenneth Taylor while maintaining defensive stability through a high line and aggressive midfield pressing. His assistant, Marcel Keizer, brings additional tactical insight from a similar Ajax-centric philosophy.
Challenges and Context:
- Heitinga inherits an Ajax squad that faltered under Farioli, losing the Eredivisie title despite a strong start. His challenge is to restore consistency, particularly in big matches, where his 2023 interim side struggled (e.g., a 3-2 loss to PSV).
- His Liverpool stint exposed him to elite-level game management, which he’ll likely apply to improve Ajax’s record in tight contests.