Liverpool set to lose Arne Slot assistant amid talks to return to former club

Arne Slot (left) and John Heitinga (centre) look set to part ways (Picture: Getty Images)

Liverpool assistant John Heitinga is in advanced talks with Ajax and is likely to take over as their new manager this summer, according to reports.

The Dutchman has been at Anfield since July last year, joining the club for Arne Slot’s first season in charge and finishing it by lifting the Premier League title.

He previously worked with David Moyes as a coach at West Ham, while his only experience in the top job came in a spell as interim manager at Ajax in 2023.

Heitinga has a long history with the Amsterdam giants, coming through their youth system and playing in the first team from 2001-08, before returning at the climax of his career for a second spell in 2015-16.

He began his coaching career in the youth set-up with the club the following year and took charge of Jong Ajax in 2021.

In January 2023 Heitinga stepped up to become interim boss of the senior side after Alfred Schreuder was sacked, but was not appointed permanently in the summer of that year, despite winning 14 of his 22 games in charge.

Fabrizio Romano reports that talks are now advanced for Heitinga to return to Ajax as manager, after Liverpool gave permission for negotiations to be held.

Heitinga will leave Liverpool as a Premier League winner (Picture: Getty Images)

The Premier League champions expect an agreement to be reached and are considering replacements to work under Slot next season.

Slot was asked about a link between Heitinga and Ajax last week, admitting that he would be a good fit for the role but suggesting that his compatriot should stay put for another year.

‘If Ajax would be smart they would consider him,’ said Slot. ‘He is ready to take on a job like that. If John is smart, he would stay here one more season.’

Heitinga played in the Premier League for Everton and Fulham (Picture: Getty Images)

Ajax are looking for a new manager after Francesco Farioli resigned from the role following a disastrous end to the season which saw the club narrowly miss out on the Eredivisie title.

Having put themselves in a brilliant position to win the league, Ajax won just one of their last five games, while PSV won seven on the spin at the end of the campaign to pinch the title by one point.

Surrendering a nine-point lead with just five games to play represented a record collapse in the division.

Farioli said of his decision to leave the club: ‘My journey at Ajax started almost one year ago, at De Toekomst, with the aim of bringing Ajax back to where it belongs. And it ended at the Johan Cruyff Arena, finally bringing back Ajax to Champions League, the biggest stage of European football.

It was an emotional end for 36-year-old Francesco Farioli at Ajax (Picture: Getty Images)

‘We wanted to bring new energy to the whole Ajax community, sharing a positive way of working and thinking with the club at all levels.

‘Being Ajax’s first non-Dutch coach since 1998 and the club’s first-ever Italian one have been an absolute privilege: together with my staff we embraced this huge challenge with respect, responsibility, passion and determination to succeed. Earning the respect and support from Ajax fans we felt throughout the whole season meant a lot for myself and my staff.

‘We lived unbelievable and unforgettable moments all together: a unique, intense, emotional season in which we shared belief, fighting spirit and pride, finally achieving our goal, accomplishing our mission.

‘The management and I have the same goals for the future of Ajax, but we have different visions and timeframes about the way we should work and operate to achieve those goals.

‘Given these differences in the principles and foundations of the project, I feel deep in my heart that this is the best moment to part ways.’