Not Klopp!! Former Liverpool Coach Joins Tottenham’s Backroom Staff

Former Arne Slot right-hand man Johnny Heitinga has joined Thomas Frank’s backroom team at Tottenham to become the club’s first team assistant coach.

Heitinga has been out of work since being sacked last November from his first permanent managerial job at Ajax, where he left the club fourth in the Eredivisie and bottom of the Champions League’s league phase.

The 42-year-old is now set to begin a new adventure at Tottenham despite being a key cog in Arne Slot’s Premier League winning machine at Liverpool and was well-liked by many of the Reds squad before departing Anfield last summer.

John is a great addition to our coaching staff,’ said Frank. ‘His ability, personality and character will add huge value both on and off the pitch.

‘He had an impressive playing career across Europe – including five years in the Premier League – and with the Dutch national team.

‘As a former defender, that will be one of his main responsibilities on the training pitch, and he brings great coaching and management experiences from all levels of the game, which will really help us moving forward.’

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and assistant coach John Heitinga looks on aUEFA Champions League match. (Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)

Heitinga began coaching as soon as he hung up his boots in 2016 and landed the manager’s job at Jong Ajax – the club’s reserve team – in 2021.

He first took charge of the Amsterdam giants’ first-team in January 2023, seeing out the remainder of the season and winning 14 from 22 games.

However, he was not installed as the permanent boss and joined West Ham to work as David Moyes’s assistant from July in September 2023 until the Scot left the club the following summer.

At Liverpool he often led training sessions, helped with analysis, and took on a mentorship role to several players including Ryan Gravenberch.