Fakayejo Paul
Ajax have officially confirmed the return of club legend John Heitinga as their new head coach.
The exclusive story has been verified, with the former Dutch international signing a contract that will keep him at the helm of the Amsterdam giants until June 2027.
Heitinga’s appointment marks a significant moment for Ajax, bringing back a familiar face who rose through their famed youth ranks and represented the club as a player for seven and a half seasons.
He also had a brief stint as interim coach during the 2022-2023 season, where he guided the team to a third-place finish in the Eredivisie.
His return comes after a period spent honing his coaching craft in England, most recently as part of Arne Slot’s coaching staff at Liverpool, where he contributed to their Premier League title win in the 2024-25 season.
Prior to that, he served as an assistant under David Moyes at West Ham United.
Ajax Technical Director Alex Kroes expressed confidence in Heitinga, stating, “John is a good coach with enormous drive. He is ambitious and has further developed himself over the past few years in the Premier League and Champions League. John knows the club well, and we are convinced that he, together with [assistant coach] Marcel Keizer, will help improve our players and build on the progress made since last summer.”
Heitinga himself conveyed his excitement, stating, “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.”
Heitinga replaces Francesco Farioli, who resigned earlier this month after a year in charge, following Ajax’s late-season title collapse.
His return signals a fresh start for Ajax as they look to reclaim their dominance in the Eredivisie and compete strongly in Europe.