Liverpool announce signing of ex-Everton star with Arne Slot plans now taking shape

Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of John Heitinga as assistant coach, becoming the latest addition to Arne Slot’s new-look backroom team. 

Slot, 45, brought Sipke Hulshoff and Ruben Peeters with him from Feyenoord with new goalkeeping coach Fabian Otte arriving from the United States men’s national team after their exit from the Copa America. 

The Dutchman had also been hoping to bring in the Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Marino Pusic - who worked with him in Rotterdam - but he opted to stay put with the Ukrainian champions. 

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Nonetheless, former Dutch international Heitinga has now come on board having established himself as a highly-regarded coach since hanging up his boots in 2016. 

Heitinga, 40, is a former Ajax coach who spent time with the club’s academy before moving into an interim head coach position for the Dutch giants between January and June 2023. 

He then moved to West Ham United in order to hook up with his ex-manager David Moyes but left at the end of the 2023-24 season following Moyes’ exit from the London Stadium. 

Heitinga's stellar playing career

He confirmed negotiations to Dutch media last week and now official confirmation of his appointment has been provided by the club. 

Previously Heitinga worked at Ajax alongside coaching mentor Marcel Keizer, who is well known to Slot and Hulshoff following their time together at Cambuur. 

As a player Heitinga came through Ajax’s fabled academy before moving to Atletico Madrid. He joined Everton in 2009, spending five seasons at Goodison Park, before further spells at Fulham and Hertha Berlin. 

He won 87 caps for the Netherlands, featuring in the World Cup final in 2010 and being sent off in extra time of that showpiece event. 

Heitinga was Everton’s player of the year in 2011-12, becoming a favourite of Moyes dueing his playing days as a centre back. 

Liverpool required a full refit of their backroom team following the exit of Jurgen Klopp with many key figures departing alongside the German including Pep Lijnders, Vitor Matos and Peter Krawietz. 

The Reds got back to pre-season training last week with Slot and his staff putting the first-team squad through their paces ahead of the United States tour which commences on July 26. 

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