Ex-Liverpool coach lasts just 33 days after 'leaving role' with team in relegation battle

John Heitinga has left Tottenham just a month after his appointment as first-team coach, with the Dutchman set to part ways following Thomas Frank's dismissal last week

Arne Slot's former assistant John Heitinga has left Tottenham after 32 days(Image: Getty Images)

John Heitinga has left his position as Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach just 33 days after being appointed.

The Dutchman, who was part of Arne Slot ’s backroom staff at Liverpool last season, only joined Spurs on January 15, but has exited following the departure of Thomas Frank and subsequent appointment of Igor Tudor until the end of the season.

As per The Athletic, Tudor has appointed his own coaching staff at Tottenham, with Ivan Javorcic, Riccardo Ragnacci and Tomislav Rogic joining the club. That has resulted in Heitinga departing, along with Frank’s fellow coaches Justin Cochrane and Chris Haslam.

However, the report adds Andreas Georgson, Cameron Campbell and Fabian Otte will remain at Spurs. Like Heitinga, Otte also left Liverpool last summer.

Heitinga joined Spurs following his brief stint in charge of Ajax. The former Everton defender, who was well respected at Anfield during his solitary season at Liverpool, took up the reins at the Johan Cruyff Arena last summer, but was dismissed in November after just 15 games in charge.

He left the club eight points off the Eredivisie summit, and won just five of his 11 league matches in charge.

Heitinga has left Tottenham after a little over a month at Tottenham(Image: 2026 Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA)

Heitinga’s next move lasted even longer, with the ex-defender now on the lookout for another coaching opportunity.

Speaking after his client joined Spurs, Heitinga’s agent, Rob Jensen, told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf : “In England, John is highly regarded, has a fantastic reputation, and is seen as one of the most talented managers of the moment.

“This new job seems to be coming quickly, but it could have happened much sooner.

“Just like after the first time he was sent away from Ajax, there was enormous interest in John. This time, too, there was almost immediate concrete interest. And one of the options was Tottenham Hotspur. So, for me, this move is not unexpected at all.”

Frank was sacked by Tottenham last week(Image: Getty)

That ended abruptly after Frank was sacked last week following the Premier League defeat against Newcastle United. That result left Tottenham just five points above the relegation zone.

Tudor, who started his new role on Monday, will begin his Tottenham career with a home match against Arsenal this weekend. Tudor and his new-look coaching set-up will face Liverpool next month.

During his playing days, Heitinga made more than 400 club appearances for Ajax, Atletico Madrid, Everton, Fulham and Hertha Berlin.

He also earned 87 caps for the Netherlands and was famously sent off in the 2010 World Cup final.