John Heitinga makes sensational return as former Liverpool coach lands new job

John Heitinga was part of Arne Slot's backroom staff during Liverpool's most recent Premier League title-winning campaign and is returning to work in the United Kingdom

John Heitinga is now working for Tottenham(Image: Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Ex-Liverpool coach John Heitinga has completed his return to English soccer by joining Thomas Frank's backroom staff at Tottenham.

Heitinga played a key role in Liverpool's Premier League title triumph last season as one of Arne Slot's assistant coaches. Yet Slot was forced to say goodbye to the former Everton defender when he was appointed as Ajax's new manager last May.

Heitinga lasted fewer than six months in charge of the Dutch team after winning just five games. The 42-year-old has now been handed a route back into English soccer by joining Tottenham on Thursday, with Frank expressing his delight at the appointment.

"John is a great addition to our coaching staff," said Frank in a press release on Thursday. "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."

Heitinga is joining Tottenham at a difficult time. The London club is enduring a disappointing season under Frank, having picked up just 27 points from 21 Premier League games this season.

Spurs find themselves 14th in the Premier League table, six points behind Frank's former team, Brentford, in fifth. They are out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, but they still have a chance of winning the Champions League, sitting 11th in the standings.

Heitinga, who graduated from Ajax's academy, became a household name in English soccer after joining Everton from Atletico Madrid in 2009. He played 140 games for the Merseyside club before spells with Fulham, Hertha Berlin, and Ajax again.

Heitinga also played frequently for the Netherlands, earning 87 senior caps. He was part of the team that reached the 2010 World Cup final, losing to Spain.

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