Former Liverpool coach and Arne Slot's right-hand man joins Tottenham's backroom team after being sacked from first managerial job

Johnny Heitinga has joined Thomas Frank 's backroom team at Tottenham to become the club's first team assistant coach.

The 42-year-old 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.

Heitinga, who played for Everton for five years in a stellar playing career, was seen as 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.

And he has wasted no time in returning to English football, this time swapping Merseyside for North London to take charge of Spurs's defensive duties.

'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.

Johnny Heitinga has joined Tottenham to work as Thomas Frank's assistant first-team coach

Heitinga was a key part in Arne Slot's Premier League winning machine at Liverpool last season

'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 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.

Moyes spoke very highly of Heitinga's coaching ability and he was headhunted by Slot in the summer of 2024. At Liverpool he often led training sessions, helped with analysis, and took on a mentorship role to several players including Ryan Gravenberch.

'I talked a lot about my game this season with John Heitinga, watched a lot of footage as well,' Gravenberch said last June.

'I personally think it's a shame that he's going to Ajax, but I think they have a good coach in him.'