According to the Dutch media, Liverpool assistant John Heitinga and former coach Marcel Keizer are the new Prime candidates for the Ajax -Baan.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported the news on Wednesday. Ajax is said to keep their minds and eyes open to other candidates, but the board is “hopeful” about the arrival of Heitinga and Keizer.
Ajax's plan is to make Heitinga the 'figurehead' of the duo and Keizer the supporting factor. Ajax wants the couple to perform a 'Arne Slot Vision'. Heitinga and Keizer both worked with lock during their career – Heitinga in Liverpool and Keizer as a Slot's boss in Cambuur, where Slot was the assistant of Emperor and formed his vision.
The 41-year-old Heitinga is currently one of the assistants of Arne Slot at Premier League champions Liverpool, but the board reportedly gave him permission to negotiate with his former employers.
In his two periods in the club, Heitinga played 218 matches for Ajax before he started as a coach in the youth's youth. After the resignation of Alfred Schreuder in January 2023, Heitinga took over as the care manager and after winning his first seven league games that were in charge, the former defender led the club to third place, 13 points behind champions Feyenoord. After the arrival of Sven failed as technical director, the failed German director Heitinga quickly showed the door.
Emperor
Just like Heitinga, Marcel Keizer is a well -known name within Ajax. The 56-year-old managed Young Ajax during the successful 2016/17 season, in which the Young Reserves finished second in the Keuken Kampiesen Division, the second level of Dutch football. After the departure of Peter Bosz, Keizer became the successor of the current PSV manager, who made the Europa League final with Ajax in 2017.
Keizer lasted half a season with the Amsterdam side, but did not have it easy during those six months. The club was shocked by the collapse of Abdelhak Nouri during a pre-season match in Austria, and Ajax was not eligible for a European competition after being eliminated by OGC Nice and FK Rosenborg in the Champions League and Europa League.
After being eliminated in the KNVB Cup on penalties by FC Twente, Keizer was fired in December 2018 and replaced by Erik ten Hag.
Keizer then went twice in Abu Dhabi-Kant Al-Jazira and Portuguese champions with Portugal during the 2018/19 season. After he was fired by Saudi side Al-Shabab in September 2023, Keizer had no job.