Former Dutch defender John Heitinga has been appointed as the new coach at Ajax, the Dutch club announced on Saturday.
The 41-year-old Heitinga returns to the club where he started his career as a player, to replace Francesco Farioli who resigned last week after Ajax's spectacular title collapsed.
He has signed a two -year contract and will be assisted by Marcel Kaizer, who in 2017 had a short spell that was in charge of Ajax.
Heitinga worked under Arne Slot last season at Premier League champions Liverpool. He also had a period of the coaching staff of David Moyes at West Ham.
“I am incredibly excited to start. In recent years in England have done a lot of good,” Heitinga said in a club statement.
“I was able to develop further alongside David Moyes and Arne Slot, while I also got a look behind the scenes to two large clubs.
“I am ready to continue as a head coach and I am honored to get that chance at Ajax.”
Ajax suffered a painful end of the season after blowing a nine -point lead with five games to play, allowing PSV Eindhoven to take the league title on the last day.
FAROLI New life in the fortune of a team that finished from a gloomy fifth place in the 2023-24 campaign, but he decided to leave for “different visions” with the clubboard.
Former Atletico Madrid, Everton and Fulham Center-Back Heitinga retired in 2016 after a short second spell with Boyhood Club Ajax.
He played 87 times for the Netherlands, but was sent to Spain to Spain in the 1-0 loss to Spain to Spain.