John Heitinga sacked by Ajax, opens door for Liverpool return

It’s by no means simple watching one in all our personal wrestle elsewhere, and the information from Amsterdam will depart lots round Anfield feeling upset.

Ajax have confirmed that John Heitinga has been sacked with fast impact, ending a turbulent tenure for the previous Liverpool assistant.

The Dutch aspect launched a press release on their official web site on Thursday confirming the 41-year-old’s exit, with technical director Alex Kroes additionally providing to step apart within the wake of rising unrest.

Ajax sack John Heitinga after “too little progress”

Ajax’s assertion learn: “Ajax has suspended John Heitinga with fast impact. The pinnacle coach’s contract was attributable to run till June 30, 2027, however will now be terminated.

“The identical applies to assistant coach Marcel Keizer. Ajax is in search of a brand new head coach; within the meantime, Fred Grim will take over Heitinga’s duties.”

Kroes added: “It’s a painful choice. However wanting again on the previous few months, we should conclude that issues have turned out fairly otherwise from what we had envisioned.

“We’ve seen too little progress and have unnecessarily dropped factors.”

The membership’s technical director has since supplied to step down, although Ajax’s board have urged him to remain for continuity.

For us, the event comes simply weeks after Heitinga was underneath stress over James McConnell’s shock mortgage transfer to Ajax, with studies suggesting the choice divided the membership’s hierarchy.

Might Heitinga return to Liverpool in future?

Heitinga’s Anfield hyperlink has by no means been forgotten. He spent final season working underneath Arne Slot throughout our title-winning marketing campaign, earlier than taking the Ajax job final summer season.

When he landed that function, he spoke warmly concerning the time he spent alongside our head coach and the teachings discovered from English soccer.

It’s not not possible to think about the Dutchman presumably returning to Merseyside sooner or later.

In any case, Pep Lijnders as soon as left Klopp’s teaching workers to strive administration himself, earlier than coming again to be assistant once more.

Heitinga’s tactical nous, English expertise and familiarity with our setup imply that – if timing and alternative align – a reunion might make sense for each side.

For now, although, his focus shall be on rebuilding his popularity.

And whereas Ajax seek for yet one more new head coach, we will mirror on how one in all our former colleagues finds himself out of labor – however maybe not out of probabilities.

You may watch Slot’s post-match press convention by way of Empire of the Kop on YouTube:

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