Agent: Liverpool wanted to keep Heitinga but Ajax job too tempting | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Coaching Puzzle: Heitinga Exit Sparks Backroom Rebuild

Coaching Ambitions Take Centre Stage

As Liverpool brace for a summer of seismic squad changes, the departure of Johnny Heitinga is one of the more understated but significant moves. The Dutchman is set to take over as Ajax head coach, returning to his boyhood club after just one year at Anfield. His agent, Rob Jansen, revealed the details in a conversation with ESPN, offering insight into how close Liverpool came to keeping him.

“Extending at Liverpool was a serious option, they really wanted that too,” Jansen said. “But John said: ‘if there is somewhere I can go to’…” The implication is clear. This was not about rejection, but progression.

Heitinga’s exit is not the same as losing a starting XI player. Yet the coaching core, especially in a transitional period under Arne Slot, is as vital as any marquee signing. Liverpool’s backroom staff is undergoing an identity shift, and Heitinga’s loss removes a tactical mind who helped elevate performance across several units last season.

Dutch Return Signals New Chapter

Heitinga’s journey feels circular. A product of the Ajax academy and a nine-year first-team player, he briefly held the interim manager post in 2023. In many ways, this was a homecoming waiting to happen.

“That he would leave Liverpool, we were already confirmed of that,” said Jansen. “He was ready to take the next step.” It’s difficult to argue with the logic. Heitinga has already dipped a toe in management, and after a successful spell helping to steady Liverpool’s defensive inconsistencies last season, the timing aligns.

Photo: @LFC

He wants to “stand on his own two feet,” as Jansen put it, and leading Ajax offers the perfect platform. His credentials are growing, and Liverpool, to their credit, supported the ambition even when they were keen to extend his stay.

Next Steps for Slot and Liverpool

As Arne Slot readies for the next season, decisions on his inner circle will be key. Replacing Heitinga won’t be straightforward. Not only did he offer tactical insight, but he also brought experience from one of Europe’s best academies.

Liverpool will undoubtedly have names in mind. Whether they look internally, into Dutch coaching circles, or towards surprise appointments, one thing is certain: the club cannot afford to be reactive. As the club manages a complicated summer of exits and arrivals, ensuring consistency behind the scenes is essential.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

For most Liverpool supporters, Heitinga’s departure won’t sting like losing a marquee forward or a fan-favourite midfielder. But there’s a sense among the fanbase that this is a deeper blow than it first appears. Heitinga was part of the title winning force last season, especially in moments when the defence needed tactical clarity. His voice on the training ground reportedly resonated well with younger players like Jarell Quansah and even senior figures such as Joe Gomez.

Given the sweeping changes happening this summer, from players to the structure around Arne Slot, continuity in the backroom staff would have been valuable. Fans are hopeful that whoever steps in can continue that progress without derailing momentum.

There’s also genuine admiration for Heitinga’s decision. Leaving the comfort of a club like Liverpool to take on a high-pressure role at Ajax shows character and ambition. In the end, Liverpool fans understand the move. But they’ll quietly wonder whether one of the smarter coaching minds of last season might’ve been better retained for the journey ahead.