Ajax part ways with John Heitinga after a disastrous start in Europe and inconsistent Eredivisie form
John Heitinga’s return to Ajax has ended in disappointment and controversy after less than six months in charge.
The former Liverpool assistant coach was dismissed as head coach following a 3-0 home defeat to Galatasaray on Wednesday night, leaving the Amsterdam giants bottom of their Champions League group with four losses from four matches.
Heitinga, 41, had rejoined Ajax over the summer on a two-year deal after leaving his role as assistant coach under Arne Slot at Liverpool.
His return was meant to signal continuity and a bridge between the club’s storied youth setup and the first team, but results have been brutally unkind. In the Eredivisie, Ajax sit fourth, already eight points adrift of leaders Feyenoord, with five draws from their opening 11 games compounding their struggles
The defeat to Galatasaray was the final straw for the club’s hierarchy as they released the following statement.
“Ajax has suspended John Heitinga with immediate effect. The head coach’s contract was due to run until June 30, 2027, but will now be terminated. The same applies to assistant coach Marcel Keizer. Ajax is looking for a new head coach; in the meantime, Fred Grim will take over Heitinga’s duties,” the club confirmed
For Heitinga, the decision marks a swift fall from grace. The former Dutch international had previously stepped up from Jong Ajax, the club’s second team, to serve as interim first-team head coach in the latter half of the 2022-23 season.
Since then, he had accumulated experience abroad, including a spell as assistant to David Moyes at Everton and, most recently, at Liverpool. His reputation in the game remained strong, with colleagues and players at Anfield praising his coaching acumen.
Yet, success in Amsterdam has proven elusive.
Domestically, inconsistency has dogged the team, with a solitary loss in the league masked by an inability to turn draws into victories. The ramifications of Heitinga’s sacking extend beyond the managerial role.
Two Liverpool players, James McConnell and Vitezslav Jaros, are currently on loan at Ajax and now face uncertainty over their futures.
McConnell made his first appearance in weeks during the Galatasaray defeat, coming off the bench after having been substituted at half-time in a 3-2 win over FC Twente and unused in the following match. Dutch sources had questioned Heitinga’s decision to sign the young midfielder, highlighting the uneven opportunities afforded to him under the former Ajax defender.
Jaros, meanwhile, had enjoyed a more promising start in Amsterdam. However, an injury during the October international break, followed by a 2-0 league defeat to AZ Alkmaar, saw him lose his place to veteran goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.
The changes under Heitinga had disrupted the development of Ajax’s younger loaned talent, leaving both Liverpool players’ short-term futures unclear.
As a player, Heitinga’s pedigree is unquestionable. He came through Ajax’s youth system before embarking on a career that took him to Atletico Madrid, Everton, Fulham, and Hertha Berlin, returning to Amsterdam to finish his playing days in 2015-16.
His experience as a defender and familiarity with Ajax’s philosophy had made him an appealing candidate to bridge the gap between youth development and senior management.
Heitinga’s brief tenure at Ajax serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in football management. Once a highly regarded figure at Liverpool and a respected product of Ajax’s youth system, he leaves Amsterdam with his reputation intact but his record tarnished.
