There’s a lot going on at Tottenham – and it’s happening fast. Thomas Frank out, assistant coach Heitinga up as the natural person to lead Spurs for the rest of the season. So this weekend, the club brought in Igor Tudor as interim coach for the rest of the season. A skilled coach, but without knowledge of the Premier League. Three days later, Heitinga is also history at Tottenham.
The 42-year-old Heitinga was known as a tough and smart centre-back at Everton in 2008-14, as well as as an assistant coach at city rivals Liverpool. In September 2023, Heitinga was appointed first-team coach at West Ham United as an assistant to David Moyes, his former manager at Everton. When Moyes left the club in May 2024, Heitinga left the club, along with other assistants. On July 17, 2024, Heitinga was appointed as the new assistant coach at Liverpool. He led Liverpool for the first time in a 2–0 win over Newcastle United on 26 February 2025, while manager Arne Slot and assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff were suspended. That season, Liverpool famously won the Premier League title.
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In May 2025, Heitinga agreed to return to his former club Ajax as head coach, signing a two-year contract that would start from the 2025–26 season. Five months later, the chaos club had fired him. On January 15, he signed with Tottenham, where the task was clear.
“John is a fantastic addition to our coaching staff. His abilities, personality and character will add great value both on and off the pitch. He had an impressive playing career across Europe – including five years in the Premier League – and with the Dutch national team. As a former defender, it will be one of his main responsibilities on the training ground, and he brings with him great coaching and leadership experience from all levels of the game, which will really help us going forward,” said former Spurs coach Thomas Frank to the club’s website.
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On Monday, Tottenham announced that Heitinga’s employment relationship was also over:
“Tottenham have given John the opportunity to continue in the new structure. John has assessed the situation thoroughly and considers the club’s gesture a sign of respect and recognition. After careful consideration, John has chosen to leave Tottenham. With the high likelihood that a new permanent head coach will bring his own staff with him, he believes that this is the most professional and transparent decision.
