Liverpool Eyes John Heitinga for Coaching Role as Arne Slot Assembles New Staff
Liverpool is actively seeking staff to support Arne Slot in his debut season at Anfield, and John Heitinga has emerged as a prime candidate. The former Everton defender, who has received high praise early in his coaching career, is being considered for a role with the Reds.
Heitinga, who played for Everton from 2009 to 2014 and made 140 appearances for the club, transitioned into coaching after retiring at Ajax. His impressive stint as a first-team coach under David Moyes at West Ham last season has caught Liverpool’s attention.
At 40 years old, Heitinga could soon join Slot’s backroom staff, which has recently seen several new additions. Last month, the club announced the arrivals of Sipke Hulshoff and Ruben Peeters from Feyenoord, as well as Fabian Otte from the USMNT. Aaron Briggs also joined as an elite development coach.
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Speaking to The Times, Heitinga confirmed the approach from Liverpool: “All I can say now is that I have been approached, and my agent Rob Jansen and I are in conversation.”
Slot, preparing for his first season with Liverpool, welcomed the initial group of returning players to pre-season training last Friday. The squad, which will be bolstered as more players return from international duty, is expected to undergo rigorous training ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Liverpool’s pre-season schedule kicks off on July 26 with a friendly against Real Betis in Pittsburgh. This will be followed by high-profile matches against Arsenal and Manchester United as part of their tour. The pre-season will culminate with a final friendly at Anfield against Sevilla on August 11.
As Slot continues to build his coaching team, the potential addition of Heitinga brings further excitement and expertise to Liverpool’s ambitious plans for the upcoming season.