LIVERPOOL have announced a former Everton star as the club’s new assistant coach.
Dutchman Arne Slot, 45, officially took over from Jurgen Klopp on June 1 as Reds boss.
He wasted little time in bringing in his own backroom team – but his latest addition has certainly raised eyebrows.
Liverpool have today confirmed that ex-Netherlands international defender John Heitinga has been appointed to the coaching staff.
The 40-year-old, who was sent-off against Spain in the 2010 World Cup Final, firstly made his name playing for Ajax in his homeland.
He then moved to Atletico Madrid in 2008 but 12 months later he was heading to the Premier League.
David Moyes brought him to Everton and he soon became a firm favourite with the Goodison Park faithful.
He stayed on Merseyside for six years, enjoying several battles with local rivals Liverpool, before departing for Fulham.
Heitinga did not stick around long at Craven Cottage and a few months later he headed to Germany with Hertha Berlin before hanging up his boots following a brief return to Ajax.
He then started his coaching journey by working with various youth teams at the Amsterdam giants prior to taking over the senior team from January 2023 until the end of that season.
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Heitinga reunited with his former Toffees manager Moyes 12 months ago when he was appointed as first-team assistant coach at West Ham United.
Now he will put past rivalries aside as he returns to Merseyside on the opposite side of Stanley Park.
Sipke Hulshoff has already been named as Liverpool’s first assistant coach.
He joined from Feyenoord, where he worked as Slot’s No.2 for two years.
Ruben Peeters has also made the same switch with Slot.
He has taken up the job of being the lead physical performance coach at Anfield.
And Fabian Otte has arrived as head of first-team goalkeeper coaching.
He made the move after leaving the USA national team following their Copa America exit.
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