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Liverpool assistant coach John Heitinga(Image: Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)

John Heitinga has paid tribute to Arne Slot and Liverpool after leaving his role at Anfield to become Ajax head coach.

The Reds granted the Dutchman permission to speak to the Eredivisie giants after Francesco Farioli stepped down after their late season collapse saw them lose out on the title to PSV Eindhoven.

Heitinga joined Liverpool as part of Slot's staff as the former Feyenoord boss looked to add a wealth of Premier League experience to his backroom before their first Premier League campaign in charge of the Reds.

The 41-year-old utilised his nous of England's top-flight to help the Reds to summit, spending a year coaching with David Moyes at West Ham United before his move to Merseyside.

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Ajax technical director Alex Kroes admitted that they interviewed Heitinga for the position last season, with the Italian being appointed over him, but says he felt the move was right for the club after his experience with the Reds.

And the former Liverpool coach described his time at Anfield as "fantastic", speaking in his club interview, Heitinga said: "You never know in football, the most important thing is to keep developing yourself.

"To gain experience and knowledge, now I'm here again.

I gained international experience, got a look behind-the-scenes in perhaps the biggest competition in the world.

"I got to work with two coaches of which one has been around for a long time and the other got to continue Jurgen Klopp's legacy.

"I think together we built something wonderful there last season.

I had a fantastic year there, winning the league was the crown to our work.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and assistant coach John Heitinga(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

"But the conversation I had with Alex (Kroes - Ajax technical director) and Marijn (Beuker - Ajax director of football), the idea behind it all made me very excited to start here.

"I have been following Ajax recently and I was able to watch a lot, that's what you get when you live in England and your family lives in Amsterdam, you have some spare time.

"Ajax also continued to develop, Farioli built something here and we want to continue working on that, that's why I'm excited to start."

Following his move, he took to social media to offer his gratitude to the club while some of his Dutch compatriots, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch were among those who offered their support.

In a post on Instagram, he said: "One year at Liverpool.
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