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John Heitinga and Arne Slot(Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media)

Ajax will appoint Liverpool assistant Johnny Heitinga as their new coach by the end of the week.

Heitinga, who started his playing career in the Ajax academy, returned to the club to accept a coaching role in the youth set-up in 2017.

He had a brief stint in temporary charge of the first team in January 2023 when Alfred Schreuder was sacked - and was shocked not to get the job on a permanent basis at the end of the season after guiding the team to a third-place finish and qualification for the Europa League.

Heitinga’s experience of the Premier League was a vital ingredient of Liverpool’s Premier League triumph in Slot’s first season at the club.

He also played for Atletico Madrid, Fulham and Hertha Berlin.

READ MORE:Relegated Premier League club releases 11 players and one immediately joins rivalREAD MORE:Liverpool 'ready to rival' Chelsea for blockbuster £84m Hugo Ekitike transfer

Farioli was axed after Ajax blew a nine-point lead in the final five games of the season to be pipped to the Dutch title on the last day by PSV Eindhoven.

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Heitinga took charge of Liverpool earlier this season, when Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were both suspended.

"One of the reasons why we work together is because we have so much in common, if it’s about playing style, game model or the changes we make during the game," he said during the season.

Liverpool assistant manager John Heitinga was on the touchline against Newcastle(Image: Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)

"John Heitinga is now here with me for the first half season and I couldn’t have wished for more.

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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.


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