Ex-Liverpool Coach Lasts Just 33 Days After 'Leaving Role' with Team in Relegation Battle

John Heitinga, the highly regarded former assistant coach at Liverpool, has departed Tottenham Hotspur after an astonishingly brief 33-day stint, leaving fans baffled amid the club's ongoing struggles.[1][4]

Heitinga joined Tottenham in January as part of Thomas Frank's coaching staff, brought in to help revive the team's fortunes during a dismal season under the Dane, who had overseen poor results including no wins against English clubs since 2025.[1][2] Credited with a significant impact at Anfield—helping Arne Slot's Liverpool secure the title last season—Heitinga was seen as a key addition to steady the ship at N17.[1] However, Frank's tenure ended in failure, leading to his sacking and the appointment of Igor Tudor as interim boss through season's end.[2]

Tudor wasted no time reshaping the backroom team, axing four coaches from Frank's era: Justin Cochrane, John Heitinga, Chris Haslam, and analyst Joe Newton.[1] Heitinga's exit stands out as the most surprising, with reports indicating he chose to leave rather than adapt to Tudor's new structure, unwilling to work under the Croatian's setup.[1][4] This comes as Tottenham battles relegation concerns, with toxicity and negativity spiraling.[2]

Supporters expressed shock on social media. One fan lamented, “Shame about Heitinga, he’d have been useful,” while another questioned, “Heitinga gone already. Why was he hired in the first place?” A third quipped, “Heitinga didn’t have time to take his coat off.”[1] Critics argue the rapid departures highlight chaos behind the scenes, suggesting the board misidentified Frank as the sole issue despite fresh hires meant to support him.[1]

Tudor's arrival is unconventional—13 jobs in 13 years, including a short stint at Juventus this season—but his mid-season overhauls have often yielded quick impacts. He favors a 3-4-2-1 with a back three, aligning somewhat with Frank's experiments and Tottenham's center-back depth.[2] Fans demand immediate results to quell concerns, as Tudor inherits a shambolic situation not of his making.[1]

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