Ajax has appointed John Heitinga as the new head coach of the club. He signs a two-year contract valid until June 30, 2027. He brings with him experienced manager Marcel Keizer, who will serve as assistant coach.

Heitinga isn’t a new name to Ajax fans, having played for the club from 2001–2008 and again from 2015–2016. He also knows the Ajax dugout well, having previously coached Ajax U19 from 2017–2021, Jong Ajax (the club’s reserve team) from 2021–2023, and served as interim manager in 2023.

The club’s Technical Director, Alex Kroes, expressed confidence in Heitinga’s appointment. He stated:

“John is a good coach with enormous drive. He is ambitious and has further developed himself over the past few years in the Premier League and the Champions League. Marijn and I spoke to him last year and have stayed in contact since.”

“John knows the club well, and we are convinced that he, together with Marcel, will help improve our players and build on the progress made since last summer in terms of, for example, elite sporting culture and discipline. It’s good that it’s decided early on in the summer break that they will be in charge from the end of June. Marijn and I can now continue working with John and the other parties involved on the squad composition for the coming season.”

Heitinga expressed his gratitude at being given the opportunity to manage Ajax. He said:

“I am incredibly excited to start. The last years in England have done me a lot of good. I’ve been able to develop further alongside David Moyes and Arne Slot, while also getting a behind-the-scenes look at two major clubs. I’m ready to continue as a head coach, and I’m honoured to be given that opportunity at Ajax.”

Heitinga is tasked with taking Ajax back to the very top of Dutch and European football. Although this is his first full-time role as a first-team manager, fans will be watching closely, demanding immediate results after the team finished runners-up in the Eredivisie last season, just one point behind PSV.