Former Everton defender Johnny Heitinga has been announced by Merseyside rivals Liverpool as the latest member of Arne Slot’s backroom staff, it was confirmed on Wednesday.
The former Dutch international, who played at five tournaments for the Netherlands, had been working as a coach at West Ham under David Moyes but recently held talks with a view to joining compatriot Slot on Merseyside.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed earlier this month that Heitinga was being lined up for the role under Slot at Anfield.
Heitinga previously went on the record to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf to say: ‘All I can say now is that I have been approached and that my agent Rob Jansen and I are in conversation.’
The deal has now been officially completed, Liverpool confirmed on Wednesday, despite others being considered for the position to complete Slot’s backroom team as an assistant coach. The appointment of Heitinga may raise eyebrows due to his connections across Stanley Park.
Arne Slot will be joined by a former Everton star defender in his backroom staff at Liverpool
Liverpool have confirmed the ex-Toffee Johnny Heitinga will join the club as an assistant coach
Liverpool have also welcomed former Manchester City man Aaron Briggs to the club in recent days. Briggs will be a development coach, replacing Vitor Matos, who was described as ‘the link man’ between the first team and academy by Jurgen Klopp.
Briggs spent nine years at Manchester City as an analyst and coach.
The former Monaco and Wolfsburg man started working with Liverpool when they began pre-season training last Friday. The 37-year-old was head-hunted by the Reds’ recruitment team.
Heitinga, meanwhile, played 140 times for Everton as a defender in his career, as well as stints at the likes of Ajax and Atletico Madrid.
Since retiring, he has coached at the Amsterdam club and West Ham — but departed when Moyes left the east London side this summer.
It is an eye-catching move for the 40-year-old who was well thought of at Goodison Park.
Heitinga knows Slot well as a fellow Dutchman and also has an understanding of the Premier League – both of which work in his favour.
The confirmed appointments of Briggs and Heitinga leaves Liverpool just needing to fill the role of set-piece specialist, which they have advertised for on LinkedIn. A process is under way to recruit for the role.
Dutchman Heitinga played 140 times for Everton in all competitions between 2009 and 2014
Slot recently appointed goalkeeping coach Fabian Otte, who joins after working with the United States national team at Copa America. It is believed Otte’s replacement with the States will be former Liverpool keeper coach Jack Robinson.
The previous head of goalkeeping John Achterberg has joined up with Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia. Sipke Hulshoff will be Slot’s assistant head coach and the pair go back a long way, while Ruben Peeters has joined as head of performance.