New Liverpool coach John Heitinga appears to be bringing a no-nonsense attitude as the latest addition to Arne Slot’s backroom staff.
Liverpool’s players will have to be on their best behavior next season, with John Heitinga expected to bring a no-nonsense style to Merseyside.
The former Everton defender has been announced as the latest member to Arne Slot’s coaching team. He joins as an assistant coach, succeeding Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters, Aaron Briggs, and Fabian Otte as the new head coach’s staff expands.
Heitinga joins from West Ham, where he previously worked with David Moyes, after a long affiliation with Ajax. The 40-year-old spent years working with the Amsterdam club’s academy, where he helped develop some of the club’s most well-known players, including Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
Heitinga had a significant role in Ajax’s success under now-Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, and he did so by taking a severe approach with his players on occasion.
Heitinga explained his methods to The Athletic in 2020, saying, “We take risks. This means we can also lose games. Of course, you want to win, but you also need to learn. The individual player is given importance. Sometimes we push them beyond their comfort zone.
“With one guy, we told his parents not to say anything, but I’d call late on Monday and tell him he had to be to the airport early the next day for a UEFA Youth League game on Tuesday. We can watch how he handles it.
“Last year, one of my best players arrived too late for the Youth League training session against Lyon.” I replied, “Thank you for coming, but you will not accompany us to France.”
“Another time, he arrived two minutes late and was not permitted to train. On Saturday, I gave him another type of session. Every player is permitted to play poorly on occasion, but we expect to see effort and fight at all times.”
Liverpool.com says: Liverpool’s players should make sure their timepieces are set correctly. Heitinga was known for his aggressive attitude to defending during his playing days, and he may have carried that over into his coaching career.
Not that the Reds need it, since the group at the AXA Training Centre appears to be a decent one, but the hard-line attitude will be required on occasion. Liverpool may be building a good cop/bad cop coaching structure with Slot and Heitinga.
