Heitinga (Alphen aan den Rijn, November 15, 1983) has spent the past two seasons working in the English Premier League as an assistant coach at West Ham United and Liverpool. Before his move to England in the summer of 2023, the former Ajax player served as interim head coach of Ajax 1 for several months. Since 2016, the former international, who played not only for Ajax but also for Atlético Madrid, Everton, Fulham, and Hertha BSC, has held various coaching roles at Ajax.
Keizer (Badhoevedorp, January 15, 1969) progressed through the Ajax academy as a youth player, just like Heitinga. After a professional playing career at Ajax, SC Cambuur, De Graafschap, and FC Emmen, Keizer began his coaching career in 2002. He has been head coach at Telstar, Emmen, SC Cambuur, Ajax U23, and Ajax 1, before moving abroad in 2018. There, he managed Sporting CP, Al-Jazira and Al-Shabab.
Technical Director Alex Kroes: "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: "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."
