John Heitinga

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography John Gijsbert Alan Heitinga (born 15 November 1983) is a Dutch football coach and former player who was most recently the head coach of Eredivisie club Ajax.

A centre-back and product of the Ajax Academy, he played for their first squad from 2001 to 2008, winning two Eredivisie and three KNVB Cup titles. After a one-year spell at Atlético Madrid in Spain, he signed for Everton in 2009. He joined Fulham at the start of 2014 then signed with German side Hertha BSC later that year. In June 2015, he returned to his Ajax for a single season before retiring in 2016.

After making his debut for the Netherlands national team in February 2004, Heitinga earned 87 caps and represented his country at two World Cups (2006 and 2010) and three European Championships (2004, 2008, and 2012). He helped the Dutch to the World Cup final in 2010, in which he was sent off in a loss to Spain. In 2008, he was named Dutch Footballer of the Year.

Early life

Heitinga was born in Alphen aan den Rijn, South Holland,[1] and raised in Amsterdam.[2] He is of Indonesian descent through his paternal grandfather.[3]

Club career

File:Oslavy Ajaxu.jpg
Heitinga (right, with Urby Emanuelson, Wesley Sneijder, Maarten Stekelenburg, and Zdeněk Grygera) played for Ajax from 2001 to 2008.

Ajax

Heitinga was part of the Ajax youth team, before making his debut for the first team on 26 August 2001 against Feyenoord. He was part a new wave of talent that fielded the likes of homegrown stars Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder, as well as Zlatan Ibrahimović and Cristian Chivu. He was featured in a documentary entitled Ajax: Hark the Herald Angel Sings alongside Ajax academy pupils Gregory van der Wiel, Mitchell Donald, Jeffrey Sarpong, Donovan Slijngard, Nordin Amrabat, Evander Sno and Jeremain Lens.

Heitinga quickly established himself as a strong addition to the team and became first-choice player under coach Co Adriaanse and later Ronald Koeman until he suffered a serious knee injury which kept him on the sidelines for over six months. His comeback was short-lived, as he played only one game before suffering yet another injury which again sentenced him to a long period of recovery.

He made his second comeback at the start of the 2003–04 season and impressed in his first game since injury against Volendam, from where he went on to become a first choice central defender for the remainder of the season as well as a popular figure amongst the fans. When it was announced that he would be leaving Ajax at the end of the 2007–08 season, the fans gave him a fitting send-off by displaying a mosaic of him on the stands.

File:Michael Owen Johnny Heitinga cropped.jpg
Heitinga (left) with Michael Owen.

Atlético Madrid

Heitinga moved to Atlético Madrid at the end of the 2007–08 season for a fee of £8.8 million.[4] His first season in Spain ended with Heitinga making 32 appearances – 27 in La Liga – and scoring three goals for Atlético.

Everton

In September 2009, aged 25, Heitinga joined English Premier League club Everton on a five-year contract for a fee of around €7.04 million (£6.2 million).[5][6][7] He was given squad number 5, though he was not eligible to represent Everton in the UEFA Europa League, having already played for Atlético Madrid in the qualifying stage of the Champions League. Heitinga made his debut for Everton on 13 September against Fulham after coming on for the injured Phil Neville.[8] In his first season for the club, Heitinga made 35 appearances in all competitions.[9]

In the 2010–11 FA Cup, Everton held holders Chelsea 1–1 in a replay at Stamford Bridge, sending the tie to penalties. Heitinga took Everton's fourth and scored. Phil Neville went on to score the winning penalty for Everton. Later that season, Heitinga scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw at home to Birmingham City.[10] Heitinga was voted Everton's Player of the Season for 2011–12 by the club's supporters.[11] He then scored against Newcastle on the final day of the season with an unmarked header which put Everton 3–0, his second Premier League goal and his first in over 14 months.[11]

In 2012–13 season, manager David Moyes opted to play Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin in central defence for much of Everton's season.[12] Heitinga had to wait until an injury to Jagielka gave him a sustained run in the team but poor performances which included him being culpable for all three goals in a 3–3 draw with Aston Villa led to him being criticised by fans.[13] However, in April Moyes praised Heitinga's mental strength for battling back after his earlier form in the season would have "broken" most players.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Despite this, Heitinga revealed that he had rejected Everton's offer of a new contract at the end of the year.[14] In January 2014, Everton and West Ham United agreed terms for the transfer of Heitinga. He turned down the move however saying: "You have to be convinced that you are taking the right step and I was not".[15] He scored his last goal for the team in his last outing, Everton's 4–0 FA Cup win against Stevenage.

Later career

On 31 January 2014, Heitinga signed for Fulham for a six-month deal on a free transfer.[16] In a 3–1 loss against Chelsea on 1 March, Heitinga scored the only goal for Fulham.[17] On 23 May 2014, he was released from the club at the end of his contract.[18]

Heitinga signed a two-year contract with German club Hertha BSC in June 2014.[19]

On 25 June 2015, Ajax announced that Heitinga would return to the club on a free transfer. He signed a one-year contract with the option of a second year.[20] However, after playing only two Eredivisie matches in the first half of the season, Heitinga decided to retire from professional football on 1 February 2016.[21]

International career

Euro 2004

File:Heitinga Oranje.jpg
Heitinga playing for the Netherlands.

Having been part of Dutch international youth teams, Heitinga made his senior debut for the Netherlands on 18 February 2004 in a friendly game against the United States. Several months later, he scored his first goal from a Rafael van der Vaart free kick in a friendly against Greece.

Although he did not take part in qualifying, Heitinga was later included in the squad for the Euro 2004 in Portugal since the Dutch under-21 team had failed to qualify for the European Championships. He started as first choice right back in the first two group stage matches but was suspended for the last match when he was sent-off for two bookable offences. After serving his suspension, he returned in the quarter-final against Sweden as a second-half substitute for Edgar Davids and converted his penalty as the Dutch won 5–4 on penalties. The Dutch, however, were eliminated by the hosts Portugal in the semi-finals.

2006 World Cup and Euro 2008

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File:Heitinga, Boulahrouz en van Bronckhorst.jpg
John Heitinga (left) with Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Khalid Boulahrouz and Phillip Cocu in 2010.

Heitinga was selected by Marco van Basten for the Dutch national team of 23 players to compete in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, hosted by Germany. The Dutch reached the second round before again being knocked out by Portugal.

Heitinga was also called up to the Dutch squad for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Since Euro 2008, he has been a regular in the right back position and has occasionally deputised in other defensive positions during an injury crisis. He made his 50th appearance for the Netherlands in a friendly against Paraguay on 18 November 2009.[22]

2010 World Cup

Heitinga was included in the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa,[23] and was in the starting line-up for the Netherlands' first match in the competition, a 2–0 victory over Denmark.[24] Heitinga played in every game as the Netherlands reached the final for the third time, where they faced Spain. He started the match but was sent off in the 109th minute after being given his second yellow card for a foul on Andrés Iniesta.[25] He became the fifth player to be sent off in a World Cup final.[26][nb 1] The Netherlands went on to lose the final 1–0 after Iniesta scored the winning goal for Spain in the 116th minute.[26]

Coaching career

In June 2021, Heitinga was appointed manager of Jong Ajax, the reserve team of Ajax competing in the Eerste Divisie. He signed a contract for two seasons running until June 2023.[27] In 2022, he extended his contract until 2025.[27] On 27 January 2023, Heitinga was appointed interim manager of Ajax's first team for the remainder of the season, following the dismissal of Alfred Schreuder.[28] His first match in charge was a 4–1 away win against Excelsior on 29 January.[29] Under Heitinga's guidance, Ajax finished in third place in the Eredivisie, securing a place in the UEFA Europa League play-off round.[30] They also reached the final of the KNVB Cup, losing to PSV on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[31] On 1 June 2023, it was announced that Heitinga would not continue as manager of Ajax beyond his interim spell, with the club deciding to appoint Maurice Steijn instead.[32]

In September 2023, Heitinga was appointed first-team coach at West Ham United as assistant to David Moyes, his former manager at Everton.[33] Upon the departure of Moyes in May 2024, Heitinga left the club, along with other coaches and back-room staff.[34] On 17 July 2024, Heitinga was appointed as the new assistant coach at Liverpool.[35] He took charge of Liverpool for the first time in a 2–0 win over Newcastle United on 26 February 2025, whilst manager Arne Slot and assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff were suspended.[36][37][38] That season, Liverpool, under Slot’s leadership, won the Premier League title.

On 31 May 2025, Heitinga agreed to return to his former club Ajax as head coach, signing a two-year contract set to begin with the 2025–26 season.[39]

On 6 November 2025, just 5 months after being announced as head coach of Ajax, Heitinga was dismissed following the club's 3–0 home defeat to Turkish side Galatasaray in the Champions League, which saw them sit bottom of the league phase table, failing to secure a point in their 4 matches.[40]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[41]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Club Season League National cupTemplate:Efn League cupTemplate:Efn Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ajax 2001–02 Eredivisie 15 0 1 0 — 3 0 — 19 0
2002–03 Eredivisie 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 1 0
2003–04 Eredivisie 26 3 1 0 — 3Template:Efn 0 — 30 3
2004–05 Eredivisie 26 1 3 0 — 6Template:Efn 0 1Template:Efn 0 36 1
2005–06 Eredivisie 19 1 3 0 — 6Template:Efn 0 5Template:Efn 1 33 2
2006–07 Eredivisie 32 6 5 1 — 9Template:Efn 1 5Template:Efn 1 51 9
2007–08 Eredivisie 33 6 3 2 — 4Template:Efn 0 5Template:Efn 1 45 9
Total 152 17 16 3 — 31 1 16 3 215 24
Atlético Madrid 2008–09 La Liga 27 3 1 0 — 6Template:Efn 0 — 34 3
2009–10 La Liga 1 0 0 0 — 2Template:Efn 0 — 3 0
Total 28 3 1 0 — 8 0 — 37 3
Everton 2009–10 Premier League 31 0 2 0 2 0 — — 35 0
2010–11 Premier League 27 1 3 0 1 0 — — 31 1
2011–12 Premier League 30 1 6 1 3 0 — — 39 2
2012–13 Premier League 26 0 2 1 2 0 — — 30 1
2013–14 Premier League 1 0 2 1 2 0 — — 5 1
Total 115 2 15 3 10 0 — — 140 5
Fulham 2013–14 Premier League 14 1 0 0 0 0 — — 14 1
Hertha BSC 2014–15 Bundesliga 13 1 1 0 — — — 14 1
Ajax 2015–16 Eredivisie 2 0 1 1 0 0 — — 3 1
Career total 324 24 34 7 10 0 39 1 16 3 423 35

Template:Notelist

File:Heitinga 08.08.jpg
Heitinga in 2008 during training.

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands 2004 12 1
2005 4 0
2006 8 1
2007 7 1
2008 12 3
2009 7 0
2010 15 0
2011 9 1
2012 11 0
2013 2 0
Total 87 7
Scores and results list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Heitinga goal.
List of international goals scored by John Heitinga[42][43]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 28 April 2004 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands {{ Template:Yesno alias = Greece flag alias = Flag of Greece.svg flag alias-old = Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg flag alias-1970 = Flag of Greece (1970-1975).svg flag alias-royal = State flag of Greece (1863–1924;1935–73).svg flag alias-otto = Naval Royal Standard of Greece (1858-1862).svg flag alias-army = Hellenic Army War Flag.svg link alias-army = Hellenic Army border-army= flag alias-air force=Fin Flash of Greece.svg link alias-air force=Hellenic Air Force flag alias-royalnavy = Naval Ensign of Kingdom of Greece.svg link alias-naval = Hellenic Navy flag alias-navy = Flag of Greece.svg link alias-navy = Hellenic Navy link alias-military = Hellenic Armed Forces link alias-royalnavy = Royal Hellenic Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant = }} ||
3–0
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4–0
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2. 1 June 2006 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands {{ Template:Yesno alias = Mexico flag alias = Flag of Mexico.svg flag alias-1821a = Flag of the Three Guarantees.svg flag alias-1821 = Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg flag alias-1823 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg flag alias-1864 = Imperial Standard of Mexico (1864-1867).svg flag alias-1867 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg flag alias-1893 = Flag of Mexico (1893-1916).svg flag alias-1916 = Flag of Mexico (1916–1934).svg flag alias-1934 = Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg flag alias-air force = Flag of the Mexican Air Force.svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Mexican Army.svg link alias-army = Mexican Army link alias-air force = Mexican Air Force link alias-naval = Mexican Navy flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue.png link alias-coast guard = Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue flag alias-navy = Naval jack of Mexico.svg link alias-navy = Mexican Navy flag alias-marines = Estandarte Infantería de Marina de México.svg link alias-marines = Mexican Naval Infantry Corps size = name = altlink = national football team variant = }} ||
1–1
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2–1
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3. 6 June 2007 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand {{ Template:Yesno alias = Thailand shortname alias = Thailand flag alias = Flag of Thailand.svg flag alias-1767 = Flag of Thailand (Ayutthaya period).svg flag alias-1782 = Flag of Thailand (1782).svg flag alias-1817 = Flag of Thailand (1817).svg flag alias-1855 = Flag of Thailand 1855.svg flag alias-1893 = State Flag of Thailand (1916).svg flag alias-1916 = Flag of Siam (1916).svg flag alias-marines=Flag of the Royal Thai Marine Corps.svg link alias-marines=Royal Thai Marine Corps border-marines= flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Thailand.svg link alias-naval = Royal Thai Navy flag alias-navy = Flag of the Royal Thai Navy.svg link alias-navy = Royal Thai Navy flag alias-military=Flag of the Royal Thai Armed Forces HQ.svg link alias-military=Royal Thai Armed Forces flag alias-air force = Flag of the Royal Thai Air Force.svg link alias-air force = Royal Thai Air Force flag alias-army= Flag of the Royal Thai Army.svg link alias-army=Royal Thai Army flag alias-sanctionedFB = THA AFF 2020.png size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant = }} ||
2–0
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3–1
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4. 6 February 2008 Poljud Stadium, Split, Croatia {{ Template:Yesno alias = Croatia flag alias = Flag of Croatia.svg flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Croatia.svg flag alias-1990 = Flag of Croatia (1990).svg flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Croatia.svg link alias-naval = Croatian Navy flag alias-air force = Flag of the Croatian Air Force.svg link alias-air force = Croatian Air Force link alias-military = Armed Forces of Croatia flag alias-army = Flag of Croatian Army.svg link alias-army = Croatian Army flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Croatia.svg link alias-navy = Croatian Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant = }} ||
1–0
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3–0
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5. 26 March 2008 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria {{ Template:Yesno alias = Austria flag alias = Flag of Austria.svg flag alias-empire = Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Austria (state).svg flag alias-1230 = Flag of Austria (1230–1934).svg flag alias-war = Austria-Hungary-flag-1869-1914-naval-1786-1869-merchant.svg flag alias-1934 = State flag of Austria (1934–1938).svg flag alias-1938 = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg


flag alias-army = Flag of Austria (state).svg flag alias-air force = Flag of Austria (state).svg link alias-army = Austrian Land Forces flag alias-naval = Flag of Austria (state).svg link alias-naval = Austrian Navy link alias-air force = Austrian Air Force flag alias-navy = Flag of Austria (state).svg link alias-navy = Austrian Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant = }} ||
2–3
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4–3
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6. 10 September 2008 Skopje City Stadium, Skopje, Macedonia
  1. REDIRECT Template:Country data North Macedonia ||
    1–0
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    2–1
    Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". || 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
7. 2 September 2011 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands {{ Template:Yesno alias = San Marino flag alias = Flag of San Marino.svg flag alias-1465 = Old Flag of San Marino.svg flag alias-1862 = Flag of San Marino (1862–2011).svg flag alias-civil = Flag of San Marino (civil).svg link alias-army = Sammarinese Armed Forces size = name = altlink = national football team variant = }} ||
3–0
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11–0
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Managerial statistics

As of 5 November 2025Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
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Jong Ajax Template:Flagicon 1 July 2021 27 January 2023

Template:WDL

[44]
Ajax Template:Flagicon 27 January 2023 14 June 2023

Template:WDL

[45]
Ajax Template:Flagicon 31 May 2025 6 November 2025

Template:WDL

[45]
Total

Template:WDLtot

—

Honours

File:Heitinga Bruma (cropped).jpg
Heitinga (left) with Jeffrey Bruma

Ajax[46]

Netherlands

Individual

Notes

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  1. ↑ The previous players to be sent off in a World Cup Final are Pedro Monzón, Gustavo Dezotti, Marcel Desailly, and Zinedine Zidane.

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References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Everton Agree £6.2m Fee for Dutch International Heitinga
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Fulham 2–1 Everton BBC Sport, 13 September 2009.
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Template:NFT player
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Sister project

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Awards
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Amsterdam Sportsman of the Year
2001 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

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