1. John Gijsbert Alan "Johnny" Heitinga was born on 15 November 1983 and is a Dutch football coach and former player who played as a centre-back.
28 Facts About John Heitinga
1. 2.
John Heitinga is currently serving as assistant first-team coach at Premier League club Liverpool.
3.
John Heitinga was part of the Ajax youth team, before making his debut for the first team on 26 August 2001 against Feyenoord.
4.
John Heitinga 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 Ibrahimovic and Cristian Chivu.
5.
John Heitinga 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.
6.
John 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.
7.
John Heitinga's 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.
8.
John Heitinga was given squad number 5, though he was not eligible to represent Everton in the UEFA Europa League, having already played for Atletico Madrid in the qualifying stage of the Champions League.
9.
John Heitinga played mostly as defensive midfielder, covering the absence of several players and showing great spirit and adaptability.
10.
John Heitinga finally had an extended run of play as centre back, showing the passion and the commanding skills he always put on the field in the orange shirt.
11.
John Heitinga turned down the move however saying: "You have to be convinced that you are taking the right step and I was not".
12.
On 31 January 2014, John Heitinga signed for Fulham for a six-month deal on a free transfer.
13.
John Heitinga signed a two-year contract with German club Hertha BSC in June 2014.
14.
John Heitinga signed a one-year contract with the option of a second year.
15.
However, after playing only two Eredivisie matches in the first half of the season, John Heitinga decided to retire from professional football on 1 February 2016.
16.
In June 2021, John Heitinga was appointed manager of Jong Ajax, the reserve team of Ajax competing in the Eerste Divisie.
17.
John Heitinga signed a contract for two seasons running until June 2023.
18.
On 27 January 2023, John Heitinga was appointed interim manager of Ajax's first team for the remainder of the season, following the dismissal of Alfred Schreuder.
19.
In September 2023, John Heitinga was appointed first-team coach at West Ham United as assistant to David Moyes, his former manager at Everton.
20.
On 17 July 2024, John Heitinga was appointed as the new assistant coach at Liverpool.
21.
John Heitinga 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.
22.
John Heitinga would be selected by Van Basten for the Dutch national team of 23 players to compete in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, hosted by Germany.
23.
John Heitinga was called up to the Dutch squad for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.
24.
John Heitinga made his 50th appearance for the Netherlands in a friendly against Paraguay on 18 November 2009.
25.
John Heitinga played in every game as the Netherlands reached the final for the third time, where they faced Spain.
26.
John Heitinga started the match but was sent off in the 109th minute after being given his second yellow card for a foul on Andres Iniesta.
27.
John Heitinga became the fifth player to be sent off in a World Cup final.
28.
John Heitinga was born in Alphen aan den Rijn, South Holland, and raised in Amsterdam.