John Heitinga’s time at the helm of Ajax is over.
The Dutch giants announced the firing of their manager on Thursday following a 3-0 drubbing at home in the Champions League by Galatasaray.
Ajax has suspended John Heitinga with immediate effect. The head coach’s contract was due to run until June 30, 2027, but will now be terminated. The same applies to assistant coach Marcel Keizer. Ajax is looking for a new head coach; in the meantime, Fred Grim will take over… pic.twitter.com/phMVZ7PbYI
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) November 6, 2025
The former Netherlands centre-back had been in charge of the club since July 1 after coming over from Liverpool where he was an assistant manager under Arne Slot.
Heitinga, 41, was a product of the Ajax academy and had 15-year pro career with Ajax, Atletico, Everton, Fulham and Hertha. He was capped 87 times by the Oranje and appeared at two Euros and two World Cups.
In 2021, Heitinga was named manager of the Ajax reserve side and took over the senior side as interim manager in early 2023, shepherding them through the rest of the season following the firing of Alfred Schreuder. That summer, he joined West Ham under David Moyes, who was his manager with the Toffees.
Ajax currently sits fourth in the Eredivisie, eight points adrift of leaders Feyenoord. The team is dead last among 36 Champions League sides through four games, losing all of them and conceding 13 goals.
The team returns to league action on Sunday with a visit to Utrecht.
