Tottenham have shown their support to Thomas Frank by announcing the arrival of another member to the coaching team, who previously featured for Liverpool.
Tottenham have announced the arrival of John Heitinga as part of Thomas Frank's backroom coaching staff at the club. The former centre-back enjoyed spells playing for Ajax, Atletico Madrid, Everton, and Fulham before taking to coaching in 2016 after hanging up his boots.
The 42-year-old spent time coaching at Ajax, while he also had a spell as Liverpool assistant in 2024, where he helped guide the Reds to a Premier League title under Arne Slot. He then made his move back to Ajax in May 2025, looking to guide the club forward after a tough few seasons.
He was brutally axed earlier this season after a slow start to the campaign, which left him on the hunt for a coaching gig once again. The move to Tottenham helps strengthen the options available to Frank on the training ground, following what has been a tricky spell for the Dane.
On the appointment, the head coach told the official Tottenham website: "John is a great addition to our coaching staff. His ability, personality and character will add huge value both on and off the pitch.
“He had an impressive playing career across Europe – including five years in the Premier League – and with the Dutch national team.
“As a former defender, that will be one of his main responsibilities on the training pitch, and he brings great coaching and management experiences from all levels of the game, which will really help us moving forward.”
Heitinga was highly-rated from his time at Liverpool, even with his previous links to rivals Everton, after his short spell at the club. Slot outlined his thoughts on the coach when he was linked with the Ajax job last year, and said: "If Ajax would be smart, they would consider him. He is ready to take on a job like that.
"If John is smart, he would stay one more season," he added. While it ultimately didn't work out for Heitinga, he is clearly seen as a quality coach and may be one who can help Spurs during a difficult time.
It may come as a boost that Tottenham need to truly boost themselves further up the table, following a rocky few months in N17. While Frank managed to earn a few results early in his tenure, a lack of points on the board now leaves Spurs 14th in the Premier League, eight points off the top four.
Part of the challenge for the head coach, who was hired from Brentford last summer, has been connecting with the fanbase. While results will naturally get the supporters behind teams, the lack of a clear identity and questions over the direction of the club has left an agitated feeling around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
That hasn't been helped by the lack of cup action to cling onto, after an exit in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup for the Lilywhites. Attention turns towards the Champions League, where a miraculous run would be needed, as well as the possibility of some improvement in the Premier League.
While there have been struggles, Tottenham have looked to inject some quality into the team over the January window to bolster the options available to the man in charge. Conor Gallagher has signed from Atletico Madrid for a fee worth roughly £35m, bringing some energy and final-third quality to the midfield.
Souza is expected to join for £13m this window too, adding further quality to the left-back ranks, following injury troubles for Destiny Udogie and a shuffle in the backline involving Djed Spence. There are also injury returns that could change the picture for Frank in the coming weeks.
Dominic Solanke's return to the frontline is a welcome boost, while there is hope that Dejan Kulusevski is finally able to make an appearance in the weeks ahead.