John Heitinga’s time at Tottenham Hotspur is already over. Just 33 days after arriving as part of Thomas Frank’s staff, the Dutchman is out.
Heitinga joined Spurs in mid-January as Frank’s assistant. However, once the club dismissed Frank on Friday, the writing was on the wall. Igor Tudor walked in as interim head coach until the end of the season. A few days later, Heitinga followed Frank out the door.
Now, a Dutch podcast has offered a brutal take on what really happened. Speaking on Rondje Buitenland, pundit Süleyman Öztürk did not hold back. He suggested Tudor simply had no use for the former Everton defender.
“I think Igor Tudor can’t do anything with Heitinga. That’s it. That’s the story, I think. We shouldn’t make it bigger than it is,” he said.
That was not the only sharp comment. Discussing Tudor’s arrival, Öztürk described the Croatian as a confrontational figure brought in to shake the dressing room.
“He’s been brought in to get Spurs through the next two months and keep them in the Premier League. If you put such a bully in front of this squad, someone who will tell them the truth… he’ll eat you up.”
Strong words. And they paint a clear picture of why Heitinga may not have fitted the new regime.
From ‘Europe’s biggest talent’ to gone in weeks
The same podcast mocked the hype that followed Heitinga from the Netherlands. Öztürk referenced how some media had labelled him “the biggest coaching talent in Europe”.
“It’s painful. You’ve been assistant for three weeks. The biggest European talent. And now? What do you do?”
Heitinga had been tasked with organising Tottenham’s defence under Frank. However, the Dutch pundits even questioned whether Frank truly wanted him, hinting he may have been imposed by the board.
Tudor, meanwhile, has reportedly arrived with his own staff. In modern football, that often means sweeping changes. Heitinga became collateral damage.
What happens next?
For Tottenham, the focus is survival. Tudor’s mission is short and sharp: steady the ship and reassess in the summer.
For Heitinga, the episode raises fresh questions. After a difficult spell as Ajax head coach, this was meant to be a Premier League reset. Instead, it lasted barely a month.
Still, as noted in the podcast, a solid contract may soften the blow. The Dutchman has previous experience in England with West Ham and Liverpool. Another opportunity will likely come. But this one ended in lightning fashion.