Liverpool has made a significant addition to Arne Slot’s backroom staff by bringing in John Heitinga. Mohammed Kudus, a former player under Heitinga and a recent transfer target for Liverpool, has praised him highly, calling him “the best coach” he had during his time at Ajax.
Although the transfer rumors have quieted recently, Kudus, now with West Ham, was previously linked to Liverpool. The winger, who has an £85 million release clause effective in 2025, hasn’t been a focus of Liverpool’s recent transfer activities.
Kudus’s close working relationship with Heitinga, both at Ajax and West Ham, has left a strong impression on him. He expressed his admiration in an interview with Voetbal, stating, “I felt very good under Heitinga. He is the best coach I have had at Ajax. Besides his training methods, I respect his standards and values highly. I would have liked to have worked with him longer. He is a top trainer and I truly appreciated his efforts to improve the players.”
Heitinga’s impact was immediate when he took over as interim manager at Ajax, noted Kudus. Their reunion at West Ham in 2023 was also fruitful, with Kudus scoring 14 goals and providing six assists last season. Reflecting on their time together, Kudus said, “When we saw each other again, there were things that connected us immediately. He tried to make me and all the other players better. I am very grateful to him for our time at West Ham.”
Kudus’s glowing endorsement provides a promising glimpse of what Liverpool can expect from Heitinga, who joins Slot’s team alongside Sipke Hulshoff and Ruben Peeters. With seven years of coaching experience and a notable stint as interim manager at Ajax, where he won 14 out of 22 games, Heitinga brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to Anfield.
Kudus’s positive remarks suggest that Liverpool’s new coach could play a pivotal role in future transfer discussions, especially if an opportunity arises to bring Kudus to Anfield. While West Ham is unlikely to let the winger leave cheaply, and he has attracted interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia, his impressive debut Premier League season keeps him on the radar.
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