Power

TRAINER OF THE FUTURE

17 september 2020Door MASTERS Redactie3 min lezenMASTERS MAGAZINE

← Alle verhalen

In 2016 he took his first steps as a trainer as an assistant to Jong Ajax. He has now been a trainer-coach of the U19s for three years. Does John Heitinga have what it takes to become head coach of Ajax? Various players and coaches give us their opinions.

Text: Bart-Jan Brouwer | Online editor: Natasha Hendriks
Image: John van Helvert

Ronald de Boer

(Hoorn, May 15, 1970), football analyst and individual trainer Ajax O19

“I think Johnny is a hard-working trainer. In the three years that I have experienced him now, I think he has improved by leaps and bounds. He has grown tremendously verbally. I remember doing analyst work for television with him for the first time. Even though he had been through a lot, he seemed unsure. I don't have that at all now. He comes across really well. With the good people around him he can certainly reach Ajax 1.”

Richard Witschge

(Amsterdam, September 20, 1969), assistant coach Ajax I

“I now experience John as an intern at the first. He walks in every now and then and asks questions about exercises. He is very eager to learn. Sometimes he also does training independently. As I see it, he is doing well. He arranged everything well and works in a very structured way. He has a good vision on football. I think he aims for the highest and wants to train Ajax I one day. He will have to show that he can work under pressure. But I think the chance that he will become head coach at a professional club is high, certainly between 70 and 80 percent.”

Simon Tahamata

(Vught, May 26, 1956), technical and individual trainer Ajax youth

“In my career I have met many renowned trainers: Leo Beenhakker, Ernst Happel, Raymond Goethals... But I can tell you that John, even at such a young age, is on par with them when it comes to exercise material. Honestly, my jaw drops sometimes. His workouts are so refreshing, even I still learn from them. What he is specifically good at: putting the players in the right place; with a certain substitution he manages to turn a match around. He also interacts well with the players. It is of course the club's choice, but I estimate that there is a good chance that, after Frank de Boer, he will be the next to move up from the youth as head coach of Ajax.”

Jurrien Timber

(Utrecht, June 17, 2001), defender of Jong Ajax

“I experienced John Heitinga for about a year and a half. He only recently stopped actively playing football and therefore communication with the players is very easy for him. As a trainer he is quite active on the sidelines. He goes along with the game and knows what we need when we are ahead or behind. In recent months I met him a few times at the first one, where he was doing an internship. He is no different there than with the O19, he is just himself, a young guy with an Ajax heart. I will give him a chance to become coach of Ajax I later.”

Kenneth taylor

(Alkmaar, May 16, 2002), midfielder Jong Ajax

“He is otherwise intact down to earth and approachable, you can ask him anything. And he laughs with us too. I think he is a top trainer, a real winner. I think there is a real chance that he will become Ajax I's coach later. I know he will give everything to achieve that goal.”

Sergio Dest

(Almere, November 3, 2000), right back Ajax

“Trainer Heitinga did a lot of good things for Ajax U19 when I was in that team. He also helped me personally a lot. He made me feel comfortable in the team and made me more daring and confident. Because he wants to get the most out of every player.”