TOTTENHAM have hired Arne Slot’s former Liverpool No2 John Heitinga as Thomas Frank’s new assistant.
Ex-Everton defender Heitinga, 42, replaces Matt Wells, who left recently to become a manager in his own right at MLS side Colorado Rapids.
Boss Frank said: “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, who won 87 caps for the Netherlands and also played for Fulham, was an assistant to David Moyes at West Ham between 2023-24.
He then moved to Anfield to assist Slot, who guided the Reds to the Premier League title in 2025.
That prompted a switch back to old club Ajax as head coach in May of that year.
But that switch lasted just five months before Heitinga was sacked following a 3-0 home defeat in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Spurs have also confirmed the arrival of a highly-rated supremo from Manchester City’s umbrella group – though he will not start work for a few months.
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Carlos Raphael Moersen has been appointed as director of football operations from City Football Group, the company that has a stable of clubs including City.
‘Rafi’, as he is known, is currently on gardening leave so it will be a couple of months before he takes up his role, though he will be in place before the summer transfer window.
Moersen is NOT a replacement for Fabio Paratici, the co-sporting director who is leaving for Fiorentina after the January window.
But he will be a core part of the recruitment team, reporting into the other co-sporting director, Johan Lange.
That is except for issues regarding women’s football at the club, where Moersen will answer to chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.
Moersen brings a decade’s worth of experience from CFG, where he was most recently involved in player trading, as well as a key role in planning at Manchester City.
Lange said: “We are delighted to welcome Rafi to the club in the newly-created role of director of football operations.
“He was the outstanding candidate from a highly-competitive process and brings a wealth of experience in this critical area of our football operation.
“His appointment is an important step as we continue to strengthen our football structure and support long-term success.”
Moersen will lead Tottenham’s football administration, player care and training ground operations and join the club’s executive leadership team.
He will also oversee women’s football at the club.
Spurs said Moersen’s arrival, along with Dan Lewindon who joins as performance director, “is part of a sustained focus on strengthening the foundations that support performance on the pitch and increased investment in our academy to enhance the pipeline of talent ready for first-team men’s football.”
It follows a number of high-profile executive exits in the past year at Spurs, including director Donna-Maria Cullen, chief football officer Scott Munn and, of course, former chairman Daniel Levy.
