End-of-season COLLAPSE could see Liverpool coach leave

Jordan Henderson’s Ajax this season experienced what could be described as the biggest title capitulation in recent European history.

Top of the Eredivisie by NINE points with only five matches remaining, the Amsterdam side went on to suffer an all-time collapse.

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Over the course of the next four matches, they took two points from 12, losing heavily to Utrecht and NEC and drawing with Sparta Rotterdam and 10-man Groningen deep into stoppage time.

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That setback put PSV into the driving seat for the final game of the season and they made no mistake - delivering their second title in succession.

The repercussions around the Johan Cruyff Arena have been swift. Head coach Francesco Farioli left his job on Monday, with differences between him and the board too much to overcome.

Farioli oversees Ajax collapse

The 36-year-old Italian has been criticised for a so-called pragmatic approach, at odds with Ajax’s historic “Total Football”, and paid the price when the title slipped from his team’s grasp.

Attention is now focussed on identifying a successor. Former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag - recently of Manchester United - was reported as the No1 pick but it appears he is ready to say no.

Other candidates include Xavi, Michael Reiziger, Paul Simonis (Go Ahead Eagles), Marcel Keizer and Kjetil Knutsen (Bodø/Glimt) according to Dutch website Voetbal Primeur.

There is however another name on the list which could cause consternation at Liverpool.

Heitinga discussed as Ajax head coach

That’s because Arne Slot’s assistant coach John Heitinga has been tipped for a takeover. The 41-year-old has already sat in the Ajax hotseat, as a caretaker back in 2023, but could come back into the running as a permanent option.

“With Heitinga, Ajax would bring a real child of the club into the house,” a report reads. “He has now also spent a season looking into the kitchen at Slot. The question remains whether he really has enough baggage to start the tough challenge in Amsterdam.”

Heitinga, a former defender, was wanted by West Brom earlier this season but opted to stay put and become a title winner with the Reds.

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Players are reported to be enthused about working with Heitinga, who also has a direct line to at least one Reds’ transfer target in Mohammed Kudus.

Losing him would be a big blow but the opportunity to coach a European heavyweight would be surely hard to resist.