short stay at spurs: heitinga departs after just one month
Londen, maandag, 16 februari 2026.
john heitinga has left his role as assistant trainer at tottenham hotspur after only four weeks. the move comes immediately following the appointment of igor tudor as head coach, replacing thomas frank. although heitinga could have stayed on under tudor, he chose to step away. this marks another brief chapter in his coaching career, coming shortly after his exit from ajax in november. tottenham confirmed the split is mutual and respectful. heitinga’s latest stint lasts just one month, making it the shortest of his post-playing career. the club sits sixteenth in the premier league, under pressure to improve results quickly.
short stay at spurs: heitinga departs after just one month
John Heitinga has left his role as assistant trainer at Tottenham Hotspur after only four weeks. The move comes immediately following the appointment of Igor Tudor as head coach, replacing Thomas Frank. Although Heitinga could have remained under Tudor, he chose to depart. This marks another brief chapter in his coaching career, coming shortly after his exit from Ajax in November. Tottenham confirmed the split is mutual and respectful [1]. Heitinga’s latest stint lasted just one month, making it the shortest of his post-playing career [2].
transition under new leadership
Thomas Frank was sacked by Tottenham after less than eight months in charge, prompting a swift managerial change. The club appointed Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the season. While Tudor brought in his own team, including Ivan Javorcic as assistant coach, Riccardo Ragnacci as physical coach, and Tomislav Rogic as goalkeeping coach, several members of Frank’s staff exited alongside Heitinga [3]. Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam, and analyst Joe Newton also departed the club [4]. The overhaul signals a clean break from the previous regime.
uncertain future for dutch coach
Despite being told he could remain on the technical staff, Heitinga made the decision to leave after “grondig beraad” (careful consideration). According to Dutch journalist Johan Inan, the 42-year-old could have stayed to support Tudor but opted against it [6]. His departure follows a pattern of short tenures, including his time at Ajax which ended in November 2025 after just five months in charge [1]. There is no public indication yet where Heitinga will continue his coaching career [5].
team struggles amid coaching changes
Tottenham Hotspur currently stands sixteenth in the Premier League, just five points above the relegation zone occupied by West Ham United [1]. Their last victory dates back to December 28, 2025, when they defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 [3]. The team’s inconsistent performances prompted drastic action from management. With injuries affecting the squad, Tudor faces immediate challenges stabilizing the side ahead of crucial fixtures such as the upcoming North London derby against Arsenal on February 22 [2].