Liverpool are in talks to appoint Giovanni van Bronckhorst to Arne Slot’s coaching staff.
He is the preferred choice to succeed assistant John Heitinga, who left to become Ajax boss last month.
Van Bronckhorst reached the Europa League final and won the Scottish Cup in 2022 with Rangers but was sacked in November that year.
He was appointed head coach by Besitkas last summer although he was sacked again, just six months later, despite winning the Turkish Cup.
The 50-year old former Arsenal midfielder and Netherlands international also led Feyenoord to the Dutch league title.
He could now join the Premier League champions on Arne Slot’s backroom staff.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is a leading candidate to take over as Liverpool assistant
Arne Slot has been looking for a replacement since John Heitinga left for Ajax
Van Bronckhorst helps lift the Champions League trophy back in 2006
Van Bronckhorst’s playing career was a decorated one, with the winning a Premier League title at Arsenal, two La Liga crowns at Barcelona and also a Champions League.
He was also runner-up with the Netherlands at the World Cup in 2010 and capped 106 times for his country.
Replacing Heitinga will be no easy task for Van Bronckhorst if indeed he does take up the role of Slot’s second in command.
Heitinga was liked and respected by the squad and the 41-year-old has now returned to Amsterdam for the fourth time, having enjoyed two spells at the club as a player and a brief stint in charge of the senior side in 2023.
He agreed a two-year contract and replaces Francesco Farioli, who departed the club after a single season in charge.
The former defender will be joined in the dugout by fellow Ajax academy graduate Marcel Keizer.
‘John is a good coach with enormous drive,’ said Ajax technical director Alex Kroes. He is ambitious and has further developed himself over the past few years in the Premier League and Champions League.
‘John knows the club well and we are convinced that he, together with Marcel, will help improve our players and build on the progress made since last summer.’
If Van Bronckhorst joins, the Liverpool Dutch connection will remain strong – with fellow countryman Jeremie Frimpong already added to Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo.
