Heitinga Departs Tottenham After 33 Days as Tudor Begins Backroom Overhaul

John Heitinga has left Tottenham Hotspur just 33 days after his appointment, as new head coach Igor Tudor begins a sweeping restructuring of the club’s backroom staff.

The former Netherlands defender joined Spurs last month as part of Thomas Frank’s coaching team, following his departure from Ajax in November. However, his tenure in north London has been brief, with the club confirming his exit amid wider changes behind the scenes.

Heitinga had previously spent only five months in charge at the Johan Cruyff Arena before leaving after a 3–0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray.

Tudor Appointed Following Frank Exit

Heitinga had been linked with the prospect of stepping in on an interim basis after Frank’s departure, which followed Tottenham’s 2–1 defeat to Newcastle United last week.

Instead, the club appointed former Juventus manager Igor Tudor as head coach until the end of the season. The 47-year-old Croatian has been tasked with steering Spurs clear of relegation trouble during the closing months of the campaign.

Heitinga is not the only member of staff to depart. Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton have also been relieved of their duties as part of the managerial overhaul.

In their place, Ivan Javorcic is expected to arrive as assistant coach, with Riccardo Raganacci taking on the role of physical coach and Tomislav Rogic joining as goalkeeping coach. All appointments remain subject to work permit approval.

Spurs Fighting to Avoid Relegation Battle

Tudor officially took charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the weekend, inheriting a side that sits just five points above the Premier League relegation zone, having secured only two wins in their last 17 league matches.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Tudor described the opportunity as a privilege.

“It is an honour to join this club at an important moment,” he told Tottenham’s official website.
“I understand the responsibility I have been handed and my focus is clear — to bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match.

“There is strong quality in this playing squad, and my job is to organise it, energise it and improve our results quickly.”

Immediate Tests Await

Tudor faces a daunting start to life in north London. His first match in charge will be the visit of rivals Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday.

Spurs then travel to Fulham at the start of March before league fixtures against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and relegation rivals Nottingham Forest ahead of the next international break.

In addition, Tottenham are preparing for Champions League last-16 ties in March, where they could face Juventus, Galatasaray, Atlético Madrid or Club Brugge once the play-off round is concluded.

What Spurs Fans Can Expect Under Tudor

Former Udinese defender William Troost-Ekong, who played under Tudor in Italy, believes Tottenham supporters can anticipate an aggressive and attack-minded approach.

“He’s a manager who likes to play 3-5-2 or a variation of it,” Troost-Ekong said on talkSPORT Breakfast. “Attacking football, a high defensive line, pressing high and quite direct. He’s definitely a personality.

“If they need someone to shake things up and get everyone going, then he’s the right person for it. The north London derby is probably the perfect game to start — he won’t be intimidated.”

Troost-Ekong added that Tudor’s methods are tactically demanding and high risk.

“You’ll probably see a lot of goals, but there could be some conceded as well because you play with a high line and take risks. He focuses a lot on tactical organisation and instilling confidence in the team.”

Premier League Adjustment

While Tudor lacks prior Premier League experience, Troost-Ekong does not believe that will prove a decisive issue.

“He’s had some big jobs — Juventus, Galatasaray and Marseille — and as a player he was very experienced,” he said. “The Premier League is heavily scrutinised, but I don’t think he’ll be out of his depth.”

With sweeping changes already under way, Tudor’s impact will be closely monitored as Tottenham attempt to stabilise their season and pull clear of danger in the weeks ahead.