Liverpool told to snub Steven Gerrard as 'perfect' John Heitinga replacement named

Liverpool told to snub Steven Gerrard as 'perfect' John Heitinga replacement named

Sander Westerveld believes Liverpool should overlook Steven Gerrard and hire Marino Pusic as Arne Slot's new assistant coach following John Heitinga's departure

Steven Gerrard. (Image: Football on TNT Sports/X )

Sander Westerveld thinks Liverpool should snub club legend Steven Gerrard when choosing a replacement for assistant coach John Heitinga. The Dutchman recently stepped down from his role in Arne Slot’s backroom staff to take over as Ajax head coach.

The Reds are looking for a replacement for the former Everton defender, with Etienne Reijnen, Marino Pusic and ex-Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt all tipped as possible candidates.

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Meanwhile, Reds legend Gerrard - who previously served as Liverpool Under-18s manager in 2017/18 - remains out of work since resigning as Ettifaq manager in January 2025. He had been linked with a return to Rangers, where he managed previously, but reportedly withdrew from the running before they hired Russell Martin.

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Westerveld played alongside Gerrard for two and a half seasons at Anfield, with the pair team-mates when the Reds won the treble in 2000/01.

The former goalkeeper is also a friend of Slot, having played alongside the Liverpool head coach at Sparta Rotterdam.

While there is currently no suggestion of Gerrard being in contention to succeed Heitinga, Westerveld has urged the Reds to overlook their former club captain when adding to Slot’s backroom team.

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Instead, he believes Liverpool should reunite Slot with Pusic, who previously served as the Dutchman’s assistant at both AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord.

“I think that at the moment, with all due respect, Arne is number one and Sipke is number two", Westerveld told FCUpdate. "So then there is actually a kind of number three.

“Slot will never say that, he will say that they are all one team. But then of course with Gerrard you have a name within the group that travels around the world, but perhaps also unintentionally attracts too much attention

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"When I saw how Slot and Pusic worked together at Feyenoord, I think he is the perfect candidate. But I don't have to tell him that, he will decide that for himself.”

Pusic is available after this month leaving his post as Shakhtar Donetsk manager having won the domestic double in 2023/24 and the Ukrainian Cup this season.

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He had previously left Feyenoord in October 2023 to take over at Shakhtar, while he also served as FC Twente manager prior to serving as Slot’s assistant as AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord.

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