John Heitinga social media post comes back to haunt him after Liverpool appointment

Former Everton star John Heitinga may regret not deleting old social media posts before being confirmed as the new assistant coach at Liverpool. It was confirmed on Wednesday that Heitinga, 40, had become the latest addition to Arne Slot’s backroom staff ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Dutchman served as an assistant to David Moyes at West Ham last season, but his latest move has left fans of the Toffees fuming.

Heitinga spent five years at the club between 2009 and 2014, playing 140 times and becoming a firm fan favourite at Goodison Park.

And his allegiance to the blue half of Merseyside seemingly remained after he left for Fulham, where he stayed briefly before short stints at Hertha Berlin and Ajax. Ahead of a Liverpool v Everton Premier League clash back in December 2016, the centre-back took to Twitter (now X) to make his feelings clear.

“Happy to support Everton tonight in the Merseyside derby,” he wrote. “Game of the year! Once a Blue, always a Blue.”

The upload came complete with an image of him trying to dispossess Luis Suarez, and at the time it proved popular with Everton supporters. But after news of his new role at Anfield, the post promptly resurfaced.

“Once a blue always a blue yeah?” wrote @sleepyenderr. “It is what it is… until it isn’t,” added @Sean089, while @jon_jdwesty505 asked “Oh Johnny what have you done?!”

Rival fans however, saw the funny side. Many posted memes of a delete button being relentlessly pressed on computers, with Liverpool fans sarcastically welcomed him to the “best” club on Merseyside.

Heitinga is not the first former Everton player to end up regretting using the famous phrase. Wayne Rooney famously unveiled a t-shirt that also read “Once a blue always a blue” during a youth game for the club, footage which came back to haunt him following his move to Manchester United in 2004.

In a club statement confirming the appointment, Liverpool acknowledged Heitinga’s association with Everton: “Heitinga made his name as a centre-back during his playing days, winning 87 caps for the Netherlands and representing Ajax, Atletico Madrid, Everton, Fulham and Hertha BSC before hanging up his boots in 2016,” they said.

The club also said he would take up his new role with immediate effect, adding: “He now joins Slot’s team in assisting Liverpool’s preparations for the forthcoming campaign.”