As Tottenham mulled over their options after finally deciding to part ways with Thomas Frank off the back of an eight-game winless run in the Premier League, Johnny Heitinga was regarded as a possibility to succeed the Dane on a temporary basis.
The former Everton defender was drafted in as Frank's assistant on 15 January, almost a month after Matt Wells left for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Heitinga, who worked with David Moyes at West Ham United and Arne Slot at Liverpool, had head coaching experience of his own, although his spell as full-time Ajax boss in 2025 was unsuccessful and brief.
Still, with no obvious candidates emerging, Heitinga seemed like a safeish bet. At the club for only a month, he wasn't exactly intertwined with Frank's penchant for mediocrity. However, as we now know, Antonio Conte-lite Igor Tudor has been called upon not to merely steady the ship, but ensure Tottenham aren't relegated to the second tier for the first time since 1977.
Igor Tudor's backroom staff confirmed as Heitinga departs
Tudor arrived at Hotspur Way on Monday to begin his rescue act, and Football London's Alasdair Gold confirmed the sweeping changes to the backroom staff.
The esteemed Justin Cochrane, as well as Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton, have all left the club, in addition to Heitinga. The Dutchman exits after just 33 days in north London, epitomising the current circus.
I hope John Heitinga took his one day of accrued annual leave
— Bardi (@BardiTEI) February 16, 2026
The hierarchy perhaps saw Heitinga as one last roll of the dice to save Frank's job, or they still thought the Dane would stick around for the long haul and the pair would develop a stellar working relationship on the touchline. It didn't work out, though, and it's no surprise that Tudor wants his own guys operating alongside him.
In comes Ivan Javorcic as assistant coach, Riccardo Ragnacci as physical coach and Tomislav Rogic as goalkeeping coach. Rogic will work with Fabian Otte, who's kept his job, while set-piece coach Andreas Georgson, responsible for much of the success Frank had in N17, has also stayed on, which is a boost.
All of Tudor's cronies have worked with him previously, albeit in different environments. They haven't followed the 47-year-old around since his managerial career began at Hajduk Split in 2013. Rogic, for example, crossed paths with Tudor at Hajduk all those years ago before joining the former hard-nosed Juventus defender, along with Javorcic, at Lazio, then Juventus.
How they co-exist with those that still remain from the Frank regime will be pivotal down the stretch.