NOTHING fazes John Heitinga off the football field, where the Everton defender is the epitome of the laid-back Dutchman.

Yet on the pitch, Goodison regulars can attest to his full-blooded intensity and penchant for the dramatic.

They are qualities which have helped the 28-year-old stand out on the international scene too, amassing 75 caps for Holland as he progressed from Ajax’s fabled youth teams to World Cup finalist.

His rise to international prominence for the Oranje has not been without controversy – whether it was a red card in his very first tournament, Euro 2004, or a similar fate in 2010’s World Cup final – but the fact remains that Heitinga is a first choice central defender for one of the world’s elite footballing nations.

This summer, he will be bringing his brand of committed tackling and astute distribution to Poland and Ukraine with a spring in his step, after being named Everton’s Player of the Year.

Indeed such was his superlative form last term, he managed to keep Phil Jagielka, himself a late addition to the Euro mix, out of the team in the second half of the season.

Former Everton skipper Barry Horne believes Heitinga’s hero status at Goodison is deserved.

“Heitinga, though, is a hard worker,’ he wrote in his column after the Everton end of season awards. “A passionate player who has a little touch of needle about him. The crowd respond to players like that. He is a deserving recipient of such an award.”

And in a web-chat with supporters before the season ended, Heitinga answered a variety of questions about what makes him tick. Admitting that Dutch team-mate Wesley Sneijder was the best performer he has played alongside, and Lionel Messi the best he has featured against.

Then, asked about the distinctive black band design tattoos on his arms, he explained: “The big one is for my wife and the smaller ones are for my daughter Jezebel and my son Lennox.”

Heitinga added that he fancies being a manager when he retires, most enjoyed playing at the Bernebeu, and wears Nike Tiempo boots.

And his favourite goal harked back to his roots in Holland’s Eredivisie. “It was one for Ajax against Feyenoord,” he said. “From the edge of the box into the bottom corner. I enjoyed that one a lot.”

Self-belief is one of Heitinga’s big strengths, so much so that he will not lose sleep over criticism he received from Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk after the Everton man’s stray pass allowed Bulgaria to complete a shock victory in a warm-up game.

“The last 30 minutes has annoyed me. A pass like Heitinga’s is just forbidden. You just don’t do that. Now we have lost and that’s not good,” said Van Marwijk, although Heitinga is unlikely to be ruffled.

As ever, Mr unflappable is concentrating on the positives: “I think we’re among the favourites for the tournament but it is a tough group and we will need a bit of luck also,” he said.