The coach who guided Trinidad and Tobago to the pinnacle of international football has died.
Dutchman Leo Beenhakker, who helped the Soca Warriors qualify for the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany, has died at the age of 82. The 2006 World Cup is the only time TT featured at the tournament. When Beenhakker took over the coaching duties, the goal of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup seemed like an impossible task. Beenhakker proved he had the magic touch, turning around the campaign.
In November 2005, after being held to a 1-1 draw by Bahrain at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, the Soca Warriors needed to defeat the same team in the second leg of the World Cup playoff to seal a spot at the World Cup. A header from Dennis Lawrence was enough to give TT a 1-0 win as Beenhakker's team created history.
Before coaching Soca Warriors, Beenhakker had a full resume as he coached in Europe at both international and club football. He led Spanish club Real Madrid to three straight La Liga titles in the late 1980s.
A TT HERO, TREASURE
Speaking to Newsday, former Soca Warriors defender Brent Sancho, said, "A man that has left an indelible mark on the sport, not because of what he did from a coaching perspective, but what he brought to this country. He came in and embraced a situation that some may have thought at that point in time was unattainable. He not only embraced it, but he championed it. He is certainly in my estimation a national treasure."
World Cup goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who made a few spectacular saves against Sweden in TT's opening match at the World Cup, was glad he was able to spend time with Beenhakker during a Gold Cup tournament after the World Cup.
Speaking to the TT Football Association (TTFA) media, Hislop said, "Being able to just chat and laugh about nothing in particular will always remain a special moment for me, but of course Leo Beenhakker is best known as the coach that took us to the World Cup and will forever be a part of TT's footballing history, always folklore given what we accomplished in qualifying, but how we were able to stun and always stun some of Europe's big boys (at the World Cup)."
The TTFA described the former TT coach as "a titan of world football" and an "enduring hero in the story of our nation's game."
BEENHAKKER'S PLAYERS SEND TT INTO A FRENZY
Most people would remember November 16, 2005 - the day Lawrence sealed a spot for TT at the World Cup.
Beenhakker gave the people of TT a moment they would never forget. The second-leg match against Bahrain was played around lunch time (TT time). It was a working day for most, but for a few hours work came to a halt. Thousands lined the streets of Port of Spain, San Fernando and all the towns in between to celebrate the accomplishment.
Fast forward to June 2006 and TT made their debut at the World Cup against Sweden.
Despite TT being down to ten players for most of the second half after Avery John was sent off, the Soca Warriors held Sweden to a goalless draw. That result led to anothe
