Leo Beenhakker, a legendary coach who won the SP with Trinidad and Tobag, passed away …
Leo Beenhakkerlegendary Dutch football coach, passed away at the age of 82, his family announced. Born in Rotterdam, Beenhakker has had a rich career for almost 50 years, during which he has led numerous clubs and national teams around the world, and has been known for his charm and peculiar style, which is why he was called « Don Leo ».
The coaching trip began in 1965 at an amateur club St. Edaand at the age of 26 he made his debut among professionals. Soon came engagement at Dutch clubs, including SC Cambuur and Go Ahead Eagles and then the leading teams like Ajax. which he led in the late 70’s and again in the 1990s, and Feyenoordawith which he won the championship title in 1999, the first after almost two decades.
He had the most success abroad with Real Madridwith which he won three consecutive titles in the Spanish Championship from 1987 to 1989 and led him briefly in the early 1990s. Beenhakker trained through his career and Grasshoppersthe Saudi Arabia national team and the Mexican clubs Club Améric and Chivas, as well as Istanbulspor in Turkey.
Although he returned to the Netherlands repeatedly, one of his greatest successes was the historical placement of Trinidad and Tobag at the 2006 World Cup, their first ever. He concluded his coaching career as a coach of Poland (2006-2009), while he led the Dutch team twice, including appearance at the 1990 World Cup, where they dropped out in the eighth finals.
