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Leo Beenhakker

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Leo Beenhakker
Beenhakker in 1986
Personal information
Date of birth (1942-08-02)2 August 1942
Place of birth Rotterdam, German-occupied Netherlands
Date of death 10 April 2025(2025-04-10) (aged 82)
Place of death Rotterdam, Netherlands
Position(s) Right winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Maasstad Tediro [nl]
Xerxes
Zwart-Wit '28
Managerial career
1965–1967 Epe [nl]
1968–1972 Veendam
1972–1975 Cambuur
1975–1976 Go Ahead Eagles
1976–1979 Feyenoord (youth)
1979–1981 Ajax
1981–1984 Real Zaragoza
1984–1985 Volendam
1985–1986 Netherlands
1986–1989 Real Madrid
1989–1991 Ajax
1990 Netherlands
1992 Real Madrid
1992–1993 Grasshoppers
1993–1994 Saudi Arabia
1994–1995 Club América
1995 İstanbulspor
1996 Guadalajara
1996–1997 Vitesse
1997–2000 Feyenoord
2003–2004 Club América
2005–2006 Trinidad and Tobago
2006–2009 Poland
2007 Feyenoord (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leo Beenhakker (Dutch: [ˈleːjoː ˈbeːnɦɑkər]; 2 August 1942 – 10 April 2025) was a Dutch football player and coach. Nicknamed "Don Leo" for his role in Spanish football, he had an extensive and successful career both at club and international level.

He led both Ajax and Feyenoord to Dutch championships and also had domestic success with Real Madrid.

At international level, he led the Netherlands at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Trinidad and Tobago to the 2006 FIFA World Cup and Poland to UEFA Euro 2008, the latter two being firsts for both nations.

Early life and playing career

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Beenhakker was born on 2 August 1942 in Rotterdam.[1] A right winger,[2] Beenhakker played at amateur clubs Maasstad Tediro [nl], Xerxes and Zwart-Wit '28.[3]

Coaching career

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Beenhakker was the coach of several prestigious clubs including Ajax, Feyenoord, Real Madrid—as the club's most recent manager to win both La Liga and Copa del Rey in the same season,[4] Club América,[5] and Real Zaragoza.[6] He also coached the national teams of Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago, Poland, and the Netherlands.[7]

Ajax

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From 2000 to 2003, Beenhakker was director of technical affairs with Ajax. In that period, he fired head coach Co Adriaanse and replaced him with Ronald Koeman.[8]

Trinidad and Tobago

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On May 2005, he was appointed head coach of Trinidad and Tobago. During his tenure, he coached the team to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the country's first-ever World Cup appearance,[9] after a famous 1–0 win away against Bahrain via a header by Dennis Lawrence as Trinidad and Tobago won 2–1 on aggregate.[10] Beenhakker was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold Class), the second highest state decoration of Trinidad and Tobago.[11]

Under Beenhakker's guidance in the World Cup, the team secured a 0–0 draw against Sweden in their first match,[12] and lost to both England[13] and Paraguay 2–0.

Poland

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Beenhakker, decorated in 2008 with the Order of Polonia Restituta

On 11 July 2006, Beenhakker was appointed as the manager of the Poland national team. On 17 November 2007, after Poland defeated Belgium 2–0, he managed to qualify Poland for the UEFA European Championship for their first time. On 20 February 2008, Beenhakker was decorated with the Order of Polonia Restituta by Polish president Lech Kaczyński.[14] Originally, he was appointed to manage Poland until the end of UEFA Euro 2008, however his contract was extended until November 2009, the end of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. After Poland's failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, Beenhakker was sacked.[15]

Feyenoord

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While still in charge of Poland, Feyenoord hired Beenhakker on 5 May 2007 as an interim coach to lead the club through the 2006–07 play-offs. After his departure from Poland, he was named the sports director of the club, signing a contract on 9 October 2009 lasting until 30 June 2011.[16]

Sparta Rotterdam

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In December 2013, Beenhakker was appointed technical director at Sparta Rotterdam, a position he held on to until June 2015, before announcing his retirement from football.[17] In November 2017, he joined the Sparta board as a technical advisor, which he did voluntarily until Sparta found a technical director. In March 2018,[7] when Sparta appointed Henk van Stee, Beenhakker left his post and announced his retirement again.[7]

Personal life and death

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Beenhakker earned the nickname Don Leo largely due to his legacy in Spanish football, fondness of cigars and dry humour.

Beenhakker died at the age of 82 on 10 April 2025.[18] He is survived by a son and a daughter from his first marriage.[19][20]

Honours

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Ajax

Real Madrid

Feyenoord

Individual

References

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  1. ^ Islas, Laura (10 April 2025). "Leo Beenhakker dies: Cause of death and net worth of the former América and Real Madrid coach". Revista Merca2.0. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  2. ^ Buddenberg, Fred (8 November 1997). "'Ik wil alleen dingen doen waarin ik heilig geloof'". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  3. ^ "'Een wat treurig afscheid van Beenhakker'". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 19 June 2003. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  4. ^ Kouremenos, Achilleas (11 April 2025). "Leo Beenhakker, Dutch Soccer Great Who Coached Real Madrid and Two World Cup Teams, Dies at 82". The National Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  5. ^ "¿Por qué despidieron a Leo Beenhakker, el DT que llevó al América de Cuauhtémoc Blanco a la cima?". El Financiero (in Spanish). 10 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Adiós a Leo Beenhakker, el técnico que revolucionó al Real Zaragoza". SportAragon (in Spanish). 10 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Former Ajax coach Leo Beenhakker (82) passes away". Ajax.nl. AFC Ajax. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Ajax-directie maakt optelsom af en zendt Adriaanse weg". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). 10 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  9. ^ "TTFA mourns passing of Soca Warriors' World Cup Coach, Leo Beenhakker". Loop News. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  10. ^ Beckles, Jelani (11 April 2025). "Ex-Soca Warriors pay tribute to late 2006 World Cup coach Leo Beenhakker". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Birchall and Bell up for award". BBC Sport. 13 November 2006. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Football – World Cup 2006 – Sweden 0–0 Trinidad & Tobago". BBC Sport. 10 June 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Football – World Cup 2006 – England 2–0 Trinidad & Tobago". BBC Sport. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  14. ^ a b Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 16 stycznia 2008 r. o nadaniu orderu [Decision of the President of the Republic of Poland of 16 January 2008 on awarding the order], M.P., 2008, vol. 54, No. 477 (16 January 2008)
  15. ^ "Poland dismiss coach Beenhakker". BBC Sport. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Feyenoord contrató a Leo Beenhakker como DT" (in Spanish). 9 October 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Leo Beenhakker stopt bij Sparta" [Leo Beenhakker quits at Sparta]. Radio Rijnmond (in Dutch). 2 June 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Oud-toptrainer Leo Beenhakker op 82-jarige leeftijd overleden" [Former top coach Leo Beenhakker passed away at age 82]. NOS (in Dutch). 10 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  19. ^ "Trainer worden was een obsessie voor Rooie Leo" [Becoming a coach was an obsession for Ginger Leo]. Voetbal International (in Dutch). 10 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Leo Beenhakker nog één keer langs De Kuip voor laatste groet supporters" [Leo Beenhakker for final time passing De Kuip stadium for last goodbye fans]. Radio Rijnmond (in Dutch). 15 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  21. ^ a b "Laureaci". pilkanozna.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 21 June 2024.
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