Leo Beenhakker
Dutch football coach (1942–2025) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
|
Beenhakker in 1986 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 August 1942 | ||
| Place of birth | Rotterdam, German-occupied Netherlands | ||
| Date of death | 10 April 2025 (aged 82) | ||
| Place of death | Rotterdam, Netherlands | ||
| Position(s) | Right winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Maasstad Tediro | |||
| Xerxes | |||
| Zwart-Wit '28 | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1965–1967 | Epe | ||
| 1967–1968 | Go Ahead Eagles (assistant) | ||
| 1968–1972 | Veendam | ||
| 1972–1975 | Cambuur | ||
| 1975–1976 | Go Ahead Eagles | ||
| 1976–1978 | Feyenoord (youth) | ||
| 1978–1979 | Ajax (youth and assistant) | ||
| 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 | |||
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
Beenhakker was born on 2 August 1942 in Rotterdam.[1] A right winger,[2] Beenhakker played at amateur clubs Maasstad Tediro, Xerxes and Zwart-Wit '28.[3]
Coaching career
Summarize
Perspective
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
Ajax
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89
- Copa del Rey: 1988–89
- Supercopa de España: 1988, 1989 (won both Copa del Rey and La Liga)
Feyenoord
- Eredivisie: 1998–99
- Johan Cruyff Shield: 1999
Individual
Chaconia Medal, Gold Class: 2006[11]
Order of Polonia Restituta, Officer's Cross: 2008[14]- Piłka Nożna Foreigner of the Year: 2006[21]
- Piłka Nożna Man of the Year: 2007[21]
References
External links
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