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Former Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team attacker Brian Haynes will serve as the head coach of the Men’s National Under-20 and Under-23 Teams, effective today.
Haynes, who has been based in the United States for the past four decades, received an initial six-month contract from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), which will also see him assist the local football body with “developing the Talent Identification and Scouting Systems across the various age groups”.
Photo: TTFA Media
His appointment, according to the TTFA Media, followed a “review of various applications that were received and reviewed by the TTFA, via a process led by technical director Anton Corneal, over the past few weeks”.
It is uncertain whether the job went out to formal tender.
“I think Brian will be a good addition to our set up, not just as the Men’s U-20 head coach but also helping to prepare some of the younger players to be introduced into the senior team in the near future,” Corneal told the TTFA Media.
“He is coming here in a two-fold role. He will also give us the opportunity to access players, especially those coming out of the US—with him being based there for such a long time where he has established a lot of connections. His appointment is based on a couple different roles that he will play.”
(Copyright Nicholas Bhajan/ CA-Images/ Wired868)
Haynes, according to the TTFA, will lead the Men’s Under-23 Team which “will be used as a feeder team for the Senior Men’s National Team”.
It is uncertain whether a specific programme would be arranged for Trinidad and Tobago’s Men’s Under-23 Team, since the team has no known competitive fixtures in 2024—having failed to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games at the 2022 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship.
Current Soca Warriors head coach Angus Eve steered the National Under-20 Team at the 2022 Concacaf tournament and expressed a desire to also lead a feeder team to his squad.
However, Haynes’ appointment means Eve will focus solely on the National Senior Team. Instead, Haynes and Shawn Cooper—both appointed during Corneal’s term—are responsible for the Under-23 and Under-20, and Under-17 and Under-15 squads respectively.
All three players are eligible to represent T&T at the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship.
(Copyright Miguel Gutierrez/ Straffon Images via TTFA Media)
Haynes’ only competitive test of his short-term deal comes at the 2024 Concacaf Men’s U20 Qualifiers, which Trinidad and Tobago will host at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 23 February.
And the new national youth coach has just under four months to prepare a squad for action in Group D, alongside Canada, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Only the group winner will advance to the 2024 Concacaf Men’s U20 Championships.
“It’s an understatement to say I’m delighted with the appointment,” Haynes told the TTFA Media. “What I’m looking for is the next Trinbagonian who wants to make an impact, not just in his local community but for the country itself.
“It’s always been my passion to work with players between the ages of 18 and 24. It’s where I feel comfortable and when the opportunity came, it didn’t matter when it was going to be. Once it was offered to me the answer was yes.
(via TTFA Media)
“I’m thankful for the opportunity and I can’t wait to come home to get to work with these players.”
A former international player at national youth and senior level, Haynes, a former MLS player with Dallas Burn, began his professional coaching career as an assistant with Burn in 2001.
His last coaching stint was as an assistant at Colorado Rapids II in the MLS Next Pro competition between January 2022 and March 2023.
Chaves, a national under-17 player in 2023, is eligible for the 2024 Concacaf U20 Championship.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
In between the two, Haynes coached for roughly eight years at the youth or developmental level in the United States, while his last post as head coach in a competitive arena came in 2013 with NASL team, Atlanta Silverbacks.
He vowed to create an entertaining national youth team for the Trinidad and Tobago public.
“First and foremost, I will get familiar with the players, get to know them and get all the information on these players,” said Haynes. “I will be looking at all the videos. I am a possession-oriented type of coach. I am also the kind of coach that likes to press and I am also the kind of coach that wants to make sure that we entertain first.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
“Yes, we want to win but we want the Trinbagonian people to come support us because we play a brand of football that is something they want to see. We are going to work harder than any other team.”
Haynes will be expected to combine a pool of SSFL players with eligible North America-based or born talent.
Corneal said his support staff will be finalised soon, so they could begin the screening of eligible players, who are between 14 and 18 years old.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“The TTFA High Performance Programme staff has been scouting and monitoring the progress of the players, in particular in the SSFL,” said Corneal. “We are proud that many of the top performing players in the SSFL are already part of our High Performance Programme or National U17 Programme—but that is not to say that we haven’t also been encouraged by a few other players who have stood out that we would now like to invite into the programmes.
“The age group for the tournament is players born from 2005 to 2009, so we do understand that many of coach Shawn Cooper’s Under-17 team from earlier this year may be a part of this Under-20 team.
“But, of course, we will scout, screen and bring in some other talent as well with Brian.”
Both players are eligible for Brian Haynes’ pool.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Trinidad and Tobago advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2022 Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship under Eve. However, a change of format means only 12 under-20 teams will play at the 2024 Championship.
Canada, who were also defeated in the Round of 16 phase two years ago, are Trinidad and Tobago’s most obvious threat to advancing.
“We are going to do our best to qualify and take this team as far as we can take it,” said Haynes. “I want to make sure we can put our name back on the map in Concacaf. Mediocrity is not something I am willing to stand for.”
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Congratulations Brian (Wayne)
Welcome home. Looking forward to you making an uplifting imput into our nation football.
Willing to assist in any and whatever way possible.
My sincerest congratulations to Brian on his selection as the new TT U-20 National team coach. Good move TT, you really made a fine choice. Brian is a seasoned leader and eminently qualified to coach on this level, anywhere in the world! . But one good coach cannot do it by himself. What is needed is Support and cooperation from a “knowledgeable “ and strong administration, one that puts the development of coaches and players first!
Good Luck Brian! I think we are on to something here.