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The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has appointed Derek King as “caretaker coach” of the Men’s National Senior Team.
King, 44, replaces his former boss, Angus Eve, and will have the responsibility of leading the Soca Warriors at the start of their 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League journey.
Trinidad and Tobago are away to Honduras on 6 September while they host French Guiana on 10 September. The TTFA did not offer a commitment to King beyond those two games.
“King’s immediate focus will be on preparing the team for their crucial Concacaf Nations League fixtures,” stated an unsigned TTFA press statement. “The TTFA is confident in his ability to steer the team towards success in these important matches while the search for a new full-time head coach continues.
“[…] Having served as assistant coach to the outgoing head coach Angus Eve, King has been an integral part of the senior team setup. His familiarity with the players and the team’s dynamics positions him well to lead the squad during this transition period.”
Notably, it has emerged that the decision to replace Eve as head coach was not recommended by the TTFA technical committee. Instead, the call came solely from the executive committee, which is led by president and technical and development committee chair Kieron Edwards.
(via TTFA Media)
The rest of the executive committee comprises first vice-president Colin Murray, second vice-president Osmond Downer, third vice-president Jameson Rigues, and ordinary members Alicia Austin, Inspector Andrew Boodhoo, Allan Logan, Ryan Nunes, and Shelton Williams.
Nothing stops King from throwing his hat into the ring to be Eve’s full-time replacement and he is not short of experience as a deputy.
King, a former national defender at youth and senior level, served as assistant coach to Hutson Charles, Jamaal Shabazz, Stephen Hart, Terry Fenwick and Eve over the last 12 years.
The Soca Warriors climbed to 49th in the Fifa rankings and had two successive Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal finishes during Hart’s tenure.
Photo: Allan V Crane/ Wired868
As a head coach, King led Trinidad and Tobago to the 2014 Under-20 Caribbean Cup title, which is the last men’s trophy collected by the TTFA.
In the domestic game, King is one of just two coaches to win Pro League titles with different clubs—a feat he managed with Joe Public and North East Stars. (Incidentally, Fenwick did it first with San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC.)
And King added Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) honours to his CV after steering FC Santa Rosa to the title in 2018.
Photo: Allan V Crane/ CA-Images/ Wired868
“I am honoured to take on this responsibility and lead our national team during this important time,” King told the TTFA Media. “Our immediate focus is on the upcoming Nations League matches, and I am confident that with good planning, hard work and dedication, we can achieve positive results.
“I look forward to working closely with the players and staff to ensure we get the results and performances we all desire.”
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I hope Stephen Hart is being considered
You think he would accept? Somewhat unlikely, I would think.