“A loyal and humble servant to football”; ex-T&T player and coach, Clyde Leon, dies at 37


Former Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team player and national youth team coach Clyde Leon passed away last night following a heart attack, according to a press statement from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA). He was 37 years old.

Leon, who played as a deep-lying midfielder, made 48 international appearances for the Soca Warriors with a lone goal against Guyana. He was awarded the captain’s armband by then head coach Russell Latapy in 2010—after the retirement of Dwight Yorke—and led the twin island republic at the 2010 Caribbean Cup tournament.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Clyde Leon in action against the United States during the 2010 World Cup qualifying series.
(via Houston Chronicle)

His last international cap came on 16 November 2012 in a 3-0 Caribbean Cup qualifying win over Suriname at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet.

At the domestic level, Leon was the lynchpin of the W Connection Football Club and won the Pro League title in 2011/12. 

Leon was just 29-years-old when he retired, due to a heart condition. He moved into coaching at Connection and then for his country where he served as assistant coach on the Boys National Under-15 and Men’s National Under-17 Teams.

Leon was one of a multitude of coaches whose tenure was cut short last year by a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ‘normalisation’ of the TTFA.

Photo: W Connection midfield star Clyde Leon (second from right) is congratulated after his superb goal against Chivas de la Guadalajara in the 2012 Concacaf Champions League.
(Courtesy Wired868)

“Clyde was a loyal and humble servant to football who has left some wonderful memories that will never fade from our hearts,” stated the TTFA Media. “May his Gentle Soul Rest in Peace.”

Editor’s Note: Click HERE to read a tribute to Clyde Leon from Clayton ‘JB’ Morris, Densill Theobald, Hutson ‘Barber’ Charles, Jefferson George, Devorn Jorsling, Wayne Sheppard, Sheldon Scipio, Trey Hart and Dean Logan.

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