TTFA appoints King as T&T head coach; Molino shares misgivings

Interim Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Derek King, 46, is set to be given the job on a permanent basis, according to Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards.

Edwards made the revelation during the iSports football programme with hosts Andre Baptiste and Tony Lee on i95.5FM on Saturday. The TTFA subsequently confirmed King’s appointment, after this Wired868 report—which has been updated.

The decision was taken by a TTFA executive committee meeting in late April.

King, according to a TTFA release, was awarded with “a one-year contract in the first instance, with an option for renewal”. There was no mention of the deliverables that would trigger a renewal.

Edwards described King, who worked with the president’s Central FC TTPFL team last season, as a “steady hand” who is just what the Soca Warriors need at present.

“Derek has been part of the environment and understands what is required at this level,” Edwards told the TTFA Media. “He has shown a steady hand during his time in charge and we believe this is the right moment to give him the responsibility on a full-time basis.

“We are looking for consistency, discipline and a clear direction for the team, and we expect Derek to continue building in that regard.”

Wired868 understands that the TTFA did not review applications or undergo any head-hunting exercise to decide on its new head coach. Instead, King, who worked as assistant to former head coach Dwight Yorke, was hand-picked to take the Soca Warriors into the 2026/27 Concacaf Nations League A campaign.

The decision was taken without any consultation with the TTFA technical committee, which has not met formally in 2026.

King, who briefly held the interim position before Yorke’s appointment as head coach in 2024, is now on his third go at the helm of the Men’s National Senior Team.

On each occasion, he was selected without a tendering process.

King, who is an alderman with the Arima Borough Corporation, also worked as assistant to six national head coaches over the past 14 years: Hutson Charles (2012-13), Stephen Hart (2013-16), Terry Fenwick (2020-21), Angus Eve (2022-24).

On the domestic circuit, the former national defender is one of only two coaches, alongside Englishman Terry Fenwick, to win the Pro League title with two different clubs: Joe Public and North East Stars.

King also lifted the Super League trophy with FC Santa Rosa and is the last Trinidad and Tobago men’s coach to lift a regional trophy—having steered the National Under-20 team to the 2014 Caribbean Cup title.

Jamaica, incidentally, did not participate in the 2014 U-20 Caribbean Cup since they had a bye to the next round, as hosts of the Concacaf 2015 U-20 competition.

Outside of the domestic circuit and national youth arena, though, King still has plenty to prove.

In his first stint as interim head coach, King tallied one home win over Cuba (3-1), two draws against Cuba (2-2 away) and French Guiana (0-0 at home) and a loss away to Honduras (0-4).

His current stint yielded losses to Bolivia (0-3) and Venezuela (1-4) and a penalty shootout loss to Gabon after a 2-2 tie.

Former Men’s National Senior Team captain Kevin Molino suggested that King would struggle to win over his team and was a step down from Yorke, as head coach.

“I am not saying Derek King is doing a bad job but it’s a difference to when Dwight Yorke was there,” Molino told iSports. “You could see a structure [under Yorke], these guys listening and you could see what Trinidad was trying to do. Now we can’t tell what we really want to do.”

Molino said the mix of players from different backgrounds and operating in diverse arenas is a big challenge, and suggested there are players who do their own thing on national duty and refuse to work for the team.

He expressed doubt that King, who also served as assistant to Hart at HFX Wanderers FC in the Canadian Premier League for one season, was up to the task.

“[…] It is difficult [to manage the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team],” said Molino. “[…] The young players are so disrespectful—they need a manager who they can really respect.”

However, King has the confidence of the TTFA Board and he said he is honoured to be entrusted with the position.

“Together with the players and staff, we will work to build a clear identity, compete at the highest level and make the nation proud,” he said. “I fully understand the responsibility that comes with representing our country, and I embrace that challenge with focus and determination.”

King will lead out the Soca Warriors in an international friendly against Russia at the Kaliningrad Stadium on 9 June while the TTFA is also weighing up options for a second outing in that match window.

The real challenge, of course, will come in the Nations League A. Former coach Angus Eve oversaw Trinidad and Tobago’s promotion to the top tier in 2023 and then took the Soca Warriors to the quarterfinal round of the 2023/24 edition.

King helped stave off relegation in 2024 and would be expected to do at least as well in the 2026/27 campaign.

“My commitment is to build a disciplined, hardworking and competitive team,” said King. “We will demand high standards, accountability and professionalism at every level—both on and off the field.

“Our objective is simple: to compete, to improve and to make the people of Trinidad and Tobago proud. We will work tirelessly to ensure that every time we step onto the field, we represent the passion and spirit of our nation.”

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Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.