Dutch football mourns the loss of Leo Beenhakker. The former bond coach died at the age of 82.
This was confirmed by Beenhakker’s family. The Elftal looked after Beenhakker between 1985 and 1986 and in 1990, when he lost the scandal game with the spitting incident of Frank Rijkaard against Rudi Völler in the round of 16 against Germany (1-2) at the World Cup in Italy.
Leo Beenhakker with Franz Beckenbauer at the 1990 World Cup in Milan
Three Championships With Real Madrid
Beenhakker celebrated its greatest success in club football. As a trainer of Real Madrid, he won three championships in succession from 1987 to 1989. “Real Madrid would like to express his condolences and compassion to his family, his clubs and all his relatives”the club said.
Trainer Leo Beenhakker at Real Madrid with Emilio Bubra
At home, “Don Leo” won the national league twice with Ajax Amsterdam and once with Feyenoord Rotterdam. In total, Beenhakker was a coach for 45 years, and at the age of 26 he was also the youngest head coach in Dutch professional football.
With Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup in Germany
However, his time as a bond coach was not successful. Before the round of 16 in 1990 against Germany, Beenhakker missed the qualification for the World Cup in Mexico during his first term. Later the native of Rotterdam was a national coach in Saudi Arabia, with Trinidad and Tobago he competed in Germany at the 2006 World Cup. In total, Beenhakker was a coach for the Netherlands and Trinidad and Tobago in seven games – he won none.
Leo Beenhakker at the 2006 World Cup with England’s David Beckham
In 2009 he ended his career at the national team of Poland. Poland’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who worked with Beenhakker in Poland’s national team between 2006 and 2009, recalled: “Rest in peace, coach. Thank you for the chance to fulfill my dream in the national team.”