TTFF eyeing Tigana, Gullit as ‘Warriors’ coach

And according to a source close to the TTFF, an announcement as to the new coach will be made before Christmas.

Latapy has been under fire for his failure to guide the “Soca Warriors” to the World Cup in South Africa in June this year, and more recently for his inability to lead the team to the final of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.

At the recent Caribbean Cup, the “Soca Warriors” managed just one win, a 1-0 victory over Martinique in their three-match schedule.

The source said, the TTFF wish-list for the coaching job include ex-French World Cup star Jean Tigana and Dutch superstar Ruud Gullit who recently visited here.

He said both coaches have already been interviewed by the local football federation and a decision will be made soon.

“Latas” as he is affectionately called, was given until weekend to hand in a technical report on the “Soca Warriors’” poor showing in Martinique.

And the technical committee of the TTFF is expected to meet to discuss Latapy’s report and his future in local football.

In Martinique, the “Soca Warriors” were defeated 2-0 by Cuba in their opening match of the final round and later 1-0 by Grenada, before their slim victory.

According to the source, the TTFF are currently in the process of finalising which of Tigana or Gullit would be better suited for the job of development of local football and ensuring the country is returned to the position it once held in Caribbean and world football.

The source said, Tigana who recently took over from Raymond Domenech as coach of French Football giants Bordeaux, is the front-runner for the job.

Tigana played alongside Michele Platini during the 1986 quarter-final match between Brazil and France in the FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

He was also an influential member of the French team that won the European title in 1984 and reached the semi-finals at both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, as well as successes as a coach with Lyon, Monaco and Fulham in England.

Gullit who was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1987 as well as World Soccer Player of the Year that same year and in 1989 has last managed the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer (MLS)

He made his mark at Italian Club AC Milan in the 1980s when he joined with teammates Marco Van Basten and Frank Rijkaard.

Contacted Oliver Camps, TTFF president denied these claims but admitted his federation will meet soon to discuss the way forward for TT football. He admitted that while his federation is in the process of appointing different committees soon after their AGM, he too is concerned about the state of local football.

He said, however, whoever is chosen for the coaching job will be someone that they can pay. Attempts to reach federation’s Special Advisor Jack Autin Warner, yesterday proved futile.

Tigana tops T&TFF wish list.
By: Nigel Simon (Guardian).

Former French international and team-mate of UEFA president Michel Platini, Jean Tigana is said to be a clear favourite among the T&T Football Federation (TTFF) top officials to replace Soca Warriors’ coach Russell Latapy.

The decision on the coaching role is set to be made after a meeting among T&TFF president, Oliver Camps, his executive committee inclusive of General Secretary Richard Groden, Special Advisor and Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, Technical Advisor Keith Look Loy and Technical Director Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips on Saturday.

While the meeting is still two days away it is rumoured the 55-year-old Tigana is the clear favourite ahead of Holland’s Ruud Gullit, two other un-named Dutch coaches and Yugoslav-born Bora Mulitinovic, who is considered an outsider for the job.

The current coach of China, Mulitinovic has coached four different World Cup teams (Mexico - 1986, Costa Rica - 1990, USA -1994 and Nigeria - 1998) and is no stranger to Concacaf football.

Speculation over the sacking of Latapy also increased following statements by Warner on Tuesday that in international football, results were the main factor in determining the future of coaches.

The 55-year-old Tigana, who won a European Championship in 1984 with France is currently the coach of French League 1 club, Girondins Bordeaux and will warrant a huge salary should the T&TFF manage to acquire his services from the French club.

Tigana, a World Cup semifinalist in 1982 and 1986 also won a French League title with Bordeaux as a player in 1984 followed by two other triumphs with Olympique Marseille, in 1990 and 1991. He has also coached at two other French League winners’, Lyon and Monaco as well as English Premiership club, Fulham.

His salary at Bordeaux is rumoured to be around, US$50,000 per month and according to sources the T&TFF with the support of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Sport Company of T&T the TTFF will be willing to match that figure or even go a bit higher.

Gullit, meanwhile is a former European (1987) and World (1989) “Player of the Year” winner and starred for Italian giants, AC Milan during the height of his playing career and is currently without a coaching job.

Gullit, who was in T&T earlier this year as part of a joint Belgium/Holland World Cup bid team also played at Italy’s Sampdoria and coached at Chelsea and LA Galaxy. Tigana was rumoured to be a target for the T&TFF after the resigning of Colombian Francisco Maturana in April following the Soca Warriors dismal start to the 2010 Fifa World Cup Concacaf Final Round campaign.

But in the end Latapy was hired on a short-term basis to complete the qualifying soon after before he was given a two-year deal a month later. Some of the goals set out by the T&TFF in the contract was qualification for the Concacaf Gold Cup in the USA next year.

But following the team’s early Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals exit and failure to qualify for the Gold Cup it seems the end is near for Latapy.

In Martinique, the Soca Warriors were beaten in their first two matches at the DCC Finals by Cuba (2-0) and Grenada (1-0) before ending group play with a 1-0 win over the hosts.

Overall, Latapy’s record since taking over from Colombia Francisco Maturana during the second round of the Concacaf Final World Cup Qualifiers for South Africa 2010 World Cup has seen the former Porto start and national captain win nine of 23 matches, with 11 defeats and three draws.

Prior to the Digicel Caribbean Cup Second Round matches and Finals, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts stated that should T&T fail to at least reach the semifinal and qualify for the Gold Cup Latapy’s position as coach should be reviewed.

Roberts’ views were supported by Camps, but last week after the win over Martinique the T&TFF boss softened his stance and said it maybe too premature to call for the sacking of the coach before having discussions with the staff and players.

Roberts, meanwhile did not make any further comments, only adding on Tuesday that he had spoken his view already. Meanwhile Latapy, who has a good rapport with his players contrary to media reports has stated his desire to stay on as coach.

But having failed to achieve immediate goals set out by the T&TFF its more than likely his stint as Soca Warriors coach may well be over on Saturday.

It has also been felt in many circles that even before Latapy and his staff left for Martinique his position as coach of the team was already determined by the T&TFF after a run of mixed results against Caribbean and Central American opponents.