"This game is not mathematics and in football two plus two very rarely equals four – it’s usually three or five.”
Herein lies the pure essence and delightful philosophy of one of the game’s great characters. Part poet, part rogue, part romantic, part tactician, part actor, Beenhakker brings a purity of vision to a the modern game, too often criticised for being bereft of genuine characters.
'Don Leo' – as he came to be known in Spain, where he coached Real Madrid – has an unrivalled passion for football. In his 42 years in what the Dutchman describes as this “wonderful, wild jungle of football”, he has seen it all.
Leo and Trinidad: A perfect fit
Whatever his rhetoric and reputation may tell you, the most important thing to know about Beenhakker is his ability to inspire a team on the pitch. With most pundits writing the Trinidadians off as fodder for the Group B big boys, Beenhakker’s preparations have paid off.
A lengthy run of friendlies provoked criticism back home and had people talking of exhaustion. Instead, T&T looked a picture of organisation in their opener – no mean feat for a country whose football had been known previously for an overall lack of order.
Trinidad, led by a deep-lying Dwight Yorke, came out looking fit from the start on Saturday. Keeping their shape all over the pitch, tackling hard and never looking overawed, it seemed Beenhakker had them believing from the first whistle that a footballing miracle could take place.
“Look at their (Sweden’s) team sheet,” said Beenhakker. “They come from teams like Juventus and Arsenal and Anderlecht. My boys come from San Juan Jabloteh, which I know you have never heard of, and New England Revolution in USA and Gillingham. I’m sure not one of you could find it without a good map.”
No doubt Beenhakker used talk of David v Goliath to inspire his side and his on-field lieutenant Yorke, who enjoyed domestic and European success with Manchester United, tackled hard and fought for every ball. With an inspired performance from late substitute keeper Shaka Hislop, the Soca Warriors inspired scenes of wild celebration back home as they ground out a sensational draw for their first point in their first-ever FIFA World Cup match.
Reduced to ten men after Avery John picked up his second yellow for an enthusiastic challenge on Anders Svensson, 'Don Leo', pulled an old trick out of his hat. Rather than bring on a defender like most modern managers would, he opted for speedy striker Cornell Glen of New England Revolution.
When asked about his odd tactic, he could only smile and say: "Isn’t great when it works? They were looking to push forward and get at us with ten men, so I decided to make them chase a very fast striker. In the end they were defending two speedy front men with five defenders. I love it when something like that works out."
In one final bit of Beenhakker brilliance, a reporter asked about the exchange of words and embrace between the Dutchman and Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the match. “Mr Beenhakker, what did you say to Zlatan?” asked the journalist. "Well, that's personal," the coach responded coyly, before admitting what he had said to the striker he nurtured at Ajax. “I said, ‘I love you Zlatan, you really are a good boy for not scoring on your old friend Leo'."
Ibrahimovic gave his response to the press later. “I love him too, really I do,” the Juventus striker admitted.
With any luck Beenhakker's Soca Warriors can stick around to inspire the neutrals and make more magic like on 10 June in Dortmund. Every draw or win may give us all a few more lines of old wisdom from an inspirational manager.
