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Dennis Lawrence

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For other people named Dennis Lawrence, see Dennis Lawrence (disambiguation).

Dennis Lawrence
Personal information
Full name Dennis William Lawrence[1]
Date of birth (1974-08-01) 1 August 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Morvant, Trinidad and Tobago
Height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Minnesota United (assistant coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1993 Barataria Ball Players
1993–1998 Caledonia AIA
1999–2000 Defence Force
2001–2006 Wrexham 198 (14)
2006–2009 Swansea City 84 (7)
2008–2009 → Crewe Alexandra (loan) 28 (3)
2009–2010 San Juan Jabloteh 7 (1)
Total 317 (25)
International career
2000–2010[2] Trinidad and Tobago 89 (5)
Managerial career
2017–2019 Trinidad and Tobago
2021–2024 Coventry City (first-team coach)
2024– Minnesota United (assistant coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dennis William Lawrence CM (born 1 August 1974) is a Trinidad and Tobago former professional footballer and current assistant coach at Minnesota United. He was the manager of the Trinidad and Tobago national team from 2017 to 2019. Prior to coaching, he had a successful playing career in England, Wales and Trinidad and Tobago. He lifted the Caribbean Cup with the Soca Warriors and won several cup competitions with Wrexham before winning a league title with Swansea City. Before moving to Everton, he had coached for three years at Wigan Athletic during which time he became the first Trinidadian to win the FA Cup.[3]

Club career

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Prior to becoming a footballer, Lawrence worked as a supermarket attendant in Port of Spain. He later joined the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force and became eligible to play for their football team Defence Force.

Lawrence signed for Wrexham for a fee of £100,000 in 2001, joining from Defence Force of his native Trinidad, becoming the third Trinidadian at Wrexham along with Hector Sam and Carlos Edwards. Before signing for Wrexham, he had trials at Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers.

After some poor performances when he first joined the club, Lawrence went on to become a valued and popular player at the Welsh club, winning the 2003–04 Player of the Season award. He has also become the first Wrexham player to play at a World Cup, starting all three of his country's games.

He signed for Swansea City on 16 August 2006 after Swansea had lost central defender and skipper Garry Monk to injury. He made an impressive Swansea debut in a 2–0 win over Doncaster Rovers winning the Man of the Match award.

On 30 September 2008 it was announced he had joined Crewe Alexandra on a 4-month loan until January. On 30 December 2008, the loan was extended until the end of the 2008–09 campaign, but he returned to the Liberty Stadium at the end of his loan spell on 2 May.

Lawrence was released from his contract after two years with Swansea City on 4 May, with his former loan employers Crewe Alexandra interested in a permanent move.

In September 2009 he signed a deal to play for San Juan Jabloteh in his native Trinidad.

On 18 March 2010, Wrexham manager Dean Saunders revealed that Lawrence was training at his former club along with fellow former Swansea player Kristian O'Leary.[4]

International career

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Lawrence has been an important player for the Trinidad and Tobago national team, having made his debut on 18 March 2000. He was awarded the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award at the 2001 Caribbean Cup, which Trinidad and Tobago won. On 16 November 2005, he (in his 61st cap) scored the goal against Bahrain that awarded Trinidad and Tobago a ticket to the 2006 World Cup. He played every minute of his country's campaign in Germany as the Soca Warriors secured an impressive 0–0 draw against Sweden and gave England a run for their money.

He is also the player who approached Port Vale's Chris Birchall and asked him if he was interested in representing Trinidad and Tobago (Chris' mother was born there).

After a failed qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Lawrence, who had succeeded Dwight Yorke as national captain, announced his retirement from international football with 89 caps under his belt.[5]

Coaching career

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Lawrence joined Wigan Athletic as a coach in October 2010 after impressing Spanish manager Roberto Martinez on a trial during the 2010/11 pre-season.[6] When Martinez was appointed as manager of Everton, Lawrence was appointed as first-team development coach.[7]

On 30 January 2017, Lawrence was appointed manager of Trinidad and Tobago.[8]

On 25 June 2021, Lawrence was appointed as Coventry City's new first-team coach. The 46-year-old joined Mark Robins’ coaching team for the start of pre-season training, which began the week after at Ryton.[citation needed]. On 12 March 2022, Mark Robins and his assistant Adi Viveash both tested positive for COVID-19, which left Lawrence in charge of the Sky Blues during their game against Sheffield United, which ended in a 4-1 win.

On 13 March 2024, Lawrence joined Minnesota United FC as an assistant coach.[9]

Personal life

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As a member of the Trinidad and Tobago squad that competed at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Lawrence was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold Class), the second highest state decoration of Trinidad and Tobago.[10]

Career statistics

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Scores and results list Trinidad and Tobago's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lawrence goal.
List of international goals scored by Dennis Lawrence
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 19 May 2001 Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago  Martinique 1–2 Caribbean Cup
2 25 May 2005 Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago  Bermuda 4–0 Friendly
3 4 June 2005 Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago  Panama 2–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 16 November 2005 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain  Bahrain 1–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 3 September 2008 Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago  Guyana 3–0 Friendly

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 17 November 2019
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 30 January 2017 14 December 2019 31 5 7 19 36 53 −17 016.13
Total 31 5 7 19 36 53 −17 016.13

Honours

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Wrexham

Swansea

Trinidad and Tobago

Individual

  • Wrexham Player of the Season: 2003–04
  • Chaconia Medal Gold Class, 2006

References

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  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 245. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. ^ "Dennis William Lawrence - International Appearances". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  3. ^ "Lawrence tastes FA Cup success with Wigan". wired868.com. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Wrexham consider move for Kristian O'Leary". BBC Sport. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  5. ^ (TTFF), Shaun Fuentes. "Dennis: The high moments speak for themselves".
  6. ^ "Dennis Lawrence assistant coach at Wigan Athletic". 21 October 2010.
  7. ^ Clarke, Adam (11 July 2013). "Lawrence joins backroom staff". evertonfc.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Lawrence named Soca Warriors boss". FIFA. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Dennis Lawrence Announced as Minnesota United Assistant Coach". Minnesota United Football Club. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Birchall and Bell up for award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Southend 0–2 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
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