Dennis Lawrence

Dennis Lawrence
Personal information
Full name	Dennis Lawrence
Height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Wigan Athletic
Number	Assistant Coach
Senior career*
Years	Team
1992–1993	Barataria Ball Players
1993–1998	Caledonia AIA
1999–2000	Defence Force
2001–2006	Wrexham
2006–2009	Swansea City
2008–2009	→ Crewe Alexandra (loan)
2009–2010	San Juan Jabloteh
International career‡
2000–2009	Trinidad and Tobago
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:48, 14 April 2009 (UTC); ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 January 2010

Dennis Lawrence (born 1 August 1974) is a former Trinidad and Tobago football player who is currently part of the coaching staff for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League.

Club career

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

Lawrence was released from his contract after two years with Swansea City on May 4, 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.^[1]

Coaching

Lawrence is currently part of the coaching staff at Premier League side Wigan Athletic.^[2]

International career

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.^[3]

International Goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Goals	Result	Competition
1.	5 May 2001	Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago	Martinique	1	1–2	Caribbean Cup
2.	25 May 2005	Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago	Bermuda	1	4–0	Friendly
3.	4 June 2005	Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago	Panama	1	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
4.	16 November 2005	Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain	Bahrain	1	1–0	2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
5.	3 September 2008	Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago	Guyana	1	3–0	Friendly