Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has issued a note of congratulations and best wishes to former Soca Warriors defender and new T&T senior men’s football coach Dennis Lawrence on his appointment.
Martinez, who has played a significant part in grooming Lawrence into the coach he is today, offered his comments on Thursday, saying that he and his staff were delighted for the former Swansea City player.
Lawrence has worked with Martinez for the better part of the past six years years after being hired as a staff member and assistant coach at Wigan Athletic in the English Premiership in 2010.
When Martinez took over as head coach at Everton, he took Lawrence with him where he served as a first team assistant coach between 2013 and 2016 before he made Lawrence a Belgium first team scout in 2016 after he was appointed as the new manager there.
“Dennis is the perfect fit for the T&T national team,” Martinez said.
“He will be an inspiration to any young player and current player who can dream of representing their country in a World Cup finals. Dennis (Lawrence) enjoyed that dream being a player who always carried the highest standards in everything he did.
“Those standards have been impeccable in the last six seasons working with elite footballers in the Premier League and in the last 5 months at international level with his contribution in the scouting department for the Belgium Red Devils,” the Spain-born Martinez added.
“I know through experience of working with Dennis that his passion and commitment to his role will be exemplary and with the support of the fans of the T&T National team and association, this new era will be very exciting. We are delighted with the appointment and wish Dennis the luck that his work and application deserves,” Martinez concluded.
Last week, former Netherlands, Real Madrid and Trinidad and Tobago head coach Leo Beenhakker also commended Lawrence on his latest appointment, wishing him well in his new journey.
Lawrence arrived in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday night and attended the national Under-20 men’s team training match against St Ann’s Rangers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Thursday. He met with staff members of the T&T Football Association at its office yesterday and will be unveiled at a media conference on Monday.
