DEREK King has been appointed caretaker coach of the TT senior men’s football team and will oversee preparations for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches in September against Honduras and French Guiana.
This was announced by the TT Football Association (TTFA) on August 5, five days after sacking head coach Angus Eve on the grounds that they want a “different pathway” for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
King was Eve’s assistant coach and immediately takes charge of the team.
“King brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of TT football to this role. King has been an integral part of the senior team setup. His familiarity with the players and the team's dynamics positions him well to lead the squad during this transition period,” the TTFA statement said.
It added that King has an impressive track record as a head coach.
As assistant to coach Stephen Hart, King helped TT to successive Gold Cup quarterfinal places in 2013 and 2015 and a FIFA ranking of 49th in the world. He first took the position as assistant coach in 2012.
He also led the TT U20 men’s team to victory in the 2014 Caribbean Championship, “showcasing his ability to guide and develop young talent”.
King's immediate focus will be on preparing the team for their crucial Concacaf Nations League fixtures.
The TTFA is “confident in his ability to steer the team towards success in these important matches while the search for a new full-time head coach continues”.
On his new role, King said, “I am honored to take on this responsibility and lead our national team during this important time.”
“Our immediate focus is on the upcoming Nations League matches, and I am confident that with good planning, hard work and dedication, we can achieve positive results. I look forward to working closely with the players and staff to ensure we get the results and performances we all desire.”
Eve still has one more year on his contract and his competitive record from 23 internationals is 11 wins, five draws and seven losses. Under his watch, TT scored 45 goals and conceded 36.
For the 2026 Concacaf World Cup qualifying campaign, which kicked off in March with Eve at the helm, TT drew 2-2 against Grenada and drubbed the Bahamas 7-1.
They resume their World Cup qualification route on June 6, 2025, against St Kitts and Nevis and then Costa Rica on June 10.
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