Dennis Lawrence facts for kids
 |
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dennis William Lawrence | ||
| Date of birth | 1 August 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Morvant, Trinidad and Tobago | ||
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre-back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | 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) | |
| National team | |||
| 2000–2010 | Trinidad and Tobago | 89 | (5) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2017–2019 | Trinidad and Tobago | ||
| 2021–2024 | Coventry City (first-team coach) | ||
| 2024– | Minnesota United (assistant coach) | ||
|
|||
Dennis William Lawrence (born 1 August 1974) is a former professional footballer from Trinidad and Tobago. He is currently an assistant coach at Minnesota United. Dennis was also the manager of the Trinidad and Tobago national team from 2017 to 2019.
Before becoming a coach, he had a very successful career playing football in England, Wales, and his home country, Trinidad and Tobago. He helped the "Soca Warriors" (Trinidad and Tobago's national team) win the Caribbean Cup. He also won several cup competitions with Wrexham and a league title with Swansea City. Later, as a coach at Wigan Athletic, he became the first Trinidadian to win the FA Cup, a major English football trophy.
Contents
Dennis Lawrence's Club Career
Before he became a famous footballer, Dennis Lawrence worked at a supermarket in Port of Spain. He later joined the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, which allowed him to play for their football team, Defence Force.
Playing for Wrexham
In 2001, Dennis joined Wrexham, a team in Wales, for a good amount of money. He was the third player from Trinidad to join Wrexham at that time. Before signing with Wrexham, he had tried out for other big clubs like Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers.
When he first joined Wrexham, Dennis had some tough games. But he quickly became a very important and well-liked player. In the 2003–04 season, he was even named the Player of the Season for Wrexham. He also made history by becoming the first Wrexham player to play in a World Cup, starting in all three games for his country.
Time at Swansea City and Crewe Alexandra
On 16 August 2006, Dennis signed with Swansea City. He had a great first game for Swansea, helping them win 2–0 against Doncaster Rovers and earning the Man of the Match award.
In September 2008, he moved to Crewe Alexandra on a temporary loan deal for four months. This loan was later extended until the end of the season. After his loan ended in May, he returned to Swansea City.
Dennis left Swansea City on 4 May after playing for them for two years. His former loan team, Crewe Alexandra, was interested in having him join them permanently.
Return to Trinidad
In September 2009, Dennis signed a deal to play for San Juan Jabloteh in his home country, Trinidad.
In March 2010, the manager of Wrexham, Dean Saunders, shared that Dennis was training with his old club, Wrexham, alongside another former Swansea player, Kristian O'Leary.
Dennis Lawrence's International Career
Dennis Lawrence was a key player for the Trinidad and Tobago national team. He played his first international game on 18 March 2000. In 2001, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the Caribbean Cup, which Trinidad and Tobago won.
On 16 November 2005, Dennis scored a very important goal against Bahrain. This goal helped Trinidad and Tobago qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany! He played every minute of his country's games in Germany. The "Soca Warriors" had an amazing 0–0 draw against Sweden and gave England a tough challenge.
Dennis also played a part in bringing Chris Birchall to the Trinidad and Tobago team. He asked Chris, who played for Port Vale, if he would be interested in representing Trinidad and Tobago because Chris's mother was born there.
After Trinidad and Tobago did not qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Dennis, who had become the national team captain after Dwight Yorke, announced he was retiring from international football. He finished his international career with 89 games played.
Dennis Lawrence's Coaching Career
In October 2010, Dennis Lawrence joined Wigan Athletic as a coach. He had impressed the Spanish manager, Roberto Martinez, during pre-season training. When Martinez became the manager of Everton, Dennis was appointed as a first-team development coach there.
On 30 January 2017, Dennis Lawrence was named the manager of the Trinidad and Tobago national team.
Later, on 25 June 2021, Dennis became the first-team coach for Coventry City. He joined Mark Robins' coaching team for the start of their pre-season training. On 12 March 2022, when Robins and his assistant were sick, Dennis took charge of the team for their game against Sheffield United. Coventry City won that game 4-1!
On 13 March 2024, Dennis Lawrence joined Minnesota United FC as an assistant coach.
Personal Life and Awards
As a member of the Trinidad and Tobago squad that played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Dennis Lawrence received the Chaconia Medal (Gold Class). This is the second highest award given by the country of Trinidad and Tobago.
Honours and Achievements
Dennis Lawrence has won many awards and titles during his playing career:
With Wrexham
- Football League Trophy: 2004–05
- FAW Premier Cup: 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04
With Swansea City
- Football League One: 2007–08
With Trinidad and Tobago (National Team)
- Caribbean Cup: 2001
- Caribbean Cup MVP (Most Valuable Player): 2001
Individual Awards
- Wrexham Player of the Season: 2003–04
- Chaconia Medal Gold Class: 2006
Images for kids
-
Dennis Lawrence playing for Trinidad and Tobago.
See also
In Spanish: Dennis Lawrence para niños
