Leo Beenhakker, one of the most respected Dutch football coaches, has passed away at the age of 82. Ajax confirmed his death in a heartfelt statement on Thursday, calling him “a coaching icon and a truly unique figure.” The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Leo Beenhakker: Champion at Club Level
Leo Beenhakker had an illustrious coaching career, most famously guiding Real Madrid to three consecutive La Liga titles between 1987 and 1989. In his homeland, he led Ajax and Feyenoord to a combined three Dutch league titles. His coaching spells at Ajax spanned the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s.
Despite reaching the semifinals of the European Cup four times—once with Ajax and three times with Madrid—he never managed to lift the trophy. Still, Leo Beenhakker left his mark on the competition, famously nicknaming it “the cup with the big ears.”
Real Madrid paid tribute, saying, “We send our condolences and affection to his family, clubs, and loved ones.”
World Cup Journeys
Beenhakker also made a name for himself on the international stage. He managed the Netherlands national team in two separate stints, including at the 1990 World Cup. However, internal conflicts led to a disappointing exit in the round of 16 against eventual winners West Germany.
Later, Beenhakker achieved historic success by leading Trinidad and Tobago to their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance in 2006. He also coached Saudi Arabia and Poland, guiding Poland to its debut European Championship in 2008, although none of his national teams ever won a match at a major finals.
A Global Influence
In addition to his international exploits, Beenhakker worked in club football across Mexico, Switzerland, and Turkey. He returned to Ajax in 2000 as a technical director, where he played a key role in the early development of future star Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Zlatan once reflected on Beenhakker’s impact, saying, “What he saw, I became. And that is the best.”
Former Ajax and Netherlands midfielder Jan Wouters remembered him as “a very human coach who understood things beyond football.”