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{{Short description|Dutch football coach (1942–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Leo Beenhakker
| image = Leo Beenhakker 1986.jpg
| caption = Beenhakker in 1986
| full_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1942|8|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Rotterdam]], [[Reichskommissariat Niederlande|German-occupied Netherlands]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|4|10|1942|8|2|df=y}}
| death_place = Rotterdam, Netherlands
| position = [[Right winger]]
| years1 = 
| clubs1 = {{ill|SC Maasstad Tediro|lt=Maasstad Tediro|nl}}
| caps1 = 
| goals1 = 
| years2 = 
| clubs2 = [[XerxesDZB|Xerxes]]
| caps2 = 
| goals2 = 
| years3 = 
| clubs3 = [[Zwart-Wit '28]]
| caps3 = 
| goals3 = 
| manageryears1 = 1965–1967
| managerclubs1 = {{ill|SV Epe|lt=Epe|nl}}
| manageryears2 = 1967–1968
| managerclubs2 = [[Go Ahead Eagles]] (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 1968–1972
| managerclubs3 = [[SC Veendam|Veendam]]
| manageryears4 = 1972–1975
| managerclubs4 = [[SC Cambuur|Cambuur]]
| manageryears5 = 1975–1976
| managerclubs5 = [[Go Ahead Eagles]]
| manageryears6 = 1976–1978
| managerclubs6 = [[Feyenoord]] (youth)
| manageryears7 = 1978–1979
| managerclubs7 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] (youth and assistant)
| manageryears8 = 1979–1981
| managerclubs8 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| manageryears9 = 1981–1984
| managerclubs9 = [[Real Zaragoza]]
| manageryears10 = 1984–1985
| managerclubs10 = [[FC Volendam|Volendam]]
| manageryears11 = 1985–1986
| managerclubs11 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] (interim)
| manageryears12 = 1986–1989
| managerclubs12 = [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]
| manageryears13 = 1989–1991
| managerclubs13 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| manageryears14 = 1990
| managerclubs14 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
| manageryears15 = 1992
| managerclubs15 = [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]
| manageryears16 = 1992–1993
| managerclubs16 = [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]]
| manageryears17 = 1993–1994
| managerclubs17 = [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]]
| manageryears18 = 1994–1995
| managerclubs18 = [[Club América]]
| manageryears19 = 1995
| managerclubs19 = [[İstanbulspor A.Ş.|İstanbulspor]]
| manageryears20 = 1996
| managerclubs20 = [[C.D. Guadalajara|Guadalajara]]
| manageryears21 = 1996–1997
| managerclubs21 = [[SBV Vitesse|Vitesse]]
| manageryears22 = 1997–2000
| managerclubs22 = [[Feyenoord]]
| manageryears23 = 2003–2004
| managerclubs23 = [[Club América]]
| manageryears24 = 2005–2006
| managerclubs24 = [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]]
| manageryears25 = 2006–2009
| managerclubs25 = [[Poland national football team|Poland]]
| manageryears26 = 2007
| managerclubs26 = [[Feyenoord]] (interim)
}}

'''Leo Beenhakker''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈleːjoː ˈbeːnɦɑkər|lang}}; 2 August 1942 – 10 April 2025) was a Dutch [[association football|football]] player and coach. Nicknamed "'''Don Leo'''" for his role in Spanish football, he had an extensive and successful career both at club and international level.

After his amateur playing career ended at 19 through injury, he began his coaching career. He won the [[Eredivisie]] title twice with [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] and once with [[Feyenoord]], becoming the only person to do so with [[De Klassieker|both rival teams]]. In Spain he won three consecutive [[La Liga]] titles with [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] in the late 1980s, including one as a [[Double (association football)|double]] with the [[Copa del Rey]]. Additionally, he had brief spells in the top divisions of Switzerland, Mexico and Turkey.

At international level, he led the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] at the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]], [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]] to the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] and [[Poland national football team|Poland]] to [[UEFA Euro 2008]], the latter two being firsts for both nations.

== Early life and playing career ==
Beenhakker was born on 2 August 1942 in [[Rotterdam]], during the [[Nazi occupation of the Netherlands]]. After his father's death, he worked as an electrician to support his family.<ref name=nyt/>

A [[right winger]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Buddenberg |first1=Fred |title='Ik wil alleen dingen doen waarin ik heilig geloof' |url=https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/ik-wil-alleen-dingen-doen-waarin-ik-heilig-geloof~b8c8d58f/ |access-date=15 March 2023 |work=Trouw |date=8 November 1997 |language=Dutch}}</ref> Beenhakker played at amateur clubs {{ill|SC Maasstad Tediro|lt=Maasstad Tediro|nl}}, [[XerxesDZB|Xerxes]] and [[Zwart-Wit '28]].<ref>{{cite news |title='Een wat treurig afscheid van Beenhakker' |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/een-wat-treurig-afscheid-van-beenhakker |access-date=15 March 2023 |work=Voetbal International |date=19 June 2003 |language=Dutch}}</ref> His playing career was spent only at amateur levels, and ended at 19 due to injury.<ref name=nyt/>

== Coaching career ==
===Early career===
Beenhakker began coaching {{ill|SV Epe|nl}} in 1965 before his breakthrough at [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], where he won the [[Eredivisie]] in his debut season in [[1979–80 Eredivisie|1979–80]]. He also gave [[Frank Rijkaard]] his professional debut and reached the semi-finals of the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]].<ref name=ara>{{cite news |last1=Padilla |first1=Toni |title=Mor Leo Beenhakker, un dels protagonistes de la primera lliga de Tenerife del Barça|trans-title=Leo Beenhakker, one of the protagonists of Barça's first Tenerife league title, dies |url=https://www.ara.cat/esports/mor-leo-beenhakker-als-82-anys_1_5344739.html |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=[[Ara (newspaper)|Ara]] |date=10 April 2025 |language=Catalan}}</ref>

Beenhakker arrived at [[Real Zaragoza]] to replace [[Manolo Villanova]] during the [[1980–81 La Liga|1980–81 season]], aged 38. His side, which included the likes of [[Juan Señor]], [[Jorge Valdano]] and [[Pichi Alonso]], won no trophies during his term, but finished in high league positions including 6th in [[1982–83 La Liga|1982–83]] and 7th a year later.<ref>{{cite news |title=Adiós a Leo Beenhakker, el técnico que revolucionó al Real Zaragoza|trans-title=Goodbye to Leo Beenhakker, the manager who revolutionised Real Zaragoza|url=https://www.sportaragon.com/adios-a-leo-beenhakker-el-tecnico-que-revoluciono-al-real-zaragoza/ |access-date=3 May 2025 |publisher=Sport Aragón |date=10 April 2025 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

===Volendam and Real Madrid===
As manager of [[FC Volendam|Volendam]] in [[1984–85 Eredivisie|1984–85]], Beenhakker took the club as high as third place, leading to him being simultaneously named interim manager of the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] national team due to [[Rinus Michels]]' heart problems. Volendam finished the season relegated, while the Netherlands finished second to [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] in their [[1986 FIFA World Cup]] qualification group, before losing a playoff to [[Low Countries derby|rivals]] Belgium on the [[away goals rule]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pye |first1=Steven |title=How Belgium's last-gasp goal kept Holland out of the 1986 World Cup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/18/how-belgiums-last-gasp-goal-kept-holland-out-of-the-1986-world-cup |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=18 November 2013}}</ref>

He was Real Madrid's most recent manager to win both [[La Liga]] and [[Copa del Rey]] in the same season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kouremenos |first=Achilleas |date=11 April 2025 |title=Leo Beenhakker, Dutch Soccer Great Who Coached Real Madrid and Two World Cup Teams, Dies at 82 |url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/leo-beenhakker-dutch-soccer-great-who-coached-real-madrid-and-two-world-cup-teams-dies-at-82/ |access-date=13 April 2025 |website=The National Herald}}</ref> His Real Madrid side was built around ''[[La Quinta del Buitre]]'', five academy-trained players centred on forward [[Emilio Butragueño]].<ref name=afp>{{cite news |title=Former Real Madrid coach Leo Beenhakker dies aged 82 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250410-former-real-madrid-coach-leo-beenhakker-dies-aged-82 |access-date=3 May 2025 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |work=[[France 24]] |date=10 April 2025}}</ref> In the [[1988–89 European Cup]], he caused headlines by dropping Butragueño for a European Cup quarter-final second leg against reigning champions [[PSV Eindhoven]], despite the tie being level; [[Arrigo Sacchi]]'s [[AC Milan]] eliminated Real Madrid in the semi-finals after winning the second leg 5–0 at the [[San Siro]].<ref name=ara/>

===Ajax return and 1990 World Cup===
[[File:Persconferentie Ajax in verband met de TV-rechten naar TV-10 directeur Arie van, Bestanddeelnr 934-4811.jpg|thumb|Beenhakker (''furthest right'') at a press conference with Ajax in July 1989]]
In 1989, Beenhakker returned to Ajax, who had struggled the [[1988–89 Eredivisie|previous season]] and were experiencing financial problems. His young team, featuring the likes of twins [[Frank de Boer|Frank]] and [[Ronald de Boer]], [[Dennis Bergkamp]] and [[Bryan Roy]], [[1989–90 Eredivisie|won the league]] but were banned from entering the European Cup due to a hooligan riot in a [[UEFA Cup]] game against [[FK Austria Wien|Austria Wien]] in September 1989.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Prescott |first1=Ian |title=Beenhakker meets his Warriors |url=https://www.socawarriors.net/senior-team-news/1055-beenhakker-meets-his-warriors.html |access-date=4 May 2025 |work=Trinidad & Tobago Express |date=6 April 2005}}</ref> In October 1989, Beenhakker fined five of his players 1,000 [[Dutch guilder]]s each for losing a [[Netherlands national under-21 football team|Netherlands under-21]] game against Iceland; Frank de Boer's fine was halved due to only being a substitute in that game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronald de Boer maakt brief openbaar: Ajax gaf Bergkamp en De Boertjes boete na wanprestatie|trans-title=Ronald de Boer makes letter public: Ajax fined Bergkamp and the De Boers after defeat|url=https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/ronald-de-boer-maakt-brief-openbaar-ajax-gaf-bergkamp-en-de-boertjes-boete-na-wanprestatie~afa3337e/ |access-date=4 May 2025 |work=[[Algemeen Dagblad]] |date=5 May 2021 |language=Dutch}}</ref>

Beenhakker was named manager of the Netherlands again for the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]] in Italy. His side were the reigning European champions of [[UEFA Euro 1988]], and were favoured to do well due to having high-profile players such as [[Ruud Gullit]], [[Frank Rijkaard]] and [[Marco van Basten]]. The ''Oranje'' were eliminated in the round of 16 without winning a game, with Beenhakker rumoured to have fallen out with Van Basten, and the players wanting [[Johan Cruyff]] as manager instead.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news |last1=Longman |first1=Jeré |title=Leo Beenhakker, a Soccer Coach Without Borders, Dies at 82 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/sports/soccer/leo-beenhakker-dead.html |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=16 April 2025}}</ref>

===Early 1990s===
In February 1992, Beenhakker returned to Real Madrid after the dismissal of [[Radomir Antić]]. He left at the end of the season, after finishing in second place.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mata |first1=Jesús |title=How did former Real Madrid coaches get on in their second stint in charge? |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2019/03/07/5c810944268e3ee9558b465c.html |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] |date=7 March 2019}}</ref> His team missed out on the title on the final day after losing a lead away to [[CD Tenerife|Tenerife]], while Cruyff's [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] defeated [[Athletic Bilbao]].<ref name=ara/>

Beenhakker was named manager of [[Grasshopper Club Zurich|Grasshoppers]] in the Swiss [[Swiss Super League|Nationalliga A]] in [[1992–93 Nationalliga A|1992–93]]. He succeeded [[Oldrich Svab]] at the [[Zurich]]-based club, who were struggling despite the presence of players such as [[Giovane Élber]] and [[Murat Yakin]]. The team fell into the promotion-relegation round, which they survived, but he was dispensed of at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trainer-Legende Leo Beenhakker (†82) ist tot|trans-title=Legendary manager Leo Beenhakker has died (82) |url=https://www.blick.ch/sport/fussball/international/nach-titeln-mit-real-trainierte-er-auch-gc-trainer-legende-leo-beenhakker-82-ist-tot-id20771091.html |access-date=26 April 2025 |work=[[Blick]] |date=10 April 2025 |language=German}}</ref>

In November 1993, Beenhakker was appointed manager of Saudi Arabia, who had qualified for the [[FIFA World Cup]] for the first time. He was sacked just three months later, and four months before the finals in the United States, as the players did not adapt well to his tactics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Teclab |first1=Yousef |title=The American Dream: Saudi Arabia’s momentous 1994 World Cup campaign |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/04/05/the-american-dream-saudi-arabias-momentous-1994-world-cup-campaign/ |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=These Football Times |date=5 April 2018}}</ref>

===1994–2004: Eredivisie return and Mexico===
Beenhakker was appointed at [[Club América]] in Mexico on 15 June 1994. His team included African players such as [[François Omam-Biyik]] of Cameroon and [[Kalusha Bwalya]] from Zambia. Despite winning 18 and losing 4 of his 31 matches, he was removed with no official explanation on 6 April 1995. In 2010, he said in an interview that this was because he had argued with club president [[Emilio Diez Barroso]], who did not want [[Joaquín del Olmo]] in the team due to the cost of the player.<ref name=financiero>{{cite news |title=¿Por qué despidieron a Leo Beenhakker, el DT que llevó al América de Cuauhtémoc Blanco a la cima?|trans-title=Why was Leo Beenhakker, the manager who took Cuahtémoc Blanco's América to the top, sacked?|url=https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/deportes/2025/04/10/por-que-despidieron-a-leo-beenhakker-el-dt-que-llevo-al-america-de-cuauhtemoc-blanco-a-la-cima/ |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=El Financiero |date=10 April 2025 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

In 1995, Beenhakker was the manager of [[İstanbulspor]] in the Turkish [[Süper Lig|1. Lig]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Demirtaştan |first1=Mutlu |title=Hollanda futbolunun unutulmaz teknik direktörlerinden Leo Beenhakker hayatını kaybetti|trans-title=Leo Beenhakker, one of the unforgettable coaches of Dutch football, has passed away|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunyadan-spor/hollanda-futbolunun-unutulmaz-teknik-direktorlerinden-leo-beenhakker-hayatini-kaybetti/3534535 |access-date=26 April 2025 |work=[[Anadolu Agency]] |date=10 April 2025 |language=Turkish}}</ref> Returning to Mexico, he led [[C.D. Guadalajara|Guadalajara]] in 1996, taking exactly half of the 84 potential points from matches during his tenure. On 18 February, his team won a [[El Súper Clásico (Mexico)|''Súper Clásico'']] 3–2 against América; losing 2–1 at half time, he motivated the squad by telling them to enjoy the experience at the sold-out game as if they were children.<ref>{{cite news |last1=González |first1=Alonso |title=El épico, aunque corto paso de Leo Beenhakker con Chivas de Guadalajara|trans-title=The epic, although short spell of Leo Beenhakker at Chivas de Guadalajara|url=https://www.milenio.com/futbol/liga-mx/leo-beenhakker-dirigio-a-chivas-de-guadalajara-por-un-corto-tiempo |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=[[Milenio Televisión|Milenio]] |date=10 April 2025 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

Beenhakker returned to the Eredivisie with [[SBV Vitesse|Vitesse]] in [[1996–97 Eredivisie|1996–97]]. His one season with the club from [[Arnhem]] resulted in a 5th-place finish and qualification for the [[UEFA Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lammers |first1=Lex |title=Edward Sturing over Vitesse-tijd van Leo Beenhakker: ‘Stond ineens Bernd Schuster bij ons op het trainingsveld, om af te bouwen’|trans-title=Edward Sturing on Leo Beenhakker's Vitesse time: 'Suddenly Bernd Schuster was on our training field, to wind down'|url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/vitesse/edward-sturing-over-vitesse-tijd-van-leo-beenhakker-stond-ineens-bernd-schuster-bij-ons-op-het-trainingsveld-om-af-te-bouwen~a27eb8142/|access-date=3 May 2025 |work=[[De Gelderlander]] |date=11 April 2025 |language=Dutch}}</ref> Moving on to his hometown club [[Feyenoord]], he won the league title in [[1999–2000 Eredivisie|1999–2000]].<ref name=times/> As of his death, he was the only person to win the title with [[De Klassieker|rivals Ajax and Feyenoord]].<ref name=ara/>

From 2000 to 2003, Beenhakker was director of technical affairs with Ajax. In that period, he fired head coach [[Co Adriaanse]] and replaced him with [[Ronald Koeman]].<ref name=times>{{Cite web |title=Ajax-directie maakt optelsom af en zendt Adriaanse weg|trans-title=Ajax board completes calculation and sends Adriaanse away |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/voorpagina/ajax-directie-maakt-optelsom-af-en-zendt-adriaanse-weg~b901e03d/|date=10 April 2025|language=nl|url-access=subscription |access-date=13 April 2025 |website=[[De Volkskrant]]}}</ref> He was also responsible for the signing of Sweden international [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]] from [[Malmö FF]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Leo Beenhakker obituary: football manager who revived Real Madrid|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/leo-beenhakker-obituary-football-manager-who-revived-real-madrid-wglvf92kl |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=[[The Times]] |date=22 April 2025}}</ref>

In the [[Primera División de México Apertura 2003|2003 Apertura tournament]], Beenhakker returned to América. He was sacked with a year remaining of his contract after quarter-final elimination from the [[Primera División de México Clausura 2004|2004 Clausura]].<ref name=financiero/>

=== Trinidad and Tobago ===
On 1 April 2005, Beenhakker was appointed by [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]], succeeding [[Bertille St. Clair]]. The Soca Warriors were last placed in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round|final round of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup]] with one point from three games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Beenhakker is named Trinidad coach |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/04/01/trinidad.coach/index.html |access-date=25 April 2025 |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=1 April 2005}}</ref> He called up 23 foreign-based players for his first training camp,<ref>{{cite news |title=Beenhakker calls up 23 overseas pros |url=https://archives.newsday.co.tt/2005/05/08/beenhakker-calls-up-23-overseas-pros/ |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday |date=8 May 2005}}</ref> and on 4 June he won on his debut, a 2–0 home victory over [[Panama national football team|Panama]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Joel |title=Beenhakker lauds Warriors after 2-0 win |url=https://www.socawarriors.net/senior-team-news/1334-beenhakker-lauds-warriors-after-2-0-win.html |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=Soca Warriors Online |date=6 June 2005}}</ref> On 13 October, the team won 2–1 at home to [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] on the final day to make the playoffs at the expense of [[Guatemala national football team|Guatemala]]; striker [[Stern John]] scored both goals despite earlier missing a penalty.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trinidad get play-off berth |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/trinidad-get-play-off-berth.75295 |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=[[The Times of Malta]] |date=13 October 2005}}</ref>

Beenhakker coached the team to qualify for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], the country's first-ever World Cup appearance,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=TTFA mourns passing of Soca Warriors' World Cup Coach, Leo Beenhakker |url=https://www.loopnews.com/content/ttfa-mourns-passing-of-soca-warriors-world-cup-coach-leo-beenhakker/ |access-date=13 April 2025 |date=10 April 2025|website=Loop News }}</ref> after a 1–0 win away against [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] via a header by [[Dennis Lawrence]] as Trinidad and Tobago won 2–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beckles |first=Jelani |date=11 April 2025 |title=Ex-Soca Warriors pay tribute to late 2006 World Cup coach Leo Beenhakker |url=https://newsday.co.tt/2025/04/11/ex-soca-warriors-pay-tribute-to-late-2006-world-cup-coach-leo-beenhakker/ |access-date=13 April 2025 |website=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday }}</ref> Beenhakker was awarded the [[Chaconia Medal|Chaconia Medal (Gold Class)]], the second highest [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Trinidad and Tobago|state decoration]] of Trinidad and Tobago.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Birchall and Bell up for award |date=13 November 2006 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2006/11/13/midlands_sports_awards_feature.shtml |website=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

Drawn in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup Group B|Group B at the World Cup]], the team secured a 0–0 draw against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] in their first match,<ref>{{cite web |date=10 June 2006 |title=Football – World Cup 2006 – Sweden 0–0 Trinidad & Tobago |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852634.stm |access-date=4 June 2015 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> and lost to both [[England national football team|England]]<ref>{{cite web |date=15 June 2006 |title=Football – World Cup 2006 – England 2–0 Trinidad & Tobago |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853008.stm |access-date=4 June 2015 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> and [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] 2–0.

=== Poland ===
[[File:Leo_Beenhakker_20_02_2008_(1).jpg|thumb|Beenhakker, decorated in 2008 with the Order of Polonia Restituta]]
On 11 July 2006, Beenhakker was appointed as the manager of the [[Poland national football team|Poland national team]]. He succeeded [[Paweł Janas]] after the team had also been eliminated from the group stages of the World Cup, and was the first foreigner to lead the national team. He established scouting missions in Germany and the Netherlands so that the team would not lose out on diaspora players.<ref>{{cite news |title=Beenhakker accepts Polish challenge |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b99bf14c7-787278605c8c-1000--beenhakker-accepts-polish-challenge/ |access-date=25 April 2025 |publisher=[[UEFA]] |date=12 July 2006}}</ref>

On 17 November 2007, after Poland defeated [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] 2–0 on 17 November 2007, he managed to qualify Poland for the [[UEFA European Championship]] for their first time.<ref>{{cite news |title=England gifted lifeline by Israel |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7097938.stm |access-date=25 April 2025 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 November 2007}}</ref> The team won 8 of their 14 qualifying matches.<ref name=reuters/> On 20 February 2008, Beenhakker was decorated with the Order of [[Polonia Restituta]] by Polish president [[Lech Kaczyński]].<ref name=":0" /> At [[UEFA Euro 2008]] in Austria and Switzerland, Poland faced [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in a group match. Polish tabloids depicted Beenhakker with the severed heads of German captain [[Michael Ballack]] and manager [[Joachim Löw]]; Beenhakker personally apologised to the German people and called the journalists "mad, dirty and sick".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Connolly |first1=Kate |title=Poland football coach says sorry for 'sick' Euro 2008 tabloid war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/06/poland.poland |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=6 June 2008}}</ref>

Following the tournament, Beenhakker's contract was extended until November 2009, the end of [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualifying for the 2010 World Cup]]. After Poland's failure to qualify for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]], Beenhakker was sacked.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8248017.stm|title=Poland dismiss coach Beenhakker|date=10 September 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=19 April 2025}}</ref>

===Feyenoord===
While still in charge of Poland, [[Feyenoord]] hired Beenhakker on 5 May 2007 as an interim coach to lead the club through the [[2006–07 Eredivisie#Play-offs|2006–07 play-offs]]. After his departure from Poland, he was named the sports director of the club, signing a contract on 9 October 2009 lasting until 30 June 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/internacional/noticias/2009/10/09/feyenoord-contrato-a-leo-beenhakker-como-dt|title=Feyenoord contrató a Leo Beenhakker como DT|date=9 October 2009|access-date=19 April 2025|language=es}}</ref>

===Sparta Rotterdam===
In December 2013, Beenhakker was appointed technical director at [[Sparta Rotterdam]], a position he held on to until June 2015, before announcing his retirement from football.<ref>{{cite web |date= 2 June 2015 |title= Leo Beenhakker stopt bij Sparta |url= https://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/129890/leo-beenhakker-stopt-bij-sparta |trans-title= Leo Beenhakker quits at Sparta |website= Radio Rijnmond |language= Dutch |access-date= 19 April 2025}}</ref> In November 2017, he joined the Sparta board as a technical advisor, which he did voluntarily until Sparta found a technical director. In March 2018,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Former Ajax coach Leo Beenhakker (82) passes away |date=10 April 2025 |url=https://english.ajax.nl/articles/former-ajax-coach-leo-beenhakker-82-passes-away/ |access-date=13 April 2025 |website=Ajax.nl |publisher=AFC Ajax}}</ref> when Sparta appointed [[Henk van Stee]], Beenhakker left his post and announced his retirement again.<ref name=":1" />

==Style of management==
[[File:Ajax tegen FC Twente 5-3, Johan Cruijff nam in tweede helft plaats naast Leo Bee, Bestanddeelnr 931-1799.jpg|thumb|[[Johan Cruyff]] (furthest left) and Beenhakker (next from the left) with Ajax in 1980. The two coaches had a difficult working relationship.<ref name=nyt/>]]
[[Simon Kuper]], author several books on Dutch football, opined that Beenhakker lacked the tactical knowledge for elite players, but made up for it with his speaking skills.<ref name=nyt/> Beenhakker faced scrutiny for never having been a professional player, responding that a milkman does not need experience of being a cow.<ref name=nyt/> [[Johan Cruyff]] chided Beenhakker as a "schoolteacher" for not having professional playing experience, and once as an advisor at Ajax broke protocol and ordered Beenhakker to change tactics; Beenhakker later reflected that he should have punched Cruyff for this intervention.<ref name=nyt/> 

Zlatan Ibrahimović praised Beenhakker in his autobiography ''[[I Am Zlatan Ibrahimović]]''. Ibrahimović described Beenhakker's image as a "mafioso", a "dominant figure and decision maker", and a "harder" version of [[Emmett Brown]] from ''[[Back to the Future]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ibrahimović |first1=Zlatan |last2=Lagercrantz |first2=David |title=[[I Am Zlatan Ibrahimović]] |date=2013 |publisher=Penguin |location=London |isbn=978-0-241-96683-9 |page=66}}</ref> Trinidad and Tobago players [[Dwight Yorke]] and [[Kelvin Jack]] reflected that Beenhakker was a great leader of their team.<ref name=nyt/> [[Joachim Löw]] said that Beenhakker's Poland team that [[Germany national football team|his side]] faced at the [[UEFA Euro 2008 Group B#Germany vs Poland|Euro 2008]] played in an attacking manner similar to the Netherlands, and they were much stronger than the team they defeated at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup Group A#Germany vs Poland|2006 World Cup]].<ref name=reuters>{{cite news |last1=Hudson |first1=Alexandra |title=Euro-Loew likens Poland's style to the Dutch |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/soccer/euro-loew-likens-poland-s-style-to-the-dutch-idUSL07045940/ |access-date=25 April 2025 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=7 June 2008}}</ref> In Spain, he was nicknamed ''Don Leo''.<ref name=nyt/>

==Personal life and death==
Beenhakker died in Rotterdam on 10 April 2025, at the age of 82.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oud-toptrainer Leo Beenhakker op 82-jarige leeftijd overleden |trans-title=Former top coach Leo Beenhakker passed away at age 82 |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2563112-oud-toptrainer-leo-beenhakker-op-82-jarige-leeftijd-overleden |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] |date=10 April 2025 |language=Dutch}}</ref> He had a son and a daughter from his first marriage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trainer worden was een obsessie voor Rooie Leo |trans-title=Becoming a coach was an obsession for Ginger Leo |url=https://www.vi.nl/pro/overig/trainer-worden-was-een-obsessie-voor-rooie-leo |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=[[Voetbal International]] |date=10 April 2025 |language=Dutch}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Leo Beenhakker nog één keer langs De Kuip voor laatste groet supporters |trans-title=Leo Beenhakker for final time passing De Kuip stadium for last goodbye fans |url=https://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/1997502/leo-beenhakker-nog-een-keer-langs-de-kuip-voor-laatste-groet-supporters |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=Radio Rijnmond |date=15 April 2025 |language=Dutch}}</ref>

== Honours ==
'''Ajax'''
* [[Eredivisie]]: [[1979–80 Eredivisie|1979–80]], [[1989–90 Eredivisie|1989–90]]<ref name=nyt/>

'''Real Madrid'''
* [[La Liga]]: [[1986–87 La Liga|1986–87]], [[1987–88 La Liga|1987–88]], [[1988–89 La Liga|1988–89]]<ref name=afp/>
* [[Copa del Rey]]: [[1988–89 Copa del Rey|1988–89]]
* [[Supercopa de España]]: [[1988 Supercopa de España|1988]], 1989 <small>(won both Copa del Rey and La Liga)</small>

'''Feyenoord'''
* Eredivisie: [[1998–99 Eredivisie|1998–99]]<ref name=nyt/>
* [[Johan Cruyff Shield]]: [[1999 Johan Cruyff Shield|1999]]

'''Individual'''
*[[File:TTO Chaconia Medal ribbon.svg|60px]] [[Chaconia Medal]], Gold Class: 2006<ref name=":3" />
*[[File:POL Polonia Restituta Oficerski BAR.svg|60px]] [[Order of Polonia Restituta]], Officer's Cross: 2008<ref name=":0">{{Cite Polish law|title=Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 16 stycznia 2008 r. o nadaniu orderu|gazette=Monitor Polski|year=2008|volume=54|number=477|date=16 January 2008|trans_title=Decision of the President of the Republic of Poland of 16 January 2008 on awarding the order}}</ref>
* [[Piłka Nożna magazine plebiscite|''Piłka Nożna'' Foreigner of the Year]]: 2006<ref name=PN>{{cite web |title=Laureaci |url=https://pilkanozna.pl/laureaci/ |website=pilkanozna.pl |access-date=21 June 2024 |language=pl}}</ref>
* ''Piłka Nożna'' Man of the Year: 2007<ref name=PN/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name| 3971579}}
* {{BDFutbol manager|4130}}

{{Navboxes
|title= Awards
|bg= gold
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|list1=
{{La Liga winning managers}}
{{Eredivisie winning managers}}
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{{La Liga Coach of the Year}}
{{Awards of Plebiscite of Przegląd Sportowy}}
{{Eredivisie Coach of the Year}}
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{{Navboxes
|title= International tournaments
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{{Netherlands squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Trinidad and Tobago squad 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Trinidad and Tobago squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
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|title= Managerial positions
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{{SC Veendam managers}}
{{SC Cambuur managers}}
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{{Netherlands national football team managers}}
{{Real Madrid CF managers}}
{{Grasshopper Club Zürich managers}}
{{Saudi Arabia national football team managers}}
{{Club América managers}}
{{C.D. Guadalajara managers}}
{{SBV Vitesse managers}}
{{Feyenoord managers}}
{{Trinidad and Tobago national football team managers}}
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}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beenhakker, Leo}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
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