ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS — Former Real Madrid coach Leo Beenhakker has died at the age of 82, the Spanish club announced on Thursday.
The esteemed Dutch manager led the Spanish giants in two separate spells, from 1986 to 1989 and again in 1992. During his four seasons at the helm of Real Madrid, Beenhakker achieved significant success, securing six trophies, including three consecutive La Liga titles between 1987 and 1989.
“Real Madrid would like to express their condolences and affection to his family, clubs, and loved ones,” the club stated in an official announcement.
Beenhakker’s extensive managerial career also encompassed several other prominent European clubs, such as Ajax and Feyenoord in his native Netherlands. Additionally, he managed the national teams of the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Poland.
“Ajax received the sad news on Thursday of the passing of Leo Beenhakker with great sorrow and dismay,” the Dutch club conveyed in their statement. “Beenhakker was undeniably one of the most colourful and successful Dutch managers in history.”
During his two periods managing Ajax, he led the team to league titles in 1980 and 1990. He also achieved Eredivisie success with Feyenoord in 1999.
Despite not having played professional football, Beenhakker embarked on his coaching journey in the 1960s and retired from the sport approximately five decades later.
Prior to his initial appointment at Ajax in 1979, Beenhakker coached several Dutch teams and also spent time managing Ajax’s youth academy. It was during this early period at Ajax that he was involved in a notable incident with Johan Cruyff, who served as a technical advisor at the time.
Cruyff famously instructed Beenhakker to substitute Dutch attacker Tscheu-la Ling during a match against Twente in 1980. However, Beenhakker declined, and Ling went on to score twice, contributing to Ajax’s comeback victory from 3-1 down to 5-3.
‘Quinta del Buitre’ era
Before his first stint with Real Madrid in 1986, Beenhakker also managed Real Zaragoza in Spain and the Dutch national team. The Real Madrid side he coached became renowned as the ‘Quinta del Buitre’ team, named after five academy graduates – Emilio Butragueno, Manolo Sanchis, Rafael Martin Vazquez, Michel, and Miguel Pardeza – who played pivotal roles in the team’s success.
Beenhakker returned to Ajax in 1989, adding further accolades to his career.
“(He) coined the phrase … ‘The Fast-Food Generation’ to describe a group of talented yet laid-back players like the De Boer twins, Richard Witschge, Marciano Vink, and Bryan Roy,” Ajax noted in their tribute.
Following his second tenure with Real Madrid and a Dutch league title with Feyenoord, Beenhakker rejoined Ajax as technical director, overseeing the signings of prominent players, including Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Among his achievements in international management was guiding Trinidad and Tobago to their historic first and only appearance at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
