Former Manchester United striker lands national team job after being overlooked for other jobs

Stretty News

·1 November 2024

Former Manchester United striker lands national team job after being overlooked for other jobs

Sticking on trend with managerial appointments at Manchester United this week, former striker Dwight Yorke has been named Trinidad and Tobago national team manager.

The 52-year-old was linked with the Jamaica national team job before it was given to former Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren.

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Yorke, the most decorated footballer ever to come out of the Caribbean, captained Trinidad to the Caribbean Cup. His only experience as a manager was when he spent seven months in charge of Australian club Macarthur, but he left that role last year has has been seeking something new.

No player from the region has been able to surpass his incredible record of 123 Premier League goals.

The ex-striker also helped Trinidad to reach the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2000 and to qualify for the World Cup, which was their first successful qualification attempt in their history.

Yorke announced that he has accepted the role with a post on Instagram this evening, as seen below:

Photo via Instagram

Dwight Yorke previously complained about lack of opportunities

Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images

Yorke was previously overlooked for the Sunderland job and described it as “a bit of a slap in the face” as he represented as a player and assistant manager.

“I have tried applying for the Sunderland job before and I’d love to have that opportunity, but I’m not sure if they’d give me a chance.

“I applied before Tony Mowbray joined, but I didn’t get an answer or acknowledgement. It’s a bit of a slap in the face to not even hear back. I’m not saying I don’t want to go for it as it’s a great club, but it seems the same faces are linked with the job. It can make you a bit despondent, but if they were to ask me to put a CV in, it could be worth a chance.

“I might do that now that you’ve reminded me. Learning on the job doesn’t seem to exist anymore, though, and it seems as if you have to have an abundance of experience to be considered for the job and defy the odds. I grew up in the Caribbean and I made it to Manchester United.

“I managed to defy the odds as a player, but it feels like I’m being told that I can’t do that as a manager. I’m not sure what happened to the underdog getting a break. It’s as if you need years of experience before you’re given a job.”