(CMC) – BARBADOS has hired legendary Trinidad and Tobago midfielder, Russell Latapy, as head coach of the senior men’s national team on a two-year contract.

The 50-year-old Latapy, a previous T&T head coach who has also had spells as assistant coach at Boavista in Portugal and Inverness Caledonian in Scotland, will oversee his first match in charge when Barbados hosts Nicaragua in a crucial CONCACAF Nations League qualifier here Sunday.

“Mr Latapy and I have been talking for the past two years about the possibility of his working in Barbados,” Barbados Football Association president, Randy Harris, told a media conference.

“It is not just a situation of Russell looking for a job; he has been very interested in our team and its development. He is happy with the talent that we have in Barbados, and he believes that he can take it to the next level.

“I think that he has convinced me early o’clock that he would play a significant role in the successes of Barbados team now and in the future.”
Latapy was a member of the famous Strike Squad who narrowly missed out on qualification for the 1990 World Cup, but was part of the historic side who qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Following his retirement, he was appointed T&T head coach in 2009, succeeding Colombian Francisco Maturana.

Latapy also boasts a glittering club career, winning league titles with top Portugese side FC Porto before also turning out for Boavista.
In Scotland, he played for top sides Rangers and Hibernian, along with Dundee and Falkirk, before winding down his club career.

Latapy was looking forward to imparting his extensive knowledge to the Barbadian players.
“I have spoken to the technical director and watching the game they played a few weeks ago, and I am happy to say that we have a bunch of players who are talented and not only talented, but are also prepared to work very hard,” Latapy said.
“And I think for any coach if you have a team that is willing to work hard then that is half of the battle done.”

He continued: “I would do my best to improve the level of the team and whatever I can do to assist in the improvement of Barbados football, and that would improve football in the region in general.

“That is one of our main goals: to help improve football in this region which gives the young players the opportunity not only to play professionally but also to improve their standard of life; because this is what football has done for me and I would like to pass on some of this experience and give some of the younger players the opportunity to do the same.”

Latapy replaces Ahmed Mohammed who will now oversee the FA’s youth programmes.