Russell Latapy

Football player infobox
playername = Russell Latapy


fullname = Russell Nigel Latapy
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1968|8|2
cityofbirth = Port of Spain
countryofbirth = Trinidad
height = height|m=1.70
currentclub = Falkirk
clubnumber = 10
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1987–1988
1989–1990
1990–1994
1994–1996
1996–1998
1998–2001
2001–2003
2003
2003–
clubs = Trintoc
Portmore United
Académica de Coimbra
FC Porto
Boavista F.C.
Hibernian
Rangers
Dundee United
Falkirk
caps(goals) =

127 (32)
040 0(6)
040 0(1)
084 (22)
023 0(6)
007 0(0)
167 (24)
nationalyears = 1988–2006
nationalteam = Trinidad and Tobago
nationalcaps(goals) = 067 (28)
pcupdate = 10 October 2008
ntupdate =

Russell Nigel Latapy (born 2 August 1968 in Port of Spain) is a Trinidad and Tobago football player. Despite being 40 years old Latapy continues to ply his trade as a midfield player and first team coach for Falkirk in the Scottish Premier League. [Ennis, Darren. [http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/story/0,,1792002,00.html No fire without smoke for Latapy] , "The Guardian", 7 June 2006.] He has previously played for Hibernian, Rangers, Dundee United, FC Porto, and Boavista. He came out of international retirement to play for Trinidad and Tobago in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute of the Paraguay vs. Trinidad and Tobago match.

Although he has not achieved the same degree of international recognition as Dwight Yorke, Latapy is touted as a football legend by fans and supporters from Trinidad and Tobago, with some fans considering Latapy to be the greatest footballer ever to play for Trinidad and Tobago. The high regard for Latapy meant that there was some disappointment among Trinidad and Tobago football fans that his on-pitch appearance in the 2006 FIFA World Cup was limited to only part of one game, even if it did represent the realization of a dream that was denied 16 years earlier when Trinidad and Tobago failed to secure a slot in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.

Childhood and early career

Latapy was first noted playing organised football as an Under–10 footballer. Latapy's dedication to football was evident even during this period when he showed single minded dedication to improving the technical aspects of his game. As a youth he played in the Trinidad and Tobago Secondary School's Football League and was called to the national Under-16 and Under-19 football teams.

When he was 19 years old Latapy had an opportunity to attend Florida International University, but he elected to continue with his football career. This decision was supported by his mother despite the fact that in the 1980s very few Trinidadians were noted to have had careers in football that allowed them to earn a decent living. [http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-10-12/SA-3.html Latapy – the man, his moments, his dreams] , "The Trinidad Guardian", 12 October 2005.]

Latapy's debut for the Trinidad and Tobago senior team was on 30 October 1988 in a World Cup qualifying match against Honduras. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/latapy-intlg.html Russell Latapy - International Appearances] , RSSSF.] While the match was a goalless draw it saw Latapy begin his journey towards becoming one of the most respected footballers to hail from Trinidad and Tobago.

1990 FIFA World Cup Qualification Campaign

Trinidad and Tobago's efforts to secure a spot in the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals saw members of the "Strike Squad", as the national senior team was known, become larger than life celebrities and whipped the twin-island nation into a frenzy of football fueled patriotism. The exploits of the Strike Squad were often televised and widely watched allowing more people than ever to witness the ball control at pace that represented one of the more distinctive aspects of Latapy's game. Sadly, the qualifying campaign came to an end on 19 November 1989 when, with only a draw required to go to the World Cup finals, Trinidad and Tobago was defeated 1–0 at home by the United States. [ [http://www.socawarriors.net/World_Cup_Page.htm] Flex Mohammed, "The Story of Our Lives", socawarriors.net (last accessed, 31 August 2006).] Dead link|date=October 2008 With his hopes of playing in the World Cup dashed, Latapy quickly realised that in order to ever have a chance making it to finals of football's greatest stage he would have to continue playing competitively.

Portugal

The aftermath of the World Cup qualification campaign saw Dwight Yorke begin his professional career in the UK playing for Aston Villa. Latapy, perhaps a bit less lucky, played in Trinidad and Jamaica before beginning his European club football career with Académica in Portugal in 1990. During his time at Académica Latapy developed his game under the guidance of coach Victor Manuel who Latapy credits being one of the coaches he admires the most.

Latapy's performances with Académica saw him recruited by F.C. Porto, a team that remains Latapy's self proclaimed spiritual home. While playing with Porto, Latapy earned Portuguese Superliga winner's medals for the 1994–95 season and the 1995–96 season. It was also while playing with Porto that Latapy earned the distinction of being the first Trinidadian to play in the UEFA Champions League. [ [http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/player/52785_LATAPY_Russell.html 2006 World Cup player profile - Russell Latapy] , FIFA.] Dead link|date=October 2008 Following his time at F.C. Porto, Latapy moved to Boavista. He was part of the Boavista team that won both the 1996–97 Cup of Portugal and the 1996–97 Portuguese SuperCup Cândido de Oliveira.

cotland

While Portugal was where Latapy's professional career in Europe began, it was in Scotland where it became more turbulent and marked by publicity over several unpleasant episodes. Following his time at Boavista which ended in 1998, Latapy was recruited by Alex McLeish to his first Scottish team, the then Scottish Division 1 outfit, Hibernian. Latapy quickly became a fan favorite at Hibernian and earned numerous awards, including two Hibernian Player of the Year awards and a Scottish Division 1 Player of the Year award. Latapy's performances also assisted Hibernian in winning the 1998–99 First Division Championship. Despite his contributions to the team, Latapy was sacked from Hibernian early in 2001 after a night that began with Latapy socialising with fellow Trinidad and Tobago footballer Dwight Yorke, and ended with him being charged by police for drunk driving. The incident represented a breach of the code-of conduct for Hibernian players who are forbidden to drink for 48 hours before a match. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/1328860.stm Latapy axed by Hibs] , BBC Sport, 22 May 2001.] Tweedie, Katrina. [http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2003-05-08/mws1.html The Russell Latapy story – Part III: The ‘lime’ that soured Latapy’s career] , "Trinidad Guardian", 7 May 2003.] It was around this time that Latapy and Yorke both quit international football after being dropped from the stating lineup by then Trinidad and Tobago coach, Renê Simões, after the two players failed to show up for a training session. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1413629.stm Yorke and Latapy quit] , BBC Sport, 29 June 2001.]

Following his dismissal from Hibernian, Latapy was signed by Scottish Premier League club Rangers, who were managed by Dick Advocaat. His career at Rangers, however, did not reflect his success at Hibernian. Latapy rarely started for Rangers and found himself out of favour, particularly after his old Hibernian manager, Alex McLeish, replaced Advocaat as team manager. McLeish then expressed a desire to field younger players, which threatened the place of a then 34 year old Latapy. In addition to his age, Latapy's hard partying tendencies also did little to put him in McLeish's good graces and is also considered a contributing factor to being released by Rangers early in 2003. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/2658803.stm Gers to pay off Latapy] , BBC Sport 14 January 2003.] After leaving Rangers, Latapy was quickly signed by another Scottish Premier League club, Dundee United, but his tenure at this club lasted for only a few months and Latapy soon found himself taking time off in Portugal after being released by Dundee United.

Latapy's unsigned status was short lived as former Hibernian teammate and now Falkirk manager, John Hughes, managed to track him down in Portugal and convinced him to accept a contract with Falkirk, which at that time was playing in the Scottish First Division. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/2990428.stm Falkirk snap up Latapy] , BBC Sport, 14 June 2003.] Latapy's performances helped the club win Division 1 at the end of the 2004–05 season and saw Falkirk promoted into the Scottish Premier League.

2006 FIFA World Cup

While Latapy appeared to have found in Falkirk a team that fulfilled his twin desires to play and coach, it seemed that following his dismissal from the Trinidad and Tobago national team in 2001, Latapy would never get a chance to play in a FIFA World Cup finals game after being denied his chance in 1989. Once again, however, fortune intervened in Latapy's favour in the form of a request from representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago national team to return to international football and join the team in its qualification campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Despite having a chance to make up for not making it to the 1990 World Cup, Latapy refused the initial offer to return to international football citing the demands of his player-coach role at Falkirk, and his rejected request to coach the Trinidad and Tobago team, as reasons for not returning to international football.

It eventually took the personal intervention of Dwight Yorke (who himself had returned to the national team) and FIFA Vice-President Austin "Jack" Warner to get Latapy to return to the national team, now nicknamed the "Soca Warriors". [ [http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-08-23/sports1.html Latapy's back] , "Trinidad Guardian", 23 August 2005.] Latapy played his first international game in four years in a World Cup qualifying match in Port of Spain against Guatemala on 3 August 2005. He scored one of the goals that secured a 3–2 victory for Trinidad and Tobago. Latapy then played in five other World Cup qualifying matches and helped Trinidad and Tobago secure its place in the World Cup by beating Bahrain 1–0 in a playoff.

He spent much of his time in Germany on the bench, however. It was only in Trinidad and Tobago's third World Cup game against Paraguay in Kaiserslautern that Latapy was called upon in the 67th minute as Trinidad and Tobago's final substitute. Latapy's appearance on the field sent Trinidad and Tobago supporters into a frenzy of cheers as his appearance offered some hope of salvaging a game that was already going against Trinidad and Tobago as Paraguay was 1–0 ahead after a Trinidad and Tobago own goal. Despite Latapy's presence on the pitch, Trinidad and Tobago lost the match 2–0. Although leaving the tournament after playing for only 23 minutes, Latapy's realised a dream that had taken 16 years to be fulfilled.

Post-World Cup

Upon leaving Germany after losing to Paraguay, Latapy and the rest of the Soca Warriors returned to a hero's welcome at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad. In recognition of their achievement in qualifying for the World Cup, each member of the team was awarded Trinidad and Tobago's second highest honour, the Chaconia Medal in gold, and TT$1,000,000. [ [http://www.opm.gov.tt/news/index.php?pid=2002&nid=r060626 Prime Minister Manning Clarifies Rewards to Soca Warriors] , Office of the Prime Minister: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 26 June 2006.]

Latapy continues his career despite being 40, and is playing for Falkirk in the Scottish Premier League 2008–09 season. In September of 2008, Latapy was appointed as the assistant coach of Trinidad & Tobago and returned to play against Cuba and Guatemala.

Trivia

Latapy's training regime, prior to Trinidad & Tobago's World Cup campaign in 2006 consisted of reducing the amount of cigarettes he smoked from 40 a-day to 10 a-day. Despite most modern professional footballers frowning upon smoking and it's consequences, Latapy says "Smoking is something I choose to do." Latapy was also quite renowned for his World Cup 2006 drinking antics after the epic 0-0 draw with Sweden. He was pictured in Trinidad and Tobagan news late night partying with the president of Trinidad. The carnival after the match was a famous one as the country celebrated the moral victory against Sweden.

Awards

"As of August 2006:"
*Scottish Premier League player of the month in August 2006 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/5327384.stm Latapy, 38, named player of month] , BBC Sport, 8 September 2006.]
*Scotttish First Division winner's medal with Falkirk in 2004–05
*Scotttish First Division Player of the Year in 2004–05
*Bell's Cup winner's medal with Falkirk in 2004
*Nominated for the BBC Scotland's "Off The Ball" Overseas Player of the Year in 2004
*Scotttish First Division Player of the Month in April 2004
*Nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year in 2000
*T&T Olympic Committee Sports Personality of the Year in 2000
*Hibernian's Player of the Year in 1999–00
*Scotttish First Division Player of the Year in 1998–99
*Scotttish First Division winner's medal with Hibernian in 1998–99
*Hibernian's Player of the Year in 1998–99
*Portuguese Super Cup winner's medal with Boavista in 1996–97
*Cup of Portugal winner's medal with Boavista in 1996–97
*Portuguese Super Liga winner's medal with FC Porto in 1995–96
*Portuguese Super Liga winner's medal with FC Porto in 1994–95
*T&T Chaconia Medal Silver (World Cup Squad) in 1989
*"Edinburgh Evening News" Sports Personality of the Year in 1999
*T&T Footballer of the Year in 1996
*T&T Humming Bird Medal Gold (for Sport) in 1996
*T&T Footballer of the Year in 1989
*T&T Footballer of the Year in 1985
*T&T Footballer of the Year in 1983 [http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-05-13/SA-1.html Magician disappears] , "Trinidad Guardian", 10 May 2006.]

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=15265|name=Russell Latapy
* [http://www.socawarriors.net/russell_latapy.htm SocaWarriors.net profile page]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/latapy-intlg.html Complete list of international appearances]
* [http://www.planetworldcup.com/GUESTS/peter20060622.html Planet World Cup columnist, Peter Goldstein, on Latapy's last international appearance]