Dennis Lawrence
Biography
Dennis Lawrence was announced as a first-team assistant coach under Head Coach Eric Ramsay’s staff on March 13, 2024. He joins Minnesota United from Coventry City Football Club of the EFL Championship, England’s second division. With Coventry, Lawrence served as a first-team coach from 2021-24, where he helped run training sessions on a daily basis and led the team’s tactical and technical preparation ahead of each match.
Lawrence had a prolific playing career that spanned almost 18 years across both club and country competition. The center back started his club career playing in the Trinidad and Tobago top division before departing Defence Force and signing with Wrexham ACF in 2001. From 2001-06, Lawrence made 198 game appearances for the historic Welsh side and was named the 2003 Player of the Season. He then joined Swansea City from 2006-09 as the club competed in the EFL Championship. While with Swansea, Lawrence went on loan to Crewe Alexandra from 2008-09 before finishing out his club career with San Juan Jabloteh in Trinidad and Tobago from 2009-10. In total, Lawrence made 317 game appearances and scored 17 goals at the club level.
Lawrence’s managerial career began with Wigan Athletic FC as a development coach from 2010-13. The Wigan squad impressively won its first major trophy in club history by defeating Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final at Wembley. Lawrence then joined Everton FC from 2013-16 as a first-team coach under manager Roberto MartÃnez, where the team achieved a 72-point record-breaking season for the club during the 2013/14 season.
Lawrence served as the head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Team from 2017-19. During the three years he managed the Trinidad side, he led the team to compete in multiple competitions, including the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 2018, the Gold Cup in 2019 and Concacaf Nations League in 2019. Lawrence’s Trinidad & Tobago team notably defeated the United States in the final game of the World Cup Qualifying stage in 2018.
Internationally, Lawrence made 89 game appearances for the Trinidad and Tobago National Team from 2000-10, and notably played in all three Group Stage games of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. While with the Soca Warriors, Lawrence was part of the squad that won the 2001 Caribbean Cup and was named MVP of the tournament.
Lawrence holds a UEFA Pro License Coaching Qualification, a FIFA Technical Directors Course, a UEFA A+B Coaching Qualification, and an FA Level 1 and 2 Youth Modules certificate.
