Dwight Yorke sacked after 17 months having failed to secure 2026 World Cup qualification

Dwight Yorke has been sacked as manager of Trinidad and Tobago after failing to qualify for the World Cup.

The Manchester United legend took charge of his national team in November 2024, with this just his second coaching role.

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Yorke enjoyed a six-month spell at Australian side Macarthur between 2022 and 2023, winning ten of his 19 games at the wheel.

But results proved much harder to come by in international football, with the former striker claiming just four victories in 18 matches.

Tasked with overseeing a World Cup qualifying campaign, Trinidad and Tobago saw their hopes of reaching this summer’s spectacle come to an end in November.

The Soca Warriors drew 1-1 with Steve McClaren‘s Jamaica, condemning them to a third-place finish in their qualifying group.

Despite missing out on the major tournament, the national team were reportedly prepared to keep Yorke on as boss if he agreed to take a pay cut.

But after he refused, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) confirmed they had parted ways with the 54-year-old.

Yor a Goner

A statement confirmed: “Following the conclusion of the recent Fifa World Cup qualification campaign in which T&T failed to advanced to the 2026 World Cup, the TTFA Executive Committee conducted a comprehensive review of the campaign and the overall direction of the men’s senior national team programme, inclusive of its technical structure and financial framework.

“Subsequent discussions were held between the TTFA and Mr. Yorke regarding the future of the role, including revised contractual terms and remuneration aligned to the next phase of the programme.

“After these discussions, both parties were unable to reach agreement on the proposed terms at this time, and it was mutually decided to part ways.”

Despite this being the end of Yorke’s time in charge for now, the TTFA refused to rule out a return in the future.

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The press release continued: “The TTFA wishes to emphasise that the Association maintains a professional and respectful relationship with Mr Yorke, and the door is not closed to future dialogue.”

‘I had every intention of continuing’

Following the news of his departure, Yorke revealed that he had had no plans to leave his role as national team boss.

He said: “I had every intention of continuing.

“Unfortunately, circumstances beyond my control have made that impossible.”

As a player, Yorke is best known for his four-year spell at United between 1998 and 2002.

During this time, he scored 65 goals in 152 games, as well as winning the Champions League in 1999 and three Premier League titles.

The former goal machine also spent nine seasons with Aston Villa before heading to Old Trafford, as well as stints at Blackburn, Birmingham and Sunderland.

Yorke also enjoyed an historic international career, captaining Trinidad and Tobago at their first-ever World Cup in 2006.

He later called this the ‘pinnacle’ of his career, ranking it above Premier League and European glory with United.

Speaking to talkSPORT in 2021, Yorke said: “Winning the treble, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and all of the above – taking my country to the World Cup has to be the greatest achievement simply because we are probably the smallest nation ever to play in the World Cup.

“What it means to our people, what it represents for the whole of the Caribbean – having done that, for me it has to be the greatest achievement of them all.”