Jamaica All-Time Greatest Team

 This blogger Artur Yanturin of Russia copied many of my blog teams.  This blog was one of them.  It was my Russia All-Time Team here.  His team was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.   His Spartak Moscow All-Time team entry of was published in October 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2017.  His entry of the Dutch-German rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.  He also copied many many of my blog entries.

His Facebook and Instagram

Gold Cup 2015

Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index

All-CONCACAF
USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador
Central America without Costa Rica and Honduras.

Canada, Trinidad & Tobago
Canada or Canadian born Players
Jamaica/Jamaican Diaspora, British Jamaicans

Caribbean Countries

This is my selection of All-Time Team for Jamaica and Jamaican diaspora.  Both players who were capped by Jamaica and any other national teams are qualified to be on this fantasy team. The key factor is contribution to Jamaican football. The number 23 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the World Cup Finals.

When I first started to work on the original Jamaica/Jamaican Diaspora in 2017, I wanted to include Jamaican superstars such as John Barnes, Alberto Spencer, Sol Campbell and Laurie Cunningham.  So instead of a Jamaica All-Time team, I create a Jamaicans and Jamaican diaspora team.  But when I updated Jamaica/Jamaican Diaspora in December, 2023, I realized that I was ignoring a lot of talented Jamaican international players.  So I decided to create an All-Time Team for Jamaican international players and another one for British Jamaica respectively at the same team.  

Jamaica is known for its fine athletes.   Lennox Lewis, Usain Bolt Donovan Bailey, etc all came from Jamaica. Several Jamaican-born footballers such as England's John Barnes became star players in the UK and the United States.  However, its national football team never made almost any impact in the international stage until 1997.  In 1998, the Reggae Boyz qualified for the World Cup Finals in France.  Their success story was a mixture of a golden generation of homegrown talents and the mobilization of British Jamaican footballers in the English Preimer League. I have written a blog about the British-Jamaicans on Jamaica's 1998 World Cup team. 

Jamaica at World Cup 1998

Team

GK: Warren Barrett 

Warren Barrett played for Cornwell College in Jamaica before joining Violet Kickers where he played most of his careers.  He also played one season for Wadadah F.C. for a season in Jamaica.  He captained his nation at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. According to the Jamaica Football Federation, Barrett earned 127 caps for the Reggae Boyz, but this figure has not been officially acknowledged by FIFA.  

GK: Donovan Ricketts 
Donovan Ricketts joined Bolton Wanders in 2004, but never played a game.  Then, he played more than 100 games for Bradford City in England, and has more than 100 appearances in Major League Soccer and has twice been named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He was also the captain of the Jamaica national football team, earning 100 caps for his country, until his retirement from international football in 2013.

GK: Andre Blake 

Since 2016, Andre Blake became the starting goalkeeper for Philadelphia Union.  At the time of writing, he was voted as the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year three times.  Before that, he played NCAA soccer for University of Connecticut.   He was named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy in 2013. For Jamaica, he earned his first cap in 2014.  He won the CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Glove Award in 2017 as Jamaica reached the final.  He had over 70 caps for Reggae Boyz.

Andre Blake

RB: Linval Dixion

In 1995, he signed with the Charleston Battery of the USISL. He moved to Hazard United in the fall of 1995 and played for them until 2002 when he returned to the Battery for two seasons in the USL A-League. In 2003, Dixon and his teammates won the A-League championship. He has captained Jamaica and was a participant at the 1998 World Cup. He made his debut in 1991 and played his last international in 2004 against Venezuela, collecting over 90 caps.

RB/CB: Frank Sinclair 
Frank Sinclair started his career with Chelsea where he spent 8 seasons. He won the FA Cup in 1996-1997.  And he won a League Cup with Leicester Town in 2000.  He played for many clubs all over England. His performance in England led him to be call-up by Jamaica for the 1998 World Cup Finals in 1998. He was one of 7 English-born Jamaican players on the team. He played 28 caps for Jamaica between 1998 and 2003.

Frank Sinclair

CB: Ian Goodison 

Ian Goodison began his career in minor Jamaican football leagues and was discovered in 1996 by René Simões who introduced him straight into the national squad. He joined Olympic Gardens in 1997. From 1999 to 2002, he played for Hull City in England.  He later played for Seba United and Tranmere Rovers.  From 1996 to 2009,  he has collected a country all-time record of 120 caps.  

CB: Tyrone Marshall 

Marshall played NCAA soccer before he played in MLS where he spent bhis entire career.  He started with Colorado Rapids. His longest stint was with LA Galaxy where he played from 2002 to 2007.  He won two MLS Cup with them. He played for Miami Fusion, Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders.  He appeared in 83 matches from 2000–2010 before retiring from international football in January 2010.   

CB: Wes Morgan 
Rejected by Notts County, Morgan was playing for non-league team before being discovered by Nottingham Forest in  2002. He began a star over there.  In 2012, he moved to Leicester Town.  In the 2015-2016 season, he played every minute of Leicester Town's historical Premiership winning year and also served as the team's captain. He was the first Jamaican international to win the title. At the time of writing, he had 30 caps for Jamaica.

LB Kemar Lawrence 

Lawrence was the son of goalkeeper Orville Edwards.  He started with Harbour View. From 2015 to 2019, he played for NY Red Bulls before joining Anderlecht.  He played for Toronto FC and Minnesota United.  He was named in the MLS Best XI in 2018 and became an All-Star in 2019.  He played 73 times for Jamaica since 2013.  He was named in the Team of Tournament in the 2015 Gold Cup. He was named in the IFFHS CONCACAF Team of the Decade: 2011–2020.

LB/LW: Ricardo Gardner 
Ricardo Gardner started with Harbour View at home. His performances for Jamaica during the 1998 World Cup attracted English First Division side Bolton Wanderers. He played 14 seasons for Bolton Wanderers  of which 11 were spent in the Premier League. Gardner earned 112 caps for the Jamaica national football team, scoring 9 goals and playing at four CONCACAF Gold Cups and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He had 112 caps and went to the 1998 World Cup Finals.

Ricardo Gardner 

DM/CM: Fitzroy Simpson 
Simpson notably played in the Premier League for Manchester City, Scottish Premier League for Hearts and the Irish IFA Premiership for Linfield. He also played in the Football League for Swindon Town, Bristol City, Portsmouth and Walsall before ending his career in non-league football with Telford United, Havant & Waterlooville and Eastleigh. Born in the UK, he played for Jamaica at the WC in 1998. He had 43 caps.

CM: Peter Cargill  

Peter Cargill also played for local sides Swallowfield FC, CC Lions, Hazard United and Harbour View and also spent 8 years in Israel with Maccabi Netanya from 1987 and 1994 and Hapoel Petah Tikva for a season. He captained the Reggae Boyz and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. He collected a total of 84 caps from 1984 to 1998 and scored 3 times.

AM/CM: Theodore Whitmore 

Whitmore is considered one of the greatest player who had played for Jamaica. He started his club career at Montego Bay Boys Club, and has since played for Violet Kickers and Seba United in his native Jamaica. He was signed on a free by English league side Hull City, but an accident in Jamaica cut short his Hull career. Scottish team Livingston acquired his services in 2003, and in June 2004 he signed for Tranmere Rovers. He had 127 caps for Jamaica.

Theodore Whitmore 

CM: Darryl Powell 
The son of a Reggae musician, Powell was born in Lambeth, London, and his career included spells at English clubs Portsmouth, Derby County, Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, as well as a stint at Colorado Rapids in the USA. He played for Derby between 1995 and 2002.  He was one of the British-born Reggae Boyz playing for Jamaica in the 1998 World Cup in France. He has 21 caps between 1998 and 2001.

AM/CM: Robbie Earle

Earle broke into the professional game with Port Vale in 1982. He spent nine years the club. He was later voted the club's PFA Fans' Favourites. He moved on to Wimbledon in 1991, where he also spent nine years. He made nearly 300 league games for each club, scoring 77 and 59 goals respectively. He also represented Jamaica on 8 occasions between 1997 and 1998, scoring one international goal. He appeared in the 1998 World Cup, scoring his nation's first ever goal in the finals.

AM: Allan Cole 
At the peak of his powers, Cole was a midfield maestro local fans compared to Pele. He remains the Jamaica's youngest senior football international, donning national colours against a Brazilian team when he was only 15 years old.Allan Cole played in the NASL with the Atlanta Chiefs in 1968, and in Brazil with Náutico around 1972. He is largely known as one of Jamaica's greatest footballer.  In addition to his football career, Cole was also the manager of the Jamaican reggae star Bob Marley and his band The Wailers. He was credited as co-writing the 1976 song "War".

Bob Marley playing against Alan Cole

RM: Andy Williams

Williams played college soccer for the University of Rhode Island where he remains the team's all-time leading scorer, with 52 goals and 45 assists. He played for many MLS clubs before joining Real Salt Lake in 2005 winning a single MLS Cup there. He has 97 caps with the team and 13 goals. He played for his country in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, making one substitute appearance. 

RW: Leon Bailey

Bailey arrived in Europe at the age of 13 and played for a number of clubs at youth level before being signed by Belgian side Genk in 2015, where he was named Belgian Young Footballer of the Year. His success in Belgium earned him a move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2017. He was named Bundesliga Team of the Year in 2018.  After four years at the club, he was signed by Aston Villa in 2021.  He previously refused a call-up by Jamaica until 2019.

Leon Bailey

LWF/ST: Luton Shelton

Shelton began his career with Harbour View in 2003.  He moved to plat overseas in 2006. His international club career included stops at Helsingborg, Sheffield United, Vålerenga, Karabükspor and Volga Nizhny Novgorod.  From 2004 to 2013, he played 75 times for Jamaica.  He is their all-time leading scorer with 35 goals.  He is the only man to score four goals on his international début.  He played in three Gold Cups.

FW: Lindy Delapenha 
In April 1948 he joined Portsmouth. There, he became the first Jamaican to play professional football in England.  In 1950, he transferred to Middlesbrough where his career took off. He became Boro's leading scorer in the 1951–52, 1953–54 and 1955–56 seasons. He moved to Mansfield Town in 1958. Delapenha played non-league football, Hereford United and Burton Albion. He won the Southern League Cup in 1964 with Burton.

FW: Gil Heron 
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he moved to Canada as a youth. He played for Detroit Corinthians and Detroit Wolverines, where he was top goalscorer in the 1946 season. He was spotted by a scout from Glasgow Celtic where he became the first Black to play for Celtic.  He also played for Third Lanark and English club Kidderminster Harriers before moving back to Detroit Corinthians. At Celtic he earned the nicknames "The Black Arrow" and "The Black Flash".

ST: Onandi Lowe

Lowe started his career at Harbour View, before Montreal Impact in 1996. He later played with Waterhouse, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Raging Rhinos, Kansas City Wizards, Port Vale, Rushden & Diamonds, Coventry City, Portmore United, Miami FC, and Arnett Gardens before he retired in 2008. He played 65 times for Jamaica scoring 27 goals.

ST: Dean Burton 
Between 1994 and 2016, Dean Burton played for numerous clubs in English football including Portsmouth, Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday. He played in the Premier League with Derby. In 1997, he became the first group of British-born footballers to play for Jamaica. He was their hero as Jamaica qualified for the World Cup for the first time.  He was named Jamaican Sportsman of the Year in 1997. He had a total of 62 caps between 1997 and 2009.

Deon Burton

Honorable Mention
Selwyn Murphy, Don Clarke, Orville Edwards, Aaron Lawrence, Anthony Corbett, Deon Wilmot, Shavar Thomas, Jermaine Taylor, Adrian Mariappa, Claude Davis, Demar Philips, Durrant Brown, Ethan Pinnock, Michael Hector, Damion Lowe, Rodolph Austin, Je-Vaughn Watson, Robbie Earle, Marcus Gayle, Paul Hall, Richard McDonald, Shamar Nicholson, Darren Mattocks, Walter Boyd, Jason Euell, Michail Antonio, Aldrick 'Allie' McNab, Paul Young.

Squad Explanation

-- In December 2023, when I updated Jamaica/Jamaican Diaspora, I noticed many talented Jamaican international or overseas Jamaicans were not recognised.  So I create this All-Time Team for Jamaican international player and another one for British Jamaica respectively at the same time.  I also did a review of Black Players who played for England at the same time.  

-- The selection is mainly based up the successes of the players in their entire career.  However, some naturalised players only spent a few years with the Reggie Boyz. So, I tried to use contributions to the national team as the main criteria since this team was largely about the Jamaican national team. I also gave extra considerations to Lindy Delapenha, Gil Heron and Alan Cole because of their legendary status in Jamaica. They never played internationally for Jamaica.  I cited them as being "heroes of Jamaican football" as a major factor for selecting them.

Lindy Delapenha 

-- I did a blog entry on British-Jamaicans on Jamaica's 1998 World Cup team, but at the time of creation, I do not have enough players to form a British Jamaican All-Time team.  I do not have candidates for goalkeepers.  

-- In 1998, Jamaica went to their only World Cup Finals at the time.  Warren Barrett, Frank Sinclair, Ian Goodison, Peter Cargill, Andy Williams, Deon Burton, Theodore Whitemore, Darryl Powell, Fitzroy Simpson, Onandi Lowe, Robbie Earl and Ricardo Gardner made the team.

-- Jamaica finished second in the Gold Cup for both 2015 and 2017.  Andre Blake and Kemar Lawrence were on both teams while Wes Morgan was on the 2015 team.

-- Only 6 players from this team were born in the United Kingdom.

-- In 2023, Yard Hype, an entertainment website in Jamaica came up with their All-Time Best XI.  The players were Andre Blake, Ricardo Gardner, Ian Goodison, Wes Morgan, Demar Phillips, Allan ‘Cole, Theodore Whitmore, Peter Cargill, Andy Williams, Luton Shelton and Deon Burton.

-- The IFFHS complied their All-Time Best XI for Jamaica in 2021. That team included Warren Barrett, Frank Sinclair, Wes Morgan, Ian Goodison, Ricardo Gardner, Darryl Powell, Robbie Earl, Lindy Delapenha, Gil Heron, Deon Burton and Leon Bailey.

-- Craig Butler, founder of Phoenix Academy, came up with his All-Time Best XI.  They were Andre Blake, Anthony Corbett, Deon Wilmot, Ian Goodison, Ricardo Gardner, Peter Cargill, Allan Cole, Onandi Lowe, Leon Bailey, Walter Boyd, and Luton Shelton.  His team included bench players: Theodore Whitmore, Aldrick 'Allie' McNab, Richard McDonald, Damion Lowe and Shamar Nicholson.  This list seemed to favor Jamaican-born and trained players.

-- I found this ranking of the Top 25 Jamaican All-Time Soccer players by BOLAVIP.  I used it as a reference.

Goalkeepers

-- In 2014, I selected Warren Barett and Donovan Ricketts for my Jamaica/Jamaican Diaspora team.  Barett played in the 1998 World Cups while Ricketts was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010 and 2013.  Andre Blake had won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year 3 times.  In 2020 and 2022, he was shortlisted and finished among the top five for the MVP of the year.  The three of them were undisputed.

Warren Barett

-- I also looked Vester Constantine who was related to Learie Constantine.  Learie Constantine was a former Trinidadian cricketer, lawyer and politician who served as Trinidad and Tobago's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and became the UK's first black peer. 

-- I came upon Selwyn Murphy and Don Clarke, but I had no information about them.  They were from the older generations. Orville Edwards and Aaron Lawrence deserved to be honorable mention.

Defenders

-- Frank Sinclair is on my CONCACAF All-time 23 member team.  He began his career as a leftback, but he was a much better central defender or rightback.  He was a top defensive player when he was with Chelsea FC.  Wes Morgan was an ever-present fixture in the Leicester City Premier league-winning side in 2016. He became the first Jamaican to win the Premier League title.  Morgan only played 30 times for Jamaica and Sinclair 28 times, but Morgan helped Jamaica to finish second at the 2015 Gold Cup, and Sinclair played in the 1998 World Cup Finals. Ian Goodison is Jamaica's most capped player.  So Sinclair, Goodison and Morgan easily made the team.

Wes Morgan

-- For the last centreback, I looked into Tyrone Marshall, Durrant Brown, Adrian Mariappa, Claude Davis and Jermaine Taylor.

-- Tyrone Marshall could play as a forward and midfield.  He had over 80 caps, and was named in the Gold Cup Team of Tournament in 2005.  I took him because BOLAVIP named him the 23rd greatest footballers from Jamaica. 

-- Adrian Mariappa could also play as a rightback.  He spent many years with Watford in England. Jermaine Taylor was named on the Team of Tournament for 2017 Gold Cup.  He also played over 101 times for Jamaica.  He had a lomg career in MLS.  Damion Lowe is the son of Onandi Lowe who is a part of this All-Time team.  He helped Jamaica to reach the Final of 2017 Gold Cup.  He also made the CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI in 2021.  They made honorable mentions.

-- I did not seriously consider Ethan Pinnock due to the fact that he switched to play for Jamaica late in his career.  He was put on honorable mention because he spent some time in the Premiership and was voted into PFA EFL Championship Team of the Year: 2020–21.

-- Frank Sinclair was also a very good rightback.  So I only selected Linval Dixon.  He is Jamaica's second's most capped player with 127 caps.  He was a rightback according to transfermarkt.  According the BOLAVIP, he was ranked 8th best Jamaican footballer ever.

-- I had limited information about Anthony Corbett who played for Reggie Boyz between 1985 and 1993.  I did not know his true position. He might have been a rightback.  Deon "Messy" Wilmot seemed to be a club legend with Santos FC (Jamaica), but I also don't know much about him.  

-- Ricardo Gardner was one of the most famous Jamaican internationals.  He was an undisputed choice for the leftback position. He spent 14 years with Bolton Wanderers, of which 11 were spent in the Premier League. Kemar Lawrence played 60 times for Jamaica.  He was named in IFFHS CONCACAF Team of the Decade (2011–2020).  Demar Philips with 72 caps made honorable mention.

Kemar Lawrence

Midfielders/Wingers

-- In 2014, I selected both Fitzroy Simpson and Darryl Powell for my Jamaican/Jamaican diaspora team probably because I was Anglocentric.  Both were naturalised for the World Cup Finals in 1998.  Simpson came along at the end of the World Cup Qualifiers while Powell did not join until after Jamaica booked their tickets to France. That should not be a factor to improve or diminish their status with this All-Time team.  Nevertheless, I reexamined their standings in 2023 against the likes of several midfielders.
-- In 2015, Rodolph Austin captained Jamaica to their first ever final of the Gold Cup, scoring one goal in the process, before losing 3–1 to Mexico in the final.  However, he spent most of his club career in Leeds United playing in the EFL Championship.  Fitzroy Simpson and Darryl Powell at least did spend time at the Premiership. DM Je-Vaughn Watson had a long career in the MLS.  He played 95 times for Jamaica.  He was also a central defender. Peter Cargill did not have a high-profile club career, but he was selected by Yard Hype and Craig Butler on their All-Time Best XI team respectively.  He was also listed as a Top 25 players by BolaVIP.  He had a total of 84 caps while Simpson had 43 and Powell only 21.  He was a big part of Rene Simoes' tenure with Jamaica before the naturalization of British players and continued to be a vital member of the team afterward. For this team, I decided to take Peter Cargill, Fitzroy Simpson and Darryl Powell.

-- Theodore Whitmore is considered to be the greatest Jamaican international player. I meant players being born and capped by Jamaica. Allan Cole remained the Jamaica's youngest senior football international when he made his debut at the age of only 15 years old. He was sometimes known as Jamaica's greatest players.

-- Robbie Earle was the last player selected. He had a good career with Wimbledon.  For Jamaica, he was a part of their 1998 World Cup team.  He would bring experiences from playing in England to the team.

-- Right-winger Leon Bailey is an emerging player as of 2023. He was already named to the Bundesliga Team of the Season (2017–2-2018).   So he had done more things than most Jamaican players.  Right midfielder Andy Williams was mentioned frequently as being an all-timer for Jamaica. 

-- Ricardo Gardner was also a left wing.  So I only needed to select a single wide player on the left. Luton Shelton who was a striker/left wing forward is Jamaica's all-time leading scorer.  His name was mentioned frequently as one of their greatest footballers.

Luke Shelton

Forwards

-- First, I went for several older players who were pioneer of the game. Gil Heron was the first Jamaican to play in Scotland.  He was born in Jamaica but spent some time in Canada.   Lindy Delapenha was considered the greatest Jamaican player ever.  Both never played for Jamaica as the island was still a British colony when they were active.  They were historical players.

-- I also discovered a player named Jack Leslie who was a striker.  He was the first Jamaican or British Jamaican to play in the English league.  He was called up to play for England in 1925, but the invitation was later withdrawn. It has been speculated that the selection committee discovered that he was a Black player and objected his selection because of his race.  He would have been the first Black player to represent England.  However, I could not clear his eligibility for this team.  He was born in England but was officially uncapped by them. So, I only out him on the British Jamaican team.

-- Dean Burton was the hero of the 1998 World Cup Qualifiers. He deserved a spot on the team.  His decision to represent Jamaica changed the game in the country.  Onandi Lowe scored more goals for Jamaica than Burton, but Burton as mentioned was very important to the history of Reggae Boyz.  Lowe's club career also did not match that of Burton who spent a few seasons in the Premiership.  So Lowe did not get into my Jamaican/Jamaican diaspora team, but he easily made this team alongside Luton Shelton (see above).

Onandi Lowe

-- Paul Young was at one point Jamaica's All-Time leading scorer.  He was a big part of Jamaica's qualifying campaign, but Rene Simoes left him out of the World Cup Finals after Jamaica started to naturalized British-born players.  

-- Aldrick 'Allie' McNab represented Jamaica in both track & field and football in 1960's.  For 100m dash, he could run under 10 seconds, and was a top Jamaican sprinter of his time. He was also inducted in the Caribbean Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.  But I only knew that he was an attacker in football.  I did not know how good of a footballer.

-- Jason Euell played Wimbledon, Charlton, Middlesbrough and Blackpool.  Michail Antonio only earned his first caps in 2021.  He needed more time with the Reggie Boyz, but he already played 9 seasons with West Ham.  He scored over 70 goals in the Premiership.  Walter Boyd was a popular player, but I did not have enough space for them.

Formation

Trinidad and Tobago All-Time Team

 This blogger Artur Yanturin of Russia copied many of my blog teams.  This blog was one of them.  It was my Russia All-Time Team here.  His team was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.   His Spartak Moscow All-Time team entry of was published in October 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2017.  His entry of the Dutch-German rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.  He also copied many many of my blog entries.

His Facebook and Instagram

World Cup 2006

Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.

All-CONCACAF
USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador
Central America without Costa Rica and Honduras.

Canada, Trinidad & Tobago
Canada or Canadian born Players

British Jamaicans

Jamaican international
Jamaica/Jamaican Diaspora, Caribbean Countries.

The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed the "Soca Warriors", represents the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in international football. It is controlled by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, which is a member of CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football), the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), and the global jurisdiction of FIFA.

The national team competes in the World Cup, Gold Cup, and the Nations League, as well as other competitions by invitation. The Soca Warriors' lone appearance at the FIFA World Cup came in 2006, after the team defeated Bahrain 2–1 on aggregate in the CONCACAF–AFC intercontinental play-off. The team has qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup on 18 occasions with their best performance in 2000, after reaching the semi-finals, finishing third. However, the national team did experience great success at the defunct Caribbean Cup, having won the sub-continental competition ten times and runners-up on seven occasions.

"Strike Squad" 1989

Team
GK: Shaka Hislop 
Born in the Great Britain, he represented Trinidad and Tobago at the youth level.  However, in 1998, he accepted a callup by England, but was an unused substitute.  A year later, he again switched back to T&T.  He represented them at the 2006 World Cup Finals.  For his club career, he was a part of the Newcastle United team which finished second in the Premier League for two successive seasons.  He also played for Portsmouth and West Ham.

Shaka Hislop

GK: Lincoln Philips

Phillips played forTrinidad and Tobago from 1963 to 1967, and with them won a bronze medal in the 1967 Pan American Games. In the USA, he played Washington Darts in 1969. That year he was the ASL's Coach of the Year and made the All-Star Team, while leading the team to the ASL Championship. In 1970, the team moved to the NASL and he was the league's top goalkeeper, setting NASL records for consecutive shutouts and consecutive minutes without allowing a goal, and made the All-Star Team again.

GK: Clayton Ince

Ince began with Defense Force at home.  He had lengthy spells in the English Football League at Crewe Alexandra and Walsall. He was selected on the PFA Team of the Year: 2006–07 Football League Two.  He is his country's most capped goalkeeper with 79 caps for Trinidad and Tobago between 1994 and 2009.  He was Shaka Hislop's backup at the 2006 World Cup Finals. 

RB: Justin Hoyte 
Justin Hoyte previously played for English clubs Arsenal, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge. His longest stint was with Middlesbrough. Hoyte was born in England. As an international, he represented England up to under-21 level.  He rejected a call up to play for Trinidad and Tobago for the 2006 World Cup Finals, but he started to play for them at senior level in 2013.  Between 2013 and 2016, he had 18 caps. His parents were both British sprinters.

RB/RW: Carlos Edwards 

Edwards started his career in Trinidad and Tobago before moving to Wrexham in 2000 for whom he made over 150 appearances. He went on to play for Luton Town, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and Millwall. He also made over 90 appearances for the Trinidad and Tobago.  He was a member of their 2006 World Cup team.  He was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times in three different division. 

CB: Dennis Lawrence 

Dennis Lawrence signed for Wrexham in 2001, joining from Defence Force at home. He stayed until 2006 when he signed for Swansea City. He later played for Crewe Alexandra. From 2000 to 2010, he played 101 times for T&T.   He was awarded the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award at the 2001 Caribbean Cup, which Trinidad and Tobago won. He scored the goal against Bahrain that awarded Trinidad and Tobago a ticket to the 2006 World Cup Finals.  He also played every minute at the World Cup Finals.

Dennis Lawrence

CB: Marvin Andrews 

Andrews's career includes spells at Livingston, with whom he won the Scottish League Cup in 2004, and Rangers, where he won the double of the League Cup and the Scottish Premier League title in 2005. Most recently he played for Scottish League Two club Clyde. Between 1996 and 2006 Andrews was a regular for the Trinidad and Tobago national football team, winning 99 caps up to that point.

CB/LB: Tyrone de la Bastide

De La Bastide known as the "Tank".  He was a member of the first ever T&T national team to participate in a World Cup qualifying competition for the 1966 World Cup Finals. In 1959, the former Maple great was also part of the T&T contingent of players on a Caribbean team to tour England.  He was T&T Footballer of the Year in 1968 and was inducted into the T&T Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

CB:  Clayton Morris 

In his club career, Claton Morris played for Aviation Services Limited (1983), ECM Motown (1982), St. Ann's Rangers, Trintoc and United Petrotrin. He also played in the USISL where he was named the Atlantic Division Defender of the Year in 1994.  Between 1983 and 1992, he was capped 36 times by Trinidad and Tobago.  He was the captain of the "Strike Squad" that nearly qualified for the 1990 World Cup Finals. He was elected into Trinidad & Tobago's Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

Clayton Morris

LB: Joevin Jones 

Jones' career began with W Connection in 2009. In 2014, he was loaned to HJK Helsinki. Jones then moved to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire for the 2015 season before spending the 2016 and 2017 seasons with Seattle Sounders FC. He joined German 2. Bundesliga club Darmstadt in 2018. He later returned to Seattle Sounders FC on 7 May 2019. Between 2010 and now, he had 97 caps.

CB/DM/LB: Jlloyd Samuel 
Samuel played in the Premier League for both Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers earlier in his career having come through the Charlton Athletic youth academy.  Between 1999 and 2007, he played with Aston Villa. He had a spell playing in Iran.  Between 2007 and 2011, he played with Bolten Wanderers. He represented England at U-18, U-20, and U-23 level before switching to play for T&T at the senior level in 2009.  He as only capped twice for T&T. 

DM: Khaleem Hyland 

Khaleem Hyland began his career in 2007 with San Juan Jabloteh at home.  He was unable to obtain a work permit to play with Portsmouth in England.  He ended up in Belgium on loan, but later joined Zulte Waregrm and Genk.  In 2017, he moved to Saudi Arabia.  He first played for Al Faisaly and then, Al-Batin. Since 2008, he played over 90 times for T&T. He scored his first goal against Jamaica.

CM/RM: Chris Birchall 

From 2001 to 2006, Birchall played for Port Vale.  He spent some time with Coventry City before moving to the MLS in 2009.  In 2013, he returned to Port Vale. In 2005, he started to play for T&T after discovering some Trinidad blood in him.  He became the first white player to play for them in 60 years.  He went to the World Cup Finals in 2006.  In total, he had 44 caps between 2005 and 2013.

CM: Russell Latapy 

Latapy left T&T in 1990 to play professional football in Europe. He first signed for Académica de Coimbra in Portugal. In 1994, he joined FC Porto under Bobby Robson. He became the first Trinidadian to play in the UEFA Champions League. Later, he played in Scotland for a number of clubs.  His longest stint was with Falkirk FC. For the national team, he played 81 times between 1988 and 2008. He was a member of "Strike Squad". In 2006, he went to the World Cup Finals with T&T.

Russell Latapy

AM: Everald Cummings 

Cummings started with Paragon. In 1967, he joined the Atlanta Chiefs in the NASL.  In 1972, he signed with the NY Cosmos, winning the championship with them the same year.  He moved to Veracruz in Mexico in 1974 until 1976. He also played with the Boston Minutemen in 1977. He later played indoor football in the United States.  The T&T  almost qualified for the 1974 World Cup Finals. He was named T&T Sportsman of the Year in 1973 and Most Valuable Player during the World Cup Qualification Preliminary Series.

AM: Arnold Dwanika 

Most of his career has been spent in his homeland in the TT Pro League but Dwarika has also had stints in Europe with Scottish side East Fife and Asia with Chinese clubs Qingdao Hailifeng and Guangzhou Pharmaceutical. Between 1993 and 2008, he played 73 times for T&T.  He was the Caribbean Footballer of the Year in 1999 as well as winning T&T Player of the Year 3 times.

AM: Angus Eve

Eve started with Joe Public of Trinidad in 1993. He later played for Defense Force and a short career in England with Chester City in the 1999-2000 season. He made his debut for the Trinidad and Tobago in 1994. With 117 caps, he is his country's most capped players. He retired from international football after not being considered for the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

FW: Warren Archibald

In 1967, Archibald signed with the New York Generals in the USA. Archibald left the NASL at this point and may have then played for San Luis F.C. in Mexico and Victory Sportif Club in Haiti before signing with the Washington Darts of the NASL in 1970. Archibald was voted NASL MVP and a first team All Star that year.  He also played for Rochester Lancers. He was capped 15 times between 1968 and 1974.  T&T almost qualified for the 1974 World Cup Finals with him as a star player.

Warren Archibald

FW/RWF: Levi Garcia 
Levi García began his career in 2013, at the age of 15, with T&TEC. Garcia signed with AZ Alkmaar of the Eredivisie in 2015. He then moved to play in Israel.  After spending two years in Israel, García moved to AEK Athens in 2020. In Greece, he was considered a top player.  For Soca Warriors, he earned his first cap in 2016. He scored two goals on his debut.  

ST: Kenwyne Jones

Jones began his career with Joe Public. He moved to W Connection in 2002.  In 2004, he joined Southampton, where he was converted to a striker. He was later played with several English clubs, but besides Southampton, he was remembered for his career with Sunderland, where he was their Player of the Year.  Between 2003 and 2017, he was capped 91 times for Soca Warriors.  He went to the 2006 World Cup Finals.  He was T&T Player of the Year in 2007.

ST: Stern John

Stern John made his name with Colombus Crew before heading to England in 1999.  In England, he played for Nottingham Forest, Birmingham City, Coventry City, Derby County, Sunderland, Southampton, Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town.  Between 1995 and 2011, he played 115 times for T&T.  He is their all-time leading scorer with 70 goals. He was also the 7th highest international goalscorer at the time of his retirement in 2011. He is also the all-time top CONCACAF goal scorer.

Stern John

ST: Steve David

David began his career with Police in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1974, he joined Miami Toros in the North American Soccer League. He was named the 1975 NASL MVP.  He later played with Los Angeles Aztecs, Detroit Express, California Surf and San Jose Earthquakes. He finished his NASL career as the league's 8th all-time leading scorer with 228 points in 175 games, including a 7th best tally of 100 goals.  He was capped 16 times and was a member of the 1973 WC qualifying team.

ST: Dwight Yorke 
York was best remembered for his stint with Manchester United.  In 1998-199 season, Manchester United won the triple (the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions' League), where he was both the top scorer in the Premiership and the Champions' League. Along with Russell Latapy and Pat Jennings, Yorke holds the record number of participations in different World Cup competitions, including qualifying stages – six in total (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010). He had 72 caps in total.

Dwight Yorke

 Squad Explanation

Michael Maurice, Gerald Figeroux, Kevin Barclay, Earl Carter, John Granville , Ivor Hart, Cax Baptiste, Jan-Michael Williams, Marvin Phillip, Brent Sancho,  Avery John, Ramon Moraldo, Selris Figaro, Selwyn Murren,  Richard Chinapoo, Brian Williams, Denil Theobald, David Nakhid, Leroy Spann, Alvin Corneal, Delbert Charleau, Carlton Franco, Silvio Spann, Leo Brewster, Leroy DeLeon, John Cyril Sutherland, Sammy Llewellyn, Cornell Glen, Leonson Lewis, Alf Charles, Shay Seymour, Joseph Daniel, Neville Douglas, Leroy Deleon.

Squad Explanation
-- Dwight Yorke (T&T) has a successful career in the English Premiership.  He is the most famous player from T&T.  Shaka Hislop and Russell Lamptey were also undisputed selection for this team.  Kenwyne Jones, Stern John, Warren Archibald and Everald Cummings were the other top footballers from here.

-- This might be my most difficult research for my All-Time national teams.  There were plenty of English language materials on the internet for football in Trinidad and Tobago, but they were not specific enough.  I found a very good source over here, but it lacked details.  And it was hard to compare the older players I found here with the modern players.  

-- I focused on players from the NASL and English leagues.  

-- The IFFHS created their All-Time best XI for Trinidad and Tobago.  They were Shaka Hislop, Justin Hoyte, Marvin Andrews, Tyrone de la Bastide, Marvin Faustin, Everald Cummings, Leroy DeLeon, Russell Latapy, Steve David, Dwight Yorke and Warren Archibald.

-- Trinidad & Tobago finally qualified for the 2006 World Cup Finals after beating Bahrain in the continental playoff.  Dwight Yorke, Shaka Hislop, Clayton Ince, Russell Latapy, Kenwyne Jones, Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence who went to Germany were selected into this team.

-- In 1967, Trinidad & Tobago enjoyed their first ever successes by winning the bronze medal at the Pan American Games.  The tournament included a famous victory against Argentina during the group stage.  Lincoln Philips was the star for them.  Tyrone de la Bastide was also selected here.

-- At the 1973 CONCACAF Championship, Trinidad and Tobago fell two points short of qualifying for the 1974 World Cup in controversial fashion. Trinidad and Tobago lost a crucial game on 4 December 1973 against hosts Haiti 2–1 after being denied five goals. The referee, José Roberto Henríquez of El Salvador, and Canadian linesman James Higuet were subsequently banned for life by FIFA for the dubious events of the match.  Warren Archibald, Steve David and Everald Cummings made this All-Time team.

-- In 1989, Trinidad & Tobago only needed a draw against the United States on the last match of the World Cup Qualifying campaign to qualify for the 1990 World Cup Finals in Italy.  The Americans ended up winning 1-0, and qualified for their first World Cup Finals since 1950.  The American goal became known as "The Shot heard around the world", and it changed the fortune of US soccer.  The Trinidad team in 1989 was known as "Strike Squad" at the campaign.  I selected Clayton Morris, Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy. Yorke and Latapy would make it to the 2006 World Cup Finals 17 years later. 

Goalkeepers

-- Shaka Hislop was not only the greatest ever goalkeeper from this country.  He was probably one of CONCACAFA greatest ever. He had a long and gloried career in England with Newcastle United.

-- Soca Warriors' official website called Lincoln Philips one of their greatest goalkeepers. In the 1967 Pan Am Games, he helped them to beat Argentina 1-0 where T&T finished third. He would then play club football in the United States.  I believed that he was probably the second-best goalkeeper ever from T&T.

Lincoln Philips

-- The third goalkeeper was difficult to choose.  Michael Maurice had some memorial performances during the World Cup Qualifiers for Italia 1990, but he was remembered by Paul Caligiuri's goal in the last match of the campaign that ended T&T's World Cup dream.  Although I did not have enough information on Gerald Figeroux, he seemed highly rated.  He played around the same time as Kevin Barclay.  Barclay also spent time in the NASL around 1974 after a sensational performance during the World Cup Qualifiers.  Earl Carter played with NY Cosmos while Pele was still with the team in 1979.  John Granville was one of the first players from T&T to play in England.  He played about 120 games for Wycombe Wanderers. I came across Ivor Hart who played in the 1920's and 1930's.  His nickname was "Lion in the Cage". Cax Baptiste represented the British Caribbean team on their 1959 tour of England.  Both Jan-Michael Williams and Marvin Phillip was capped 80 times.  In the end, I had no idea how to select.  So I took Clayton Ince because of his experience playing in England.  In England, he played over 200 games for Crewe Alexandra and another 169 games for Walsall.  He was voted into PFA Team of the Year: 2006–07 Football League Two.  He sat behind Shaka Hislop throughout his career on the national team, but still managed to play over 70 times for T&T.  In the 2006 World Cup Finals, he was behind both Hislop and Kevin Jack.  Jack was injury prone, and his career was affected by it.  I did not put him on honorable mentions

Defenders

-- Dennis Lawrence won the 2003–04 Wrexham's Player of the Season award. He has also become the first Wrexham player to play at a World Cup Finals.  He also played over 90 times for his country. Then, I selected Marvin Andrews who had over 100 caps.  He was also on IFFHS's Dream Team for T&T.  Clayton Morris was the captain of the "Strike Squad".  He was listed as a defender only by information I found on the internet, but not his specific position.  I actually watched the World Cup Qualifier between the United States and T&T for a better understanding of his position.  He played as a centreback.  He was very active after his retirement from football.  Much information emerged about his post-playing careers. I might have been affected by them.  Nevertheless, he seemed to be an influential player in his time.

-- Daneil Cyrus was capped 90 times, but his club career was more of a journeyman.  He spent time playing in Vietnam and India. Ian Cox was well-known because he played in England. In AFC Bournemouth, he played alongside Rio Ferdinand, but his career was limited. With just 16 caps for Soca Warriors, I did not consider him nor Cyrus.

-- Justin Hoyte only played 18 times for the Soca Warriors, and that was the reason why kept him from being undisputed on this team. However, his club career in England was among the greatest ever from T&T making him one of the more famous players from this Island nation. So I had to take him. Carlos Edwards had some Premiership experiences with Sunderland, but mainly played in the lower division.  He was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times in three different division, but not on the Premiership. Brent Sancho was famous due to Peter Crouch pulling on his dreadlock during the World Cup match between England and T&T, in which Crouch scored in the 1-0 victory.  I put him on honorable mention.

Carlos Edwards

-- On the left, I sided with IFFHS and took Tyrone de la Bastide.  However, they listed him as a central defender, but Soca Warriors' official website listed him as a leftback. He was T&T Footballer of the Year in 1968 and was inducted into the T&T Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. The IFFHS selected Marvin Faustin as their leftback. He was a younger member of the "Strike Squad" from the late 1980's, but I had no idea what else he did. He spent his domestic career in the region. So I took Joevin Jones instead. His club career took him to MLS and Bundesliga 2. He had 90 caps. Avery John of the 2006 World Cup team was seriously considered. He made honorable mention. Jlloyd Samuel also played as a leftback.
-- I did not feel comfortable with my selections of defenders. The Soca Warriors had a list of greatest players on their website. It listed many defenders, but I had very limited information on them. They tended to be older players. Both Ramon Moraldo and Selris Figaro played in the NASL during the 1970's. Richard Chinapoo also spent two seasons with NY Cosmos in the early 1980's before embarking on a career playing indoor soccer. I also had Brian Williams from the World Cup Qualifying campaign for the 1990 World Cup Finals. Selwyn Murren was from the 1967 Pan Am team. I did not know how to rate them. So I simply put them on honorable mentions.

Midfielders/Wingers

-- Jlloyd Samuel only played twice for Trinidad and Tobago after he switched his eligibly from England.  I still selected him because he had one of the better club careers than most players from here. He had at least 12 seasons playing in the Premier League. Khaleem Hyland played 94 times for Soca Warriors, but his club career was limited to playing in Belgium. He and Chris Birchall never made it to the Premier League.  Birchall was the first white player to represent T&T in 60 years when he earned his first cap in 2005.  He went onward to play in the 2006 World Cup. Nevertheless, I took both of them over Denil Theobald. Theobald also failed to establish in Europe, but he had 99 international caps. 

-- Everald Cummings and Russell Latapy were considered two of the greatest footballers from here.  Cummings was named the T&T Sportsman of the Year in 1973 as well as being names Most Valuable Player during the World Cup Qualification Preliminary Series.  Latapy became the first Trinidadian to play in the UEFA Champions when he was playing with Porto.  Then, I had to take Angus Eve.  He is the most capped player from Trinidad and Tobago.  Except a brief period with Chester, he never played outside Trinidad and Tobago.

-- Arnold Dwanika starred for T&T at the 2000 Gold Cup where they reached the semifinal.  It was their best ever finish.  He was also T&T Player of the Year three times.

-- Bertrand Grell, who was from the 1967 Pan Am team played in the NASL.  Leon Carpette starred for the famous 1973 World Cup qualifying campaign.  They were put on honorable mention only.

-- Levi Garcia became the youngest professional player from Trinidad and Tobaga playing in Europe.  He already established himself as a star player in Greece. He is a winger/forward.  I came across right winger Rex Burrett.  He was the star of the tour of England by Trinidadian players in 1950. While he was well-respected in his home country, I do not know how to rate him. So, he only made honorable mention.

Levi Garcia

-- Steve David finished his NASL career as the league's 8th all-time leading scorer with 228 points in 175 games.  He was a top player over there when Pele, George Best, Johan Cruyff and Bobby Moore were playing there. I believed that he was a wing forward. He was known for his speed.

-- Leroy Spann who played in the NASL and his son Silvio Spann also made honorable mention.

-- One source named Aldric Baptiste as one of greatest ever footballers from here after Yorke and Lamptey. I did not have enough information about him.  He played in the 1950's.

Forwards

-- Dwight Yorke was the greatest Trinidadian footballers. The height of his career was spent with Aston Villa and Manchester United.  He was a member of "Strike Squad", but also later played and starred as the veteran on the 2006 World Cup team.  But he actually only scored 19 goals for the national team. Stern John is the all-time leading scorer with 70 goals.  His career in MLS and England spoke for itself.  Both were undisputed on this team.

-- Warren Archibald was as the NASL MVP in 1973.  He was a part of the World Cup Qualifying team that was controversially eliminated in 1973.  He and Kenwyne Jones must also be in the team.  Jones was the most successful Trinidadian forwards playing in England after York and John. He amassed over 100 Premier League games for Sunderland while being named Sunderland Player of the Year for the 2007-2008 season.

Kenwyne Jones

-- Alf Charles came to England from a cricket tour in 1933.  He ended up as a footballer.  He was also the first Black ever to play for Southampton.  However, most of his career was spent out of the English league.  Basically, he was a forgotten man even in Southampton. So I did not award him with a spot for being a pioneer of the game.

-- After a tour of 1953 of the United Kingdom by players from T&T, Shay Seymour signed with Weymouth FC.  Another source said that he played with Bury, but it was not very clear. I left him on honorable mention. Joseph Daniel elected to Trinidad & Tobago's Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.  He played in the 1940's.  I also discovered Neville Douglas who was named in the Trinidad & Tobago's Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.   His son Tony was also a famous player.  Leroy Deleon was first team All-Star in the NASL.  seemed to be the best of the brunch.

Formation