Trinidad and Tobago: Premier League Nations
The next destination of our alphabetical world tour is Trinidad and Tobago. A pair of islands in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago are the second-smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup finals (after Iceland). According to the Premier League website, 12 players have represented Trinidad and Tobago in the Premier League
First Player – Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa, Man United, Blackburn, Birmingham, Sunderland; 1992-2005, 2006-09)
An iconic 90s Premier League footballer, Dwight Yorke appeared for five different clubs in the top-flight over 20 years and was the first to represent Trinidad and Tobago, making his Premier League debut in Aston Villa’s second game of 1992/93.
A three-time title winner with Manchester United (and one Champions League too), Yorke was a potent attacker who scored 123 top-flight goals. He shared the 1998/99 Golden Boot, enjoying a particularly lethal partnership with Andy Cole.
Yorke captained Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup, retiring in 2009 with 19 goals in 72 appearances for his country.
Records
- Most appearances – Dwight Yorke (375)
- First appearance – Dwight Yorke (ASTON VILLA 1-1 Leeds, August 19th 1992)
- Most goals – Dwight Yorke (123)
- First goal – Dwight Yorke (ASTON VILLA 3-0 Crystal Palace, September 5th 1992)
Current/Most Recent Players
Though there was something of a regular stream of Trinidadian/Tobagonian players in the Premier League in its first two decades, no player has made an appearance since Kenwyne Jones was relegated with Cardiff in 2014.
Trivia
- Seven of the 12 players to have represented Trinidad and Tobago in the Premier League were in their country’s squad for the 2006 World Cup Finals.
- Dwight Yorke is the second-highest non-European goalscorer in Premier League history, behind Sergio Aguero (180).
- Of CONCACAF nations, only Jamaica (38) and USA (45) have had more Premier League players than Trinidad and Tobago (12).