The Rotterdam-born coach, nicknamed 'Don Leo,' managed many teams between 1965 and 2009. After starting at amateur side SV Ede, Beenhakker made his professional coaching debut at BV Veendam when he was 26 years old. After stints at SC Cambuur and Go Ahead Eagles, Beenhakker managed Ajax between 1978 and 1981.
Beenhakker was among the few coaches to be successful with arch rivals Ajax and Feyenoord. Beenhakker won titles with Ajax in 1980 and 1990 before winning the Eredivisie with Feyenoord in 1999 - their last title in the following 18 years.
Beenhakker managed the Dutch national team twice, between 1985 and 1986, and in 1990. Beenhakker failed to qualify for the 1986 World Cup, but did reach the 1990 World Cup with the Netherlands, where they got eliminated by Franz Beckenbauer's Germany in the round of 16.
Outside the Netherlands, Beenhakker became most famous at Real Madrid by winning three consecutive LaLiga titles between 1987 and 1989. 'Don Leo' also managed the famous Madrid club between 1991 and 1992.
From 1992 onwards, Beenhakker traveled the world as a manager. After coaching Swiss side Grasshoppers during the 1992-93 season, Beenhakker took the Saudi Arabia job for two years and afterwards managed Club America and Chivas de Guadalajara in Mexico, as well as Istanbulspor in Turkey. After spells at Vitesse and Feyenoord, and a three-year hiatus, Beenhakker returned to Club America before leading Trinidad & Tobago to their first World Cup in 2006.
After temporarily taking over Feyenoord, Beenhakker ended his career with a four-year stint as the Poland manager between 2006 and 2009.
Throughout his career, Beenhakker won ten prizes in the Netherlands and Spain.
