Brent Sancho

Brent Sancho CM (born 13 March 1977 in Port of Spain) is a Trinidadian former football player and politician. In February 2015, he became the Minister of Sports for his home country, Trinidad and Tobago.

Brent Sancho
Personal information
Full name Brent Sancho
Date of birth (1977-03-13) 13 March 1977
Place of birth Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1994–1995 Essex Community College
1996–1997 St. John's Red Storm
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998 Brooklyn Italians
1999 MyPa 1 (0)
1999 Tervarit 18 (7)
1999 Joe Public
2000 Charleston Battery 20 (1)
2001–2003 Portland Timbers 51 (1)
2002–2003 → San Juan Jabloteh (loan) 20 (1)
2003–2005 Dundee 48 (2)
2005–2007 Gillingham 42 (2)
2007–2008 Millwall 0 (0)
2008 Ross County 2 (0)
2008 Atlanta Silverbacks 8 (0)
2008 North East Stars 2 (0)
2009 Rochester Rhinos 24 (1)
2010 North East Stars 5 (0)
National team‡
1999–2006 Trinidad and Tobago 43 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 October 2009
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 June 2008

Playing career

College

Sancho spent his college years playing for St. John's University in New York City, where he was part of the school's only National Championship, in 1996.

Professional

Sancho then spent most of his early career playing in the United States, before joining Dundee in the 2003–04 season.[1] A successful spell in the SPL was followed by a transfer to League One side Gillingham.

In December 2007 Sancho joined Millwall on a month's contract.[2] This was not renewed and he found himself once again without a club until signing for Scottish Football League Division Two champions Ross County, in March 2008 until the end of the 2007–08 season. Sancho went on trial with Wrexham in July 2008 but was not signed by the club.[3]

On 30 June 2008, the TTFF reported that Sancho had been training with TT Pro League team San Juan Jabloteh and Wrexham in an effort to regain a place with the national team as well as further his professional career.[4] Eventually, Sancho returned to the USA in August 2008, joining the Atlanta Silverbacks[5] and playing in eight matches in the remaining part of the season.

On 26 February 2009 the Rochester Rhinos announced the signing of Sancho to a two-year contract.[6]

International

Sancho played in all three matches in which Trinidad and Tobago took part in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, thus becoming the first former St. John's player and first current Gillingham player ever to play in a World Cup. In the third match, against Paraguay, he scored an own goal and defeat in this game confirmed Trinidad and Tobago's elimination from the tournament.[7]

On 9 October 2006, Sancho announced his retirement from international football along with 12 others.[8] Speaking at a press conference, Sancho said: "It's not just monetary. They have made certain contractual arrangements which they have now reneged on." This followed a dispute between the World Cup players and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation regarding bonuses for playing in the World Cup.[8] The issue went to court in the United Kingdom which ruled in favour of the players. Several of the players subsequently returned to the national team, but Sancho did not play for T&T after the 2006 World Cup. As of February 2015, the legal dispute between the players and the national association was still ongoing.[9]

Post-playing activities

In 2010, Sancho was the owner/coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Professional Football League club North East Stars, before setting up his own team called Central FC.[9]

In 2015, Sancho was appointed Minister of Sport in Trinidad and Tobago.[9]

As of 2021, Sancho was Assistant Manager of the Anguilla national team.[10]

References
  1. "Brent Sancho transferred to Dundee FC". Portland Timbers. 7 August 2003. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  2. Sancho to sign Archived 15 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Official Millwall F.C. website, Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  3. Wrexham spurn Sancho after trial, BBC, Accessed 11 July 2008.
  4. Sancho heads to Wrexham, Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  5. Atlanta Silverbacks Sign Brent Sancho; Trade for Aaron Paye Archived 18 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Rochester signs Sancho Archived 18 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Bellos, Alex (21 June 2006). "Trinidad adventure ends with own-goal and Paraguay defeat". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  8. "Sancho plans Trinidad retirement". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 October 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  9. "Brent Sancho appointed new Minister of Sport". www.ttproleague.com. TT Pro League. 3 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  10. https://m.mixcloud.com/WorldFootball/big-plans-and-high-hopes-for-anguilla/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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