In the Spotlight: Leo Beenhakker

The Polish national team will be guided by Leo Beenhakker, a Dutch coach under whose direction Poland successfully passed through the qualification stage of the championships. In its qualification group, Poland played against Portugal, Serbia, Finland, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, winning eight matches, drawing four and losing two to finish first among its peers.

In recognition of this achievement, President Lech Kaczyński awarded Beenhakker one of the highest Polish distinctions, the Officer's Cross of the Order of Reborn Poland and Wprost weekly granted him its Man of the Year 2007 title.

Beenhakker was offered the post of the Polish national team's coach in July 2006, following Poland's unsuccessful participation in the Germany hosted World Cup of that year. His appointment earned a lukewarm reception in Poland and there was much speculation that he would fail due to his lack of familiarity with the realities of Polish soccer.

Soccer fans soon warmed to Beenhakker, however, seeing in him a highly determined and inspirational leader.

Admittedly, some of Beenhakker's decisions have been controversial. His exclusion of three talented but less experienced young Polish players from the Euro 2008 squad earned the ire of some Polish fans, for example.

Born in 1942 in Rotterdam, Beenhakker played in a number of amateur soccer clubs in his youth before starting his coaching career at the age of 23. Among the teams that he worked with were Feyenoord Rotterdam, Ajax Amsterdam, Real Madrid and Real Saragossa. He also led the national teams of Saudi Arabia and Holland as well as Trinidad and Tobago's squad, which he led to its first World Cup in 2006.

Beenhakker is divorced and has two children. He speaks at least six foreign languages and is known for his penchant for cigars and fine wine.