Sport
The best Trinidad & Tobago players in Premier League history
Being one of the larger Caribbean nations, Trinidad & Tobago has seen plenty of their biggest footballing talents thrive in English football. 12 Trinidad & Tobago internationals have featured in the English Premier League. With that in mind, just who are the greatest players in Premier League history from Trinidad & Tobago?
Shaka Hislop (Newcastle, West Ham, Portsmouth)
For much of the first half of the Premier League’s existence, you could be sure to find Shaka Hislop doing his best to stop shots up and down the country. Hislop’s first taste of the top flight came with Newcastle in 1995 after impressive form with Reading. It was Hislop’s athleticism and speed off the line that quickly showed he was destined to be a mainstay in the big time. He was a big part of helping Newcastle finish second in the 1995/96 season earning 10 clean sheets during this breakthrough season. After injuries saw his time at Newcastle dwindle to bench-warming duty, he made a move to West Ham in 1998. It reminded everyone of Hislop’s quality as he made 15 clean sheets in the 1998/99 season as The Hammers finished 5th. He stayed in London until 2002 where he moved to Portsmouth and helped Pompey establish themselves as a top flight side. Hislop would eventually retire in 2007 after a short stint in the US with FC Dallas. Hislop’s efforts have not got unrewarded as he was inducted into the Trinidad & Tobago Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 as well as being given the freedom of Newcastle in 2022.
Justin Hoyte (Arsenal, Sunderland, Middlesbrough)
Justin Hoyte had a career that had fluctuating successes but he did prove for several years that he had the skills to thrive in the Premier League. A product of Arsenal’s youth system in the early 2000s, Hoyte made his league debut for The Gunners in 2002 as a promising full back. Hoyte’s speed and strength showed he was able to shine in the top flight despite limited appearances for Arsenal. A short loan spell to Sunderland added to those credentials in the 2005-06 season before a permanent move to Middlesbrough beckoned in 2008. The Trinidad & Tobago international stuck with Middlesbrough even after their relegation to the Championship in 2009 where he remained a regular fixture before moving to the USA in 2017.
Stern John (Birmingham City, Sunderland)
Stern John always had a knack for finding goals and he often proved this for relegation threatened teams in the Premier League. An excellent finisher and a smart user of space, John never backed out of a chance to prove his worth to a team. He proved this with Birmingham where he notched 9 goals for The Blues as they regularly fought for survival. The 2002 Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation Player of the Year provided more ease for Sunderland in the 2007-08 season scoring in his only appearance for the club before moving to Southampton. John continued to showcase his predatory instincts all the way until he retired in 2010 and moved into international management.
Jlloyd Samuel (Aston Villa, Bolton)
Jlloyd Samuel was a regular defensive stalwart for several teams in the top flight throughout the 2000s. Having come through Aston Villa’s youth academy, Samuel’s aerial abilities and timely tackles established as a regular component of Villa’s backline. His ability to play as both a left-back and centre back made him a useful defensive commodity and Bolton seized on that signing him from Villa in 2007 after 169 games for the club. Samuel maintained a regular presence with Bolton for several seasons as they battled relegation before making a surprise switch to Iranian side Esteghlal. Sadly, Samuel’s career and life was cut short in 2018 when he was killed in a car crash aged just 38. A sudden end to a successful career.
Kenwyne Jones (Southampton, Sunderland, Stoke, Cardiff)
It was always easy to know when Kenwyne Jones was on a pitch. Sporting his trademark dreadlocks and a spectacular backflip celebration, Jones was always the star to watch for. Jones was an explosive player with amazing acceleration and strength matched by a powerful shot. This made him a star for several sides looking to emerge from mid-table obscurity. After a brief cameo with Southampton, it would be Sunderland where Jones made his presence felt after moving to Wearside in 2007. Jones became Sunderland’s main threat proving this with 10 goals in 29 games during the 2008/09 season. This form brought a big money move to Stoke in 2010 where he continued this form in the 2010/11 season scoring 9 goals in 34 games. Injuries would soon disrupt The Trinidad & Tobago international’s time at Stoke and a move to Cardiff in 2014 hoped to resurrect his career. It brought some success although he would later move to the US with Atlanta United in 2017. His efforts brought plenty of rewards though including being named Sunderland’s Player of the Year in 2008 to highlight his success in the Premier League.
Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Sunderland)
It’s impossible to mention Trinidad & Tobago without mentioning one key figure: Dwight Yorke. Yorke’s talent in football has made him one of the breakout sporting stars of his homeland. Yorke’s success was down to a deadly mix of clinical finishing, pace and spatial awareness. He burst onto the scene with Aston Villa in the early 1990s before his form hit new height later that decade. It was consecutive seasons of scoring 17 goals that saw him earn a spotlight move to Manchester United in 1998. After 73 goals for Aston Villa, Yorke continued his scoring streak with United. In the famous treble season of 1998-99, Yorke bagged 18 goals before hitting a career-best 20 goals in 32 games in the 1999-2000 season. After opportunities became limited in Manchester, Yorke enjoyed short spells with Birmingham and Blackburn before moving to Australia with Sydney FC in 2005. He briefly returned with Sunderland in 2007 before retiring in 2009. Dwight Yorke’s form books are astonishing though bagging 3 Premier League titles with United. Furthermore, Yorke was also named Premier League Golden Boot winner in 1999 as well as Premier League Player of the Year for the 98/99 season. Add in 3 Premier League Player of the Month awards. All these accolades highlights how Yorke is an all-time Premier League legend and an icon throughout the footballing world.
