John ‘Yogi’ Hughes hopes to make former Hibs’ team mate Russell Latapy his new assistant at Inverness.
The pair played together under Alex McLeish at Easter Road before being reunited at Falkirk when Hughes became manager there.
‘Yogi’ has held talks with Latapy while he has been on his coaching course and he hopes to have him in the technical area for the match at Aberdeen on 18 January.
“Russell is my number one target,” Hughes told BBC Scotland.
“He is currently working at Boavista in Portugal but is in Scotland at the moment doing his pro licence.”
“He is involved at Boavista at the moment and he would want to do things the proper way there before joining us”
“He is a great guy with great experience and, if he can pass that on to the players here at Inverness, it would be fantastic.
“I’m hopeful of having him with us sometime next week, but he is involved at Boavista at the moment and he would want to do things the proper way there before joining us.”
Latapy began his career with Trintoc and Port Morant United in his homeland before moving to Portugal with Académica, Porto and Boavista.
In 1998, he signed for Hibs and made his competitive debut came at Somerset Park against Ayr United in a 3-3 draw with Hibs scoring two late goals to secure a point. Following his debut, he played in a further 22 games, winning an incredible 19 times and losing only once, to secure promotion as champions.
He maintained his form in the Premier division, but an arrest for drink driving resulted in him being released and he joined Rangers where he won a League Cup winners’ medal.
Latapy then had a spell with Dundee United before joining Hughes at Falkirk where he became a fans’ favourite.
When Trinidad and Tobago were struggling through the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a phone-call from Dwight Yorke saw Russell return to the international stage where at the ripe old age of 37 he helped the Soca Warriors qualify for their first ever Finals.
Russell was inducted into the ‘Falkirk Hall of Fame’ on 29 November 2008, and too mark the occasion the club hosted a ‘Russell Latapy Day’ which appropriately was against Hibs at the Falkirk Stadium.
He left the club in January 2009, having appeared in 194 games, scoring 29 goals before signing with Caledonia AIA in his homeland.
In September 2011, Russell returned to Easter Road where he took part in a Hibs Legends team as part of Ian Murray’s testimonial match, and aged 43, still looked as though he could play at the highest level.
The following month, he came out of retirement to sign for East of Scotland Football League club Edinburgh City, ahead of its Scottish Cup tie against Irvine Meadow, and hundreds of Hibs fans turned out to watch the master at work. Once again he didn’t disappoint.
Russell’s impressive list of personal honours are as follows:
Along with Pat Jennings and Dwight Yorke, Russell holds the record for number of participations in different World Cup competitions – six (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010).
Inducted into Trinidad & Tobago’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2011
Inducted into Falkirk FC’s Hall of Fame in 2008
GLOSS (Gems, Laventille, Outstanding, Spirit and Soul) award in 2006
Scottish Premier League Player of the Month (for August) with Falkirk in 2006
Trinidad & Tobago Chaconia Medal Gold (World Cup Squad) in 2006
Scotland’s Division 1 Player of the Year in 2004/2005
Scotland’s Division 1 winner’s medal with Falkirk in 2004/2005
Bell’s Cup winner’s medal with Falkirk in 2004
Nominated for the BBC Scotland “Off The Ball” Overseas Player of the Year in 2004
Scottish First Division Player of the Month (for April) with Falkirk in 2004
Scottish League Cup Winners Medal with Rangers 2002
Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee Sports Personality of the Year in 2000
Nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2000
Scotland’s Division 1 winner’s medal with Hibernian in 1999/2000
Scotland’s Division 1 Player of the Year in 1999/2000
Hibernian’s Player of the Year in 1999/2000
Edinburgh Evening News Sports Personality of the Year in 1999
Hibernian’s Player of the Year in 1998/1999
Portuguese Super Cup winner’s medal with Boavista in 1996/1997
Cup of Portugal winner’s medal with Boavista in 1996/1997
Trinidad & Tobago Humming Bird Medal Gold (for Sport) in 1996
Trinidad & Tobago Footballer of the Year in 1996
Portuguese SuperLiga winner’s medal with FC Porto in 1995/1996
Portuguese SuperLiga winner’s medal with FC Porto in 1994/1995
Trinidad & Tobago Chaconia Medal Silver (World Cup Squad) in 1989
Trinidad & Tobago Footballer of the Year in 1989
Trinidad & Tobago Footballer of the Year in 1985
Trinidad & Tobago Footballer of the Year in 1983
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
