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Louis Joseph Hamlet (1939–2026): the first coach of the Saint-Martin football selection

Louis Joseph Hamlet, born on Saint-Martin in 1939, played and coached football from 1956 to 1980, was the first coach of the Saint-Martin selection in 1959 and was honoured on the Wall of Fame in 2021. He died in 2026.

By SXM Daily · October 22, 2026

Louis Joseph Hamlet (1939–2026) was a Saint-Martin footballer and coach who was the first coach (sélectionneur) of the Saint-Martin selection, in 1959. He was also a business owner, and in 2021 he was among the sports figures honoured on the Collectivité's Wall of Fame. According to the Collectivité, he was born on Saint-Martin on 18 September 1939.

Illustrative photo: Remy Gumbs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Football

Hamlet played and coached from 1956 to 1980, according to the Collectivité, and in 1959 he became the first coach of the Saint-Martin selection, Soualiga Post, Faxinfo and Le97150 reported in 2021. The Ligue de football's tribute after his death, carried by Le Pélican, recalled the same role. More on the island's game is in SXM Daily's football section.

Wall of Fame

In September 2021 the Collectivité unveiled its Wall of Fame at the Jean-Louis Vanterpool stadium in Marigot, honouring an initial ten figures from Saint-Martin sport. Hamlet was one of them, Le97150, Soualiga Post and Faxinfo reported.

Business

Soualiga Post described him as "entrepreneur accompli" and Le Pélican as a "chef d'entreprise accompli" (an accomplished businessman). The Collectivité's tribute, reported by Soualiga Post, recognised his part in Saint-Martin's economic development.

Death

Hamlet died on 28 May 2026, aged 86, Le Pélican and Soualiga Post reported. Le Pélican announced a vigil in his honour and published a profile under the headline "une vie de rigueur, de discipline et d'intégrité" (a life of rigour, discipline and integrity).

Sources

• https://www.soualigapost.com/fr/actualite/40088/sports/le-wall-fame-%C3%A9t%C3%A9-install%C3%A9-au-stade-vanterpool
• https://www.faxinfo.fr/sports-installation-du-wall-of-fame-au-stade-jl-vanterpool-de-marigot/
• https://www.le97150.fr/en/sports/wall-of-fame-un-hommage-aux-acteurs-du-sport-saint-martinois
• https://www.lepelican-journal.com/une-veillee-pour-rendre-hommage-a-louis-hamlet-ce-mardi-soir/
• https://www.soualigapost.com/fr/actualite/52237/politique/d%C3%A9c%C3%A8s-de-louis-hamlet-la-com-lui-rend-hommage
• https://www.lepelican-journal.com/louis-joseph-hamlet-une-vie-de-rigueur-de-discipline-et-dintegrite/

Source: https://www.soualigapost.com/fr/actualite/40088/sports/le-wall-fame-%C3%A9t%C3%A9-install%C3%A9-au-stade-vanterpool