Professional Football Coach
Ernst Middendorp's career as a professional football coach has spanned over 20 years and three continents. He is a master strategist who is well known for his ability to read the game and make creative changes that may not seem obvious - but give his team the winning edge.

Crises Management
One of Ernst's proven strengths is his ability to manage a team in crises - he has taken several clubs from the brink of relegation to a position of safety. In his early career Ernst took German football club DSC Armenia Bielefeld from the third division to the first Budesliga over three consecutive years, earning him the title of Trainer of the Century from the Bielefeld fans.

In the 2015/2016 season Ernst led not one but two South African Premier League teams from the relegation position to safety. He took Free State Stars from position 16 at the bottom of the log to position 10 within four months, averaging two points a game. In January 2016 Ernst returned to Maritzburg United (a club he coached twice before) who were then in position 16 and facing the stark danger of relegating. Ernst and his team narrowed the gap until the final nail-biting game of the season when Maritzburg United moved to the safety of position 14.

Youth Development
Ernst has a keen eye for identifying raw football talent and over his career he has introduced over 50 previously unknown players into his high performing teams. These players have been developed into full professionals under his guidance and frequently sold, locally and internationally, as key players.
Qualifications
  • UEFA Pro License (Diplom Fussball-Lehrer) License no: FL001808                                   
  • Communication and Management                                      
  • Degree in Special Economics - Computer Studies                                        
  • System Analyst
  • Degree in Economics, Politics, History
               
Honours
  • Absa Premiership Coach of the Month November 2019 - first time in the history of the award that one coach has won on three successive occasions
  • Absa Premiership Coach of the Month September / October 2019
  • Absa Premiership Coach of the Month August 2019
  • Semi-Finalist ​Telkom-CUP South Africa November 2019   
  • Finalist Nedbank-Cup South Africa May 2019  
  • Quarter-Finalist Nedbank-Cup South Africa April 2014  
  • Quarter-Finalist Nedbank-Cup South Africa April 2012        
  • Semi-Finalist ​Telkom-CUP South Africa November 2010         
  • Super8 winner in South Africa 2006        
  • Vodacom Challenge winner in South Africa 2006        
  • ABSA Cup winner in South Africa 2005        
  • Qualification to African Confederation Cup / group stage (8 teams) 2004        
  • Cup winner in Ghana 2001        
  • Promoting club to 1. Bundesliga Germany 1997       
  • Promoting club to 2. Bundesliga Germany 1996

Experience
402 matches Premier Soccer League (PSL) South Africa
93 matches 1. Bundesliga Germany
69 matches 2. Bundesliga Germany
69 matches 3. Bundesliga Germany 
6 matches Champions League Africa
10 matches Confederation Cup Africa
4 matches Europa League Qualification
68 matches Premier League Ghana
26 matches first League Iran
15 matches Chinese Super League 
Numerous cup matches in different countries

Clubs
SV Meppen, Germany | FIFA, Zurich | Maritzburg United Football Club, South Africa | St George SC, Ethiopia | Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, South Africa | ​Bangkok United FC, Thailand | Free State Stars Football Club, South Africa | Chippa United Football Club, South Africa | Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club, South Africa | Lamontville Golden Arrows Football Club, South Africa | Anorthosis Famagusta Football Club, Cyprus | Changchun Yatai Football Club, China | DSC Arminia Bielefeld, Germany | Tractorsazy Tabriz, Iran | Hearts of Oak Accra, Ghana | FC Augsburg, Germany | Asante Kotoko Kumasi, Ghana | VFL Bochum, Germany | KFC Uerdingen, Germany