Ernst Middendorp

---

title: "Ernst Middendorp" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["german-football-managers", "german-men's-footballers", "living-people", "expatriate-football-managers-in-china", "1958-births", "kfc-uerdingen-05-managers", "vfl-bochum-managers", "fc-augsburg-managers", "kaizer-chiefs-f.c.-managers", "arminia-bielefeld-managers", "changchun-yatai-f.c.-managers", "rot-weiss-essen-managers", "anorthosis-famagusta-fc-managers", "lamontville-golden-arrows-f.c.-managers", "saint-george-sc-managers", "durban-city-f.c.-(2024)-managers", "fc-gütersloh-managers", "tractor-s.c.-managers", "men's-association-football-players-not-categorized-by-position", "accra-hearts-of-oak-s.c.-managers", "asante-kotoko-s.c.-managers", "people-from-emsland", "footballers-from-lower-saxony", "bielefeld-university-alumni", "expatriate-football-managers-in-ghana", "german-expatriate-football-managers", "german-expatriate-sportspeople-in-ghana", "expatriate-football-managers-in-iran", "german-expatriate-sportspeople-in-iran", "expatriate-soccer-managers-in-south-africa", "german-expatriate-sportspeople-in-south-africa", "german-expatriate-sportspeople-in-china", "expatriate-football-managers-in-cyprus", "german-expatriate-sportspeople-in-cyprus", "bloemfontein-celtic-f.c.-managers", "chippa-united-f.c.-managers", "sv-meppen-managers", "german-expatriate-sportspeople-in-ethiopia", "expatriate-football-managers-in-ethiopia", "ethiopian-premier-league-managers", "persian-gulf-pro-league-managers", "west-german-men's-footballers", "west-german-football-managers", "3.-liga-managers", "bundesliga-managers", "2.-bundesliga-managers", "chinese-super-league-managers"] description: "German soccer coach (born 1958)" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Middendorp" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary German soccer coach (born 1958) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox football biography"]

Field	Value
name	Ernst Middendorp
image	Ernst Middendorp 20180316.jpg
caption	Middendorp as Bangkok United technical director in 2018
full_name	Ernst Johannes Middendorp
birth_date
birth_place	Freren, West Germany
years1	1977–1981
clubs1	SG Freren
caps1	85
goals1	72
years2	1981–1982
clubs2	TuS Lingen
caps2	17
goals2	9
years3	1982–1985
clubs3	VfB Rheine
caps3	91
goals3	83
years4	1985–1987
clubs4	VfB Alstätte
caps4	42
goals4	37
totalcaps	235
totalgoals	198
manageryears1	1987–1988
managerclubs1	Eintracht Nordhorn
manageryears2	1988–1990
managerclubs2	Arminia Bielefeld
manageryears3	1990–1992
managerclubs3	VfB Rheine
manageryears4	1992–1994
managerclubs4	FC Gütersloh
manageryears5	1994–1998
managerclubs5	Arminia Bielefeld
manageryears6	1999
managerclubs6	KFC Uerdingen
manageryears7	1999
managerclubs7	VfL Bochum
manageryears8	1999–2002
managerclubs8	Asante Kotoko
manageryears9	2002–2003
managerclubs9	FC Augsburg
manageryears10	2004
managerclubs10	Hearts of Oak SC
manageryears11	2004–2005
managerclubs11	Tractor Sazi
manageryears12	2005–2007
managerclubs12	Kaizer Chiefs
manageryears13	2007
managerclubs13	Arminia Bielefeld
manageryears14	2008–2009
managerclubs14	Changchun Yatai
manageryears15	2009
managerclubs15	Rot-Weiss Essen
manageryears16	2009
managerclubs16	Anorthosis Famagusta
manageryears17	2009–2011
managerclubs17	Maritzburg United
manageryears18	2011
managerclubs18	Golden Arrows
manageryears19	2012–2013
managerclubs19	Maritzburg United
manageryears20	2013–2014
managerclubs20	Bloemfontein Celtic
manageryears21	2015–2016
managerclubs21	Chippa United
manageryears22	2017–2018
managerclubs22	Bangkok United (technical director)
manageryears23	2018–2020
managerclubs23	Kaizer Chiefs
manageryears24	2020
managerclubs24	Saint George
manageryears25	2020–2022
managerclubs25	Maritzburg United
manageryears26	2023
managerclubs26	Swallows FC
manageryears27	2023
managerclubs27	SV Meppen
manageryears28	2023
managerclubs28	Singida Fountain Gate
manageryears29	2023–
managerclubs29	Cape Town Spurs
::

| name = Ernst Middendorp | image = Ernst Middendorp 20180316.jpg | caption = Middendorp as Bangkok United technical director in 2018 | full_name = Ernst Johannes Middendorp | birth_date = | birth_place = Freren, West Germany | height = | currentclub = | years1 = 1977–1981 | clubs1 = SG Freren | caps1 = 85 | goals1 = 72 | years2 = 1981–1982 | clubs2 = TuS Lingen | caps2 = 17 | goals2 = 9 | years3 = 1982–1985 | clubs3 = VfB Rheine | caps3 = 91 | goals3 = 83 | years4 = 1985–1987 | clubs4 = VfB Alstätte | caps4 = 42 | goals4 = 37 | totalcaps = 235 | totalgoals = 198 | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | manageryears1 = 1987–1988 | managerclubs1 = Eintracht Nordhorn | manageryears2 = 1988–1990 | managerclubs2 = Arminia Bielefeld | manageryears3 = 1990–1992 | managerclubs3 = VfB Rheine | manageryears4 = 1992–1994 | managerclubs4 = FC Gütersloh | manageryears5 = 1994–1998 | managerclubs5 = Arminia Bielefeld | manageryears6 = 1999 | managerclubs6 = KFC Uerdingen | manageryears7 = 1999 | managerclubs7 = VfL Bochum | manageryears8 = 1999–2002 | managerclubs8 = Asante Kotoko | manageryears9 = 2002–2003 | managerclubs9 = FC Augsburg | manageryears10 = 2004 | managerclubs10 = Hearts of Oak SC | manageryears11 = 2004–2005 | managerclubs11 = Tractor Sazi | manageryears12 = 2005–2007 | managerclubs12 = Kaizer Chiefs | manageryears13 = 2007 | managerclubs13 = Arminia Bielefeld | manageryears14 = 2008–2009 | managerclubs14 = Changchun Yatai | manageryears15 = 2009 | managerclubs15 = Rot-Weiss Essen | manageryears16 = 2009 | managerclubs16 = Anorthosis Famagusta | manageryears17 = 2009–2011 | managerclubs17 = Maritzburg United | manageryears18 = 2011 | managerclubs18 = Golden Arrows | manageryears19 = 2012–2013 | managerclubs19 = Maritzburg United | manageryears20 = 2013–2014 | managerclubs20 = Bloemfontein Celtic | manageryears21 = 2015–2016 | managerclubs21 = Chippa United | manageryears22 = 2017–2018 | managerclubs22 = Bangkok United (technical director) | manageryears23 = 2018–2020 | managerclubs23 = Kaizer Chiefs | manageryears24 = 2020 | managerclubs24 = Saint George | manageryears25 = 2020–2022 | managerclubs25 = Maritzburg United | manageryears26 = 2023 | managerclubs26 = Swallows FC | manageryears27 = 2023 | managerclubs27 = SV Meppen | manageryears28 = 2023 | managerclubs28 = Singida Fountain Gate | manageryears29 = 2023– | managerclubs29 = Cape Town Spurs Ernst Middendorp (born 28 October 1958) is a German football coach who coaches Cape Town Spurs. Apart from coaching in Germany, Middendorp has coached football clubs in Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, China, Iran and Cyprus. He has also become the technical director for Thailand club Bangkok United in 2017.

Education

Middendorp was born in Freren. Prior to coaching he was a lecturer of economics, political science and informatics at vocational colleges . In 1996, he attained his UEFA Pro License (Fußball-Lehrer) from the Deutsche Sporthochschule in Köln, Germany. In 2000, he began studying communication and management at PR Kolleg Berlin, Germany, where he studied through 2002.

Managerial career

Middendorp has coached professional football on the highest level for nearly 20 years in Europe, Asia and Africa, having a UEFA Pro License (Fussball-Lehrer) from the German Football Association. In addition, Middendorp has experience analyzing FIFA World Cup tournaments (2006 and 2010), as well as the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament.

Middendorp started his coaching career with VfB Alstätte where he coached from July 1985 to June 1987. He then moved on to Eintracht Nordhorn where he was head coach from 1 July 1987 to 18 April 1988.

Arminia Bielefeld

Middendorp's first stint as Arminia Bielefeld head coach was from 18 April 1988 to 8 October 1990. His first match was a 2–1 loss to SG Wattenscheid 09. He finished the 1987–88 2. Bundesliga season with two wins, one draw, and seven losses. Arminia Bielefeld finished in last place and were relegated.

VfB Rheine

Middendorp went on to become head coach of VfB Rheine from November 1990 to June 1992. After VfB Rheine, Middendorp was head coach of FC Gütersloh between 1 July 1992 and 30 June 1994. He finished 13th in the 1992–93 season and ninth in the 1993–94 season.

second stint at Arminia Bielefeld

Middendorp took over as head coach of Arminia Bielefeld for a second time on 25 August 1994. He finished with a record of 40 wins, 26 draws, and 47 losses in his second stint. During his tenure, the club was promoted to the Bundesliga in 1996. In 2005, when Arminia Bielefeld was celebrating its 100th anniversary, Middendorp was elected their "Coach of the Century".

KFC Uerdingen

Middendorp was head coach of KFC Uerdingen from 25 March 1999 to 30 June 1999. He had five, two draws, and two losses in nine matches during his time at Uerdingen.

VfL Bochum

Middendorp was head coach of VfL Bochum between 1 July 1999 and 25 October 1999. During his time at Bochum, he had a record of three wins, three draws, and five losses.

Asante Kotoko

Middendorp then went to Ghana to become the head coach of Asante Kotoko between January 2000 and June 2002.

FC Augsburg

Middendorp returned to Germany to become head coach of FC Augsburg on 1 July 2002. He was at Augsburg until 28 September 2003. He had a record of 21 wins, eight draws, and 16 losses.

Hearts of Oak

Middendorp then returned to Ghana to become head coach of Hearts of Oak between March 2004 and June 2004.

Tractor Sazi

Middendorp then went to Iran to become head coach of Tractor Sazi between July 2004 and June 2005.

Kaizer Chiefs

Middendorp returned to Africa to become head coach the South African Castle Premiership team Kaizer Chiefs from the beginning of the 2005–06 season up to 4 March 2007. His first match was a 1–0 win against Bush Bucks F.C. At the start of the 2006–07 season, Middendorp guided his team to the SAA Supa 8 trophy. The Kaizer Chiefs defeated Supersport United in the final. Middendorp's departure happened on 4 March 2007. His final match was a 2–1 loss to AmaZulu.

Third stint at Arminia Bielefeld

On 14 March 2007, Middendorp started his third stint as a coach at Arminia Bielefeld, but was fired by club management on 10 December 2007.

Changchun Yatai

From there Middendorp went to coach the Chinese club, Changchun Yatai, but left the club in December 2008

Rot Weiss Essen

Middendorp returned to Germany, where he signed a contract with Rot Weiss Essen On 6 April 2009, he left the team after just 29 days. He had won only one match during his 29 days.

Anorthosis Famagusta

On 7 May 2009, Middendorp joined Cypriot club, Anorthosis Famagusta, but was fired on 24 July 2009 following their elimination in the second round of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League.

Maritzburg United

On 16 November 2009, Middendorp replaced Gordon Igesund as head coach of South African club Maritzburg United, and coach them until 12 March 2011. He won five out of the final 15 league matches. His final match was a 2–2 draw against Vasco da Gama on 5 March 2011.

Golden Arrows

Middendorp was head coach of Golden Arrows between 21 March 2011 and 30 September 2011. Golden Arrows won two out of five matches to finish the 2010–11 season. His final match was a 2–1 win against Kaizer Chiefs.

On 18 January 2012, Middendorp returned to Maritzburg United. He resigned as head coach of Maritzburg United on 10 October 2013 before joining Bloemfontein Celtic as head coach on 11 October 2013. Celtic finished off the 2013–14 season with nine wins in 24 league matches. He left the club on 14 December 2014. His final match was a 0–0 draw against Moroka Swallows on the same day. He coached the Eastern Province SA Premier League team Chippa United from 5 January to 30 March 2015. Middendorp didn't win any matches at Chippa United.

In the 2015–16 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 league on matchday three to position six within four months, averaging two points a game. On 28 December 2015, 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.

Middendorp returned to Kaizer Chiefs on 7 December 2018. His first match was a 1–0 win against SuperSport United on 12 December 2018. Kaizer Chiefs finished the 2018–19 season in ninth place. Kaizer Chiefs finished the following season in 2nd place and qualified for the 2020–21 CAF Champions League. Then he coached Saint George between 23 October 2020 and 24 November 2020.

Middendorp returned to Maritzburg United on 26 November 2020. his first match was a 2–1 loss to SuperSport United on 27 November 2020.

He has been the mentor of Fadlu Davids, who spent much of his time learning the coaching trade as assistant coach to Middendorp: at Maritzburg, Bloemfontein Celtic and Chippa United.

In March 2023, Middendorp returned to Germany to manage SV Meppen. On 16 August 2023, he resigned from this position after being relegated to the Regionalliga Nord and suffering two defeats in the first three games of the 2023–24 season.

In September 2023, Middendorp was appointed as the head coach of Tanzanian Singida Fountain Gate replacing Hans van der Pluijm. He resigned after just two weeks and one game, a 1–0 win over Future in the 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup qualifying rounds, due to disputes with the club management.

He was appointed manager of South African premiership club Cape Town Spurs in November 2023.

Coaching record

::data[format=table]

Team	From	To	Record	Ref.	G	W	D	L	Win %
VfB Alstätte	1 July 1985	30 June 1987	—
Eintracht Nordhorn	1 July 1987	18 April 1988	—
Arminia Bielefeld	18 April 1988	8 October 1990
VfB Rheine	1 November 1990	30 June 1992
FC Gütersloh	1 July 1992	30 June 1994
Arminia Bielefeld	25 August 1994	16 August 1998
KFC Uerdingen 05	25 March 1999	30 June 1999
VfL Bochum	1 July 1999	25 October 1999
Asante Kotoko	1 January 2000	30 June 2002	—
FC Augsburg	1 July 2002	28 September 2003
Hearts of Oak	10 March 2004	30 June 2004	—
Tractor Sazi	12 July 2004	30 June 2005	—
Kaizer Chiefs	1 July 2005	4 March 2007
Arminia Bielefeld	14 March 2007	10 December 2007
Changchun Yatai	27 July 2008	31 December 2008	title=Changchun Yatai » Fixtures & Results 2008/2009	url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/te17572/changchun-yatai/all-matches/	publisher=World Football	access-date=20 February 2021}}
Rot-Weiss Essen	6 April 2009	6 May 2009
Anorthosis Famagusta	7 May 2009	24 July 2009
Maritzburg United	16 November 2009	12 March 2011
Golden Arrows	21 March 2011	30 September 2011
Maritzburg United	18 January 2012	10 October 2013	title=Maritzburg United » Fixtures & Results 2011/2012	url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/te19564/maritzburg-united/all-matches/	publisher=World Football	access-date=20 February 2021}}
Bloemfontein Celtic	11 October 2013	14 December 2014
Chippa United	5 January 2015	30 March 2015
Free State Stars	29 August 2015	21 December 2015
Maritzburg United	28 December 2015	24 November 2016	title=Maritzburg United » Fixtures & Results 2015/2016	url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/te19564/maritzburg-united/all-matches/	publisher=World Football	access-date=20 February 2021}}
Kaizer Chiefs	7 December 2018	9 September 2020
Saint George	23 October 2020	24 November 2020	—
Maritzburg United	26 November 2020	30 June 2022
Swallows FC	15 December 2022	6 March 2023
SV Meppen	7 March 2023	16 August 2023
Singida Fountain Gate	4 September 2023	19 September 2023
Cape Town Spurs	17 November 2023	present
::

References

References

1. "Ernst Middendorp". World Football.
2. "Eintracht Nordhorn » Manager history". World Football.
3. "Arminia Bielefeld — Trainer". Olympia Verlag.
4. "Arminia Bielefeld Spielplan". Olympia Verlag.
5. "2. Bundesliga Tabelle". Olympia Verlag.
6. "FC Gütersloh » Manager history". World Football.
7. "Germany » Oberliga Westfalen (1992-2008) 1992/1993 » 34. Round". World Football.
8. "Germany » Oberliga Westfalen (1992-2008) 1993/1994 » 30. Round". World Football.
9. "KFC Uerdingen 05 » Manager history". World Football.
10. "KFC Uerdingen 05 Spielplan". Olympia Verlag.
11. "VfL Bochum — Trainer". Olympia Verlag.
12. "FC Augsburg — Trainer". Olympia Verlag.
13. "Kaizer Chiefs » Manager history". World Football.
14. "Kaizer Chiefs » Fixtures & Results 2005/2006". World Football.
15. "Kaizer Chiefs » Fixtures & Results 2006/2007". World Football.
16. "Changchun Yatai » Manager history". World Football.
17. (6 April 2009). "Middendorp wird neuer RWE-Trainer". Bild.
18. (6 May 2009). "29 Tage mit Ernst Middendorp". Olympia Verlag.
19. "Rot-Weiss Essen Spielplan". Olympia Verlag.
20. (7 May 2009}}{{dead link). "Anorthosis announce Middendorp arrival". [[UEFA]].
21. "Anorthosis Famagusta FC » Manager history". World Football.
22. "Anorthosis Famagusta FC » Fixtures & Results 2009/2010". World Football.
23. (16 November 2009). "Team of Choice unveil Middendorp as New Head Coach". Maritzburg United.
24. "Maritzburg United » Manager history". World Football.
25. "Maritzburg United » Fixtures & Results 2009/2010". World Football.
26. "Maritzburg United » Fixtures & Results 2010/2011". World Football.
27. "Golden Arrows » Manager history".
28. "Golden Arrows » Fixtures & Results 2010/2011". World Football.
29. "Golden Arrows » Fixtures & Results 2011/2012". World Football.
30. (18 January 2012). "Middendorp back at Maritzburg". Sport24.
31. (11 October 2013). "Middendorp joins Celtic". KickOff.
32. "Bloemfontein Celtic » Fixtures & Results 2013/2014". World Football.
33. "Bloemfontein Celtic » Manager history". World Football.
34. "Bloemfontein Celtic » Fixtures & Results 2014/2015". World Football.
35. "Chippa United » Manager history". World Football.
36. "Chippa United » Fixtures & Results 2014/2015". World Football.
37. "South Africa » Premier Soccer League 2015/2016 » 3. Round". World Football.
38. "South Africa » Premier Soccer League 2015/2016 » 12. Round". World Football.
39. "Coaching".
40. "Kaizer Chiefs » Fixtures & Results 2018/2019". World Football.
41. "South Africa » Premier Soccer League 2018/2019 » 10. Round". World Football.
42. "South Africa » Premier Soccer League 2019/2020 » 10. Round". World Football.
43. "St. George SC » Manager history". World Football.
44. "Maritzburg United » Fixtures & Results 2020/2021". World Football.
45. www.realnet.co.uk. "Fadlu Davids on Maritzburg bench opposite mentor Ernst Middendorp". Kick Off.
46. (7 March 2023). "Ernst Middendorp trainiert den SV Meppen".
47. (16 August 2023). ""Albern, amateurhaft": Middendorp tritt in Meppen zurück".
48. (4 September 2023). "Ambitious Singida Fountain Gate bolster technical team ahead of continental quest".
49. (19 September 2023). "Breaking: Middendorp Resigns After Just Two Weeks".
50. Felem, Ayanda Frances. (2023-11-17). "Ernst Middendorp named new Spurs head coach".
51. "Changchun Yatai » Fixtures & Results 2008/2009". World Football.
52. "Maritzburg United » Fixtures & Results 2011/2012". World Football.
53. "South Africa » Premier Soccer League 2012/2013 » 30. Round". World Football.
54. "Maritzburg United » Fixtures & Results 2013/2014". World Football.
55. "Free State Stars » Manager history". World Football.
56. "Maritzburg United » Fixtures & Results 2015/2016". World Football.
57. "Maritzburg United » Fixtures & Results 2016/2017". World Football.
58. "Moroka Swallows » Fixtures & Results 2022/2023". World Football.
59. "SV Meppen - Trainer". Kicker.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::