Ernst Middendorp

Ernst Middendorp (born October 28, 1958 in Handrup) is a German-born football (soccer) manager.
He coached the South African Castle Premiership team Kaizer Chiefs (Johannesburg) from the beginning of the 2005/06 season up to March 5, 2007.

In his first season for the Soweto glamour club he finished third in the league, won the ABSA Cup as well as the "coach of the tournament" award. He also managed to win the 2006 Vodacom Challenge by beating Manchester United.

He is also the owner of a football consultancy, "Albena GmbH".

At the start of the 2006/2007 season Ernst Middendorp guided his team to the SAA Supa 8 trophy, a tournament contested by the top eight finishers in the league from the previous season. Kaizer Chiefs defeated Supersport United in the final.On March 5, 2007, Middendorp and the club parted company.

At his former German club Arminia Bielefeld, Middendorp was elected "Coach of the Century" when the club celebrated its 100 years of existence in 2005.

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

27. July 2008 he has accepted a new coaching role.

The 49-year-old, who left German side Arminia Bielefeld shortly before the end of the last German season, has taken over at Chinese top flight side Changchun Yatai.

He signed a contract which comes to an end at the finish to the current season in December 2008, but he does have an option to sign on for one more year.

Changchun Yatai are currently 10th in the 16 team League, having won just three of their 11 matches so far, and the German has been tasked with taking the side into the top four.

Teams managed

*Changchun Yatai (August 2008 - present)
*Arminia Bielefeld (March 2007 - December 2007)
*Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa (March 2005/2007)
*Teraktor Sazi F.C., Iran (June 2004 - March 2005)
*Hearts of Oak, Ghana (March 2004-2004)
*FC Augsburg (September 2002/2003)
*Asante Kotoko, Ghana (1999-2002)
*VfL Bochum (July 1999 - October 1999)
*KFC Uerdingen (March 1999-1999)
*Arminia Bielefeld (August 1994/1998)
*FC Gütersloh (1992-1994)
*VfB Rheine (1990-1992)
*Arminia Bielefeld (April 1988- September 1990)
*Eintracht Nordhorn (1987-1988)

External links

* [http://www.albenafootball.com Albena Football Consultancy]