adminERNST MIDDENDORP, the veteran coach who spent about 18 years coaching various clubs in the South African Premiership, has landed a new job in Germany.
He has been named the new head coach at struggling German Third Division side FC SV Meppen, who have only won ONCE in the last 21 games.
The Third Division is the third-tier league on the Germany football pyramid and is sandwiched between 2nd Bundesliga and the Regionalliga.
It is the highest division a club’s reserve team is allowed to play in and SV Meppen are bottom of the pile and expected to sink into the amateur Regionalliga.
The move leaves Supa Diski exposed to questions about the real quality of the league if a coach, who has spent about two decades coaching top clubs there, can be lured by a struggling third-tier Germany league side, with just win in 21 matches.
During his stint in South Africa, Middendorp took charge of Kaizer Chiefs, Golden Arrows, Maritzburg United, Bloemfontein Celtic, Chippa United and Swallows.
Middendorp terminated his contract with Swallows to enable him to return home to join SV Meppen.
The club announced Middendorp as their new head coach on Tuesday.
This followed their decision to cut ties with coach, Stefan Krämer, last Saturday, after he posted just one win in 21 matches.
The 64-year-old mentor is expected to save Meppen from relegation.
“The new head coach is Ernst Middendorp. He most recently coached Swallows FC in the South African Premier League,” read the club’s statement.
“He cancelled his contract there, which ran until the summer of 2026. Ernst Middendorp signed a contract with SVM until the end of the season.”
Meppen sports director Heiner Beckmann reckons that the ex-Kaizer Chiefs mentor will save the side from the chop.
“We are convinced that Ernst Middendorp can help us directly in the current situation with his enormous experience,” said Beckmann.
“I was in regular contact with him and I know how intensive Ernst Middendorp is.”
In Germany, the former Maritzburg United coach worked at Rot-Weiss Essen, KFC Uerdingen, FC Augsburg and VfL Bochum.
During his brief stint at Swallows, Middendorp picked 11 points in 10 league games with three wins, five defeats and two draws.
In his last game in charge of the Soweto side, Middendorp suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Orlando Pirates at Dobsonville Stadium last Friday.
He leaves Swallows in the relegation zone, in 14th place on the log standings, five points adrift of bottom-placed Marumo Gallants. – Sports Reporter/FARPost.
Online Reporter