Middendorp outlines qualities next Kaizer Chiefs coach must have

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has detailed the essential attributes required to lead what he describes as a “monster of a club.”

Middendorp, 67, recently left his position as Technical Director at Durban City. His tenure at Chiefs from 2018 to 2020 is remembered for narrowly missing out on the league title on the final day of the season, which would have been the club’s first since the 2014/15 campaign.

Despite securing a second-place finish and a return to the CAF Champions League, the German coach was let go before the start of the next season.

Kaizer Chiefs players inspecting the pitch ahead of competitive game. Image – Chiefs

Amidst growing pressure on the current coaching staff following a string of poor results, Middendorp shared his insights in an analysis titled “Kaizer Chiefs is a MONSTER of a CLUB” on LinkedIn.

Middendorp on what a Chiefs coach needs

“Anyone who wants to coach this team must understand the magnitude of the Naturena environment,” he stated as quoted by iDiski Times. “The club carries enormous history, a massive supporter base across the country, constant media attention, and permanent pressure for results.”

The veteran tactician emphasised the intense scrutiny that comes with the job, noting that “every decision is discussed publicly; every weakness is quickly and totally exposed.”

Ernst Middendorp when he workked at Kaizer Chiefs. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

According to Middendorp, the ideal candidate must possess a unique blend of skills to succeed in such a demanding atmosphere.

“To operate in such an environment, a coach needs real expertise, emotional resilience, strong leadership, and an unbeatable confidence,” he explained. “He must have the ability to remain calm under pressure, show conviction in his work, and make decisions with authority.”

German coach on importance of pragmatism

He also highlighted the need for a “positive stubbornness” and the “courage to stand by your football ideas when the noise around the team becomes overwhelming.”

Middendorp stressed that a coach’s primary duty is to realistically assess the squad’s capabilities.

“One of the key responsibilities of the coach is to identify the real capacity of each player. What can they truly deliver?” he wrote. “Only when this assessment is done honestly can the coach build the most suitable structure and tactical set-up for the team.”

He concluded that effective coaching is about pragmatism, not idealism. “This means coaching is not about following dreams, wishes, or public expectations. It is about working with reality… building a structure that reflects the real capacity of the squad, not an illusion of what people would like to see.”