Premier Soccer League (PSL) club, Kaizer Chiefs have sacked Ernst Middendorp as head coach with immediate effect. The decision was taken on Wednesday (September 10) following a meeting between Middendorp and top Kaizer Chiefs officials.
Kaizer Chiefs failed to win the 2019/20 Absa Premiership title under the guidance of Middendorp despite leading for all of 28 rounds. Chiefs lost the title to Mamelodi Sundowns on the final day of the season.
This follows Amakhosi’s devastating 2018/19 campaign in which they also suffered heartbreak by dropping out of the top eight on the final matchday, before becoming the first top flight club to lose the Nedbank Cup final to lower-tier opponents, in the form of TS Galaxy. The 61-year-old Middendorp penned a two-and-a-half-year deal in December 2018 as he took over from Italian mentor Giovanni Solinas, who was also sacked over the team’s poor performance.
The club has confirmed that Middendorp will not see out the remaining year on his contract as the club looks to replace him ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, which is scheduled to kick-off next month.
“The club have decided to release the coach from his contract and are looking at bringing in someone else for next season,” revealed a source.
After 60 matches at the helm during his second stint with the Glamour Boys, Middendorp managed 31 wins, 12 draws and 17 losses in all competitions – and no silverware.
