Who is Ernst Middendorp?

As Kaizer Chiefs continued to deny intense speculation that little-known Ernst Middendorp might take over the coaching hot-seat from Ted Dumitru next season, questions have arisen as to who Middendorp really is?

Chiefs' boss Kaizer Motaung is known for his ability to spot foreign coaching talent, having recruited top names such as Ted Dumitru, who led the team two successive league championships, Phillipe Troussier, who later coached Bafana Bafana, and of course the charismatic Paul Dolezar.

Now, the 47-year-old Middendorp looks to be the favourite to be the next head coach at Chiefs with Dumitru indicating he wants to retire.

Middendorp had coaching stints in 1989 and 1995 with Armina Bielefeld, who signed Bafana Bafana midfielder Sibusiso Zuma recently a few weeks after releasing Delron Buckley to Borussia Dortmund.

He has experience of coaching in Africa having been at the helm at Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko between 2000 and 2002 when he guided them through their rebuilding process and led them to the Ghana Premier League championship title in 2002 after a dry spell of 10 years.

Middendorp's stay with another Ghanian club, Hearts of Oak, in 2004 was short-lived though as he resigned six months into the job.

He is known for his fierce and explosive antics on the sidelines.

Middendorp fact-file

Date of birth: 1958

Nationality: German

Teams coached: Tracktorsasi Tabriss

(Iran), Hearts of Oak (Ghana),

FC Augsburg (Germany), Asante

Kotoko (Ghana), Vfl Bochum

(Germany), FC Uerdingen (Germany),

Armina Bielefeld (Germany),

FC Gutersloh (Germany), VFB Rheine

(Germany), Eintracht Nordhorn

(Germany)