As somebody who possesses a penchant for reading Biographies, and rarely express my views publicly, I felt compelled to say a few words about the biography of Ernst Middendorp which was aptly titled "Resilience".
From start to finish, the book was expansive, deeply insightful and absolutely scintillating. This would easily rank amongst my top 3 Sporting Biographies......my only regret is that it doesn't sit amongst my modest collection of signed copies.
If you love football, interesting and insightful characters, then this is one I'd comfortably recommend.
Ernst’s book is exceptionally well written. I found myself captivated by the use of fine, technical detail. This depiction of Ernst’s life story (and not just as a sportsman and/or coach) takes the audience/reader on a sound journey of factional resilience. I found his book to be both motivational and inspiring. I get the gut feeling that any young person looking to unpack the (often hard and difficult) journey of self-reflection and success will benefit from this great read. In addition, those who have already become successful – like Ernst has – are likely to appreciate the honest sentiment (and fact!) while ‘walking alongside Ernst’ on his lifelong journey.
A must read. Really riveting, interesting and informative.
I have now found out what I always had questions with and why I called "Power Ernst" a Technical Director. Coach Middendorp is the kind of coach I call the "principal". He makes things happen but he doesn't get the credit.
A top book. I can testify it’s a good read, mind opener and good lessons to take, especially about investing in yourself.
Fascinating read. Memorising the 510 pager for the 3rd time now.
Saul Kamionsky provides a comprehensive account of the life of Ernst Middendorp, the renowned German-born soccer coach, with insights into his career, personal interests, and complex relationships.
His reputation as a tough and unapproachable figure is contrasted with the perspectives of those who have worked closely with him.
For soccer enthusiasts and those inspired by triumph over negativity, Resilience offers an interesting read.
(Click here to read the article)
The book spans over a massive 507 pages and is like a bible about the German tactician, from how a double-leg break prevented him from pursuing his dream to become a professional football player to coaching 25 different teams (22 at the time of writing the book) across three continents.
Resilience tells the story of Middendorp’s coaching journey and gives exclusive insights about his thinking and actions, especially during his time at South African clubs Kaizer Chiefs (twice), Maritzburg United (four times), Golden Arrows, Bloemfontein Celtic, Chippa United and Free State Stars. He opens up on meetings with Sir Alex Ferguson, his thoughts on Emmanuel Asande ‘Scara’ Ngobese, his rivalry with Pitso Mosimane, his “love-hate” relationship with the media and much, much more.
(Click here to read the article)
Wow! 510 jam-packed pages about a coach who may not be in the first or second tier of top German coaches, but who has a dazzling career nonetheless with extremely exciting positions abroad. For me something like this is just a dream.
For me the story of a coach who goes to South Africa or Cyprus and worked in Iran and China is unequal and more exciting than the stories of the big players in the industry.
Now, of course, it is no coincidence that such a comprehensive work on Ernst Middendorp was not published (at least not first) in Germany. In South Africa, where, after a total of ten positions (and more in Ghana), Middendorp is even more well-known and popular than in Germany, the journalist Saul Kamionsky has taken it upon himself to trace the career of the qualified vocational school teacher in detail.
A highly exciting change between worlds awaits the reader - from Bielefeld, Uerdingen and Bochum it goes to Accra (Hearts of Oak SC), to Iran (Tractor Sazi Täbris), to China (Changchun Yatai), Cyprus (Anorthosis Famagusta FC), Thailand (Bangkok United) and above all and again and again to South Africa (Kaizer Chiefs, Golden Arrows, Maritzburg United, Bloemfontein Celtic, Chippa United, Free State Stars).
What surprised and pleased me: the inevitably greater distance that Kamionsky has to German football compared to the South African Premier Soccer League is not noticeable anywhere in the book. He also looks at a number of peripheral questions of everyday coaching life, which have always been extremely interesting to me.
11Freunde editor-in-chief Philipp Köster, a well-known die-hard Arminia-Bielefeld fan, should be thrilled with a 510-page biography about the “Arminia coach of the century”. And since, in addition to the monthly 11Freunde magazine, he also occasionally puts a book on the market that wasn't necessarily chosen solely based on its prospects of commercial success, he might also be interested in publishing a German edition of "Resilience".
(Click here to read the article)
