He has been called unfriendly, morose, irritable, arrogant, insecure, clueless, the enemy of the journalists, ‘Disgust-Ernst’, ‘Middendraw’ and a host of other names.

He ruffled Rainer Rauffmann, scared former Bloemfontein Celtic coach Lehlohonolo Seema, blocked TimesLive journalist Marc Strydom, side-lined famous players, was disappointed in Kaizer Chiefs Chairman Kaizer Motaung and unleashed his frustration in front of his technical team while stuck in traffic.

Yet, recording-breaking globetrotting soccer coach Ernst Middendorp says, “I respect each and everybody. It doesn’t matter if they are a plumber, a teacher or a political highness.”

This record-breaking coach’s 38-year globetrotting journey saw him buy a house for his former chauffeur in Ghana, make amends with Joseph Sarpong, bring players from far-flung countries to European clubs, subsidise the salary of a social worker in South Africa, provide accommodation for Ronnie Kanalelo, enjoy a wonderful relationship with Paulus Masehe and try to help a struggling Siphelele Ntshangase.

Middendorp smoked a pipe with King Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, received congratulations from Nelson Mandela, tucked into prawn stroganoff with Sir Alex Ferguson and had coffee with the likes of Jürgen Klopp.

“For me, the biggest meeting was with Mandela,” Middendorp says, “but until today, I don’t see anybody as different. If somebody is washing a car, he gets my utmost respect. If somebody is a rubbish collector to earn their living, I probably have even more respect for these people than for politicians.

After leading Kaizer Chiefs from ninth place in the 2018/19 season to second spot in the following campaign, Middendorp travelled to what was then known as Port Elizabeth for a holiday with his wife Bronwyn.

“When I bumped into people in PE and on the way to PE, they were friendly and happy with the phenomenal performance,” Middendorp says of what remains Chiefs’ highest league placing in the past seven seasons.

While he and his wife stopped by a petrol station in Port Elizabeth, they spoke to someone who was washes cars for a living. “He knew about soccer,” Middendorp recalls. “He thought I was a celebrity and was totally out of touch with reality and cannot talk to people, and so on. He made a comment about how humble, how normal I was, how I was able to discuss some issues with him. “

Middendorp has always kept this unassuming air since his time growing up in a working-class family on a farm in the idyllic village of Andervenne, north-western Germany.

“I know where I am coming from and I never forget this, regardless of whoever I meet on the road,” he says. “For certain people, it’s very important to say that they know a politician, but it didn’t really matter for me. I met a lot of people in Asia, Thailand, Iran, Europe and China. I’ve been to a lot of events, but it doesn’t matter for me. It makes no impact on my thinking or in my doing. For me meeting people, despite high ranking or whatever, is always a pleasure.”