Clive Barker
Personal information
Full name Clive William Barker
Date of birth (1944-06-19)19 June 1944
Place of birth Durban, Natal, South Africa
Date of death 10 June 2023(2023-06-10) (aged 78)
Place of death Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962 Durban City
1963–1969 Durban United
Managerial career
1973 Fynnlands
1974–76 AmaZulu
1976 Pinetown Celtic
1978–1981 Juventus Durban
1981–1983 Durban City
1984–1985 Durban Bush Bucks
1986–1987 AmaZulu
1988–1989 Yellowwood Park
1991–1993 AmaZulu
1994–1997 South Africa
1997–1999 AmaZulu
2000–2001 Santos Cape Town
2001–2003 Manning Rangers
2003 Maritzburg United
2004 Zulu Royals
2005 Manning Rangers
2005 Santos Cape Town
2006 Bush Bucks
2006 AmaZulu
2007–2009 AmaZulu
2013 Bidvest Wits
2013–2015 Mpumalanga Black Aces
2015–2016 Maritzburg United
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  South Africa (as manager)
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner 1996
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Clive William Barker (23 June 1944 – 10 June 2023) was a South African football coach. He guided the South Africa national team to their only African Nations Cup title in 1996. He was uncle of Steve Barker.

Playing career

Barker was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. He became a professional footballer in the 1960s, playing for Durban City and Durban United having made his debut at the age of 17. He had a trial with Leicester City, but a serious knee injury quickly ended his career.[1]

Managerial career

"The Dog", as he is nicknamed, became a manager in the 1970s, coaching numerous clubs in South Africa, including Durban City, Manning Rangers, AmaZulu (Zulu Royals) and Santos Cape Town.[2]

During his club career he won two league championships and two league cups. He was one of the first white managers of a black team in the South African league.[1]

Barker took over as manager of the South Africa national team in 1994 after the team was reinstated after a ban due to apartheid.[3] He took the South Africa national team to their only African Nations Cup title in 1996, with a 2–0 victory in the final against Tunisia. Under his guidance South Africa qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, their first World Cup.[3] He quit in December 1997, before the team could compete in the World Cup finals, after a poor showing at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup.[4]

Barker was a local television commentator during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[5]

Barker was appointed manager of Bidvest Wits in January 2013.[6]

Personal life and death

Barker's son, John Barker, is a South African filmmaker.[7] Barker's nephew Steve Barker followed in Clive's footsteps as a soccer manager.[8]

Barker was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2023.[7] He died in Durban on 10 June 2023, at the age of 78.[9][10][11]

References

  1. ^ a b FIFA.com – Clive Barker's Success With South Africa
  2. ^ Kickoff Magazine February 2013, p. 41
  3. ^ a b Duke, Lynne (18 August 1997). "Cup berth a big kick for South Africa". The Age.
  4. ^ Cohen, Tom (6 June 1998). "South Africa comes in from exile". The Gazette. p. X11.
  5. ^ "Big Phil on TV". Northwest Herald. 20 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Barker replaces Habas as coach". Bidvest Wits Football Club. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b Pedro, Michael. "Family of former SA coach Clive Barker open up about his deteriorating health". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Stellies boss holds back emotions after uncle Clive Barker hospitalised again". News24. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Soccer-Former South Africa coach Clive Barker dies | Sports-Games". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  10. ^ Mostert, Herman. "Legendary former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker dies". News24 Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  11. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse. "'You brought happiness to our land': Safa, PSL lead tributes after death of former Bafana coach Clive Barker". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
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