# Bernard Parker

Bernard Parker (born 16 March 1986) is a South African soccer manager and former player who manages the TS Galaxy reserves. He played as a midfielder or forward. Between 2007 and 2015 he made 73 appearances for the South Africa national team scoring 23 goals.
Parker started his professional football career playing for Thanda Royal Zulu in the Premier Soccer League, where he made 70 appearances before a one-year loan to Serbian side Red Star Belgrade. He joined Eredivisie side FC Twente in 2009, where he spent a season and a half before being loaned out to Panserraikos in the Greek Super League. During his time in the Eredivisie, Parker won the 2009-10 Eredivisie and the 2010 Johan Cruyff Shield.
He moved to Kaizer Chiefs in 2011. He was awarded the 2013–14 Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot and won two league titles, the Nedbank Cup and the MTN 8 with the South African club. Parker was released by Kaizer Chiefs in June 2022 after spending over a decade at the club, making over 350 appearances and scoring over 60 goals.He is currently the coach of TS Galaxy B

## Early life

Parker was born and grew up in Reiger Park, a township next to Boksburg, Gauteng. He was quite good in a variety of sports and excelled in short and long-distance running as well as achieving Eastern Gauteng colours in swimming.

## Club career

A product of the School of Excellence, Parker made his debut in the professional ranks for Cape Town's Hellenic FC, later bought and renamed Benoni Premier United. After the club was once again renamed and moved to Durban he remained with Thanda Royal Zulu F.C. until early 2009 when he obtained a transfer to European Cup Winners Red Star in Serbia. His stay in Belgrade was cut short after reports that the club had cash flow problems and owed its players' salaries.
Parker signed with FC Twente in July 2009 and was a member of the team that won the Dutch 2009–10 Eredivisie. After Twente manager Steve McClaren's move to Bundesliga, Parker failed to convince new coach Michel Preud'homme of his qualities and thus spent the first half of the 2010–11 Dutch season mostly on the bench. He joined Leicester City on trial in December 2010 with a view to a permanent move away from the Dutch club. On 18 January 2011, he moved to Panserraikos F.C. on loan, to secure extra game time and returned to FC Twente after the end of the 2010–11 season.
After receiving interest from Swedish clubs Malmö FF and Helsingborgs IF as well as South Africa's Kaizer Chiefs, Parker chose the latter ahead of the other clubs. In the 2012–13 season, Parker scored 12 league goals in 28 matches and finished as runner up to Katlego Mashego who had 13 and helped Chiefs to a league and cup double. The following season, he won the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot with 10 goals.
After Parker spent over a decade at Kaizer Chiefs, the club decided not to renew his contract that was to expire on 30 June 2022. He scored over 60 goals in 350 appearances there.
In August 2022 Parker joined TS Galaxy on a two-year contract.
On 18 October 2023, Parker suffered a broken leg from a "nightmare challenge" by Mamelodi Sundowns player Bongani Zungu during a Round Of 16 match in the 2023 Carling Knockout Cup between TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns at Mbombela Stadium.
In July 2024 Parker announced his retirement from playing.

## International career

Parker had his South Africa national team debut against Malawi in 2007, scoring his first goal in 2008 against the same team. On 17 June 2009, he scored both goals in a 2–0 win over New Zealand in the 2009 Confederations Cup, and also received the Man of the Match award. He played in 2010 FIFA World Cup representing South Africa but the team was eliminated after group stage. He also played in 2013 African Cup of Nations hosted in South Africa.
On 16 June 2013, Parker scored an own goal in a 2–1 defeat to Ethiopia which ended South Africa's chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. Earlier in the match he had given South Africa a 1–0 lead. Parker also scored by chipping the ball over Víctor Valdés in the 56th minute in a 1–0 shock win over the then-world and European champions Spain at Soccer City, where it won the World Cup in 2010. Parker won the top goalscorer award at the 2014 African Nations Championship with four goals from three group matches.

## Managerial career

Parker was appointed head coach of the TS Galaxy reserves, playing in the PSL Reserve League, ahead of the 2024–25 season.

## Personal life

Parker married Wendy Cherry in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, on 16 June 2012 at a ceremony attended by 170 guests.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Thanda Royal Zulu | 2006–07 | Premier Soccer League | 28 | 5 | | | | | | | | | 28 | 5 |
| Thanda Royal Zulu | 2007–08 | Premier Soccer League | 28 | 5 | | | | | | | | | 28 | 5 |
| Thanda Royal Zulu | 2008–09 | Premier Soccer League | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | 14 | 10 |
| Thanda Royal Zulu | Total | Total | 70 | 20 | | | | | | | | | 70 | 20 |
| Red Star Belgrade (loan) | 2008–09 | Serbian Superliga | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | | | 16 | 6 |
| FC Twente | 2009–10 | Eredivisie | 14 | 0 | 5 | 2 | – | – | 6 | 0 | – | – | 25 | 2 |
| FC Twente | 2010–11 | Eredivisie | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| FC Twente | Total | Total | 17 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 3 |
| Panserraikos (loan) | 2010–11 | Superleague Greece | 12 | 1 | | | – | – | 0 | 0 | | | 12 | 1 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2011–12 | Premier Soccer League | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | 4 | 1 | 33 | 4 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2012–13 | Premier Soccer League | 28 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | 0 | 35 | 14 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2013–14 | Premier Soccer League | 27 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | | | 3 | 1 | 36 | 11 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2014–15 | South African Premier Division | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | 1 | 0 | 27 | 8 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2015–16 | South African Premier Division | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | | | 4 | 2 | 34 | 4 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2016–17 | South African Premier Division | 24 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | | | 1 | 0 | 28 | 5 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2017–18 | South African Premier Division | 24 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | 1 | 0 | 32 | 6 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2018–19 | South African Premier Division | 26 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | | | 3 | 0 | 37 | 3 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2019–20 | South African Premier Division | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | | | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2020–21 | South African Premier Division | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2021–22 | South African Premier Division | 24 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 5 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | Total | Total | 283 | 49 | 25 | 3 | 19 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 362 | 61 |
| TS Galaxy | 2022-23 | South African Premier Division | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 3 |
| TS Galaxy | 2023-24 | South African Premier Division | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| TS Galaxy | Total | Total | 34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 432 | 79 | 34 | 6 | 19 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 23 | 5 | 527 | 94 |
* ↑ Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Appearance(s) in MTN 8

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| South Africa | 2007 | 5 | 0 |
| South Africa | 2008 | 7 | 4 |
| South Africa | 2009 | 14 | 3 |
| South Africa | 2010 | 10 | 3 |
| South Africa | 2011 | 7 | 0 |
| South Africa | 2012 | 5 | 2 |
| South Africa | 2013 | 17 | 7 |
| South Africa | 2014 | 4 | 4 |
| South Africa | 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 73 | 23 |
    Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Parker goal.
List of international goals scored by Bernard Parker :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 30 September 2008 | Driehoek Stadium, Germiston, South Africa | Malawi | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 30 September 2008 | Driehoek Stadium, Germiston, South Africa | Malawi | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 15 October 2008 | Seisa Ramabodu Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Ghana | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 4 | 19 November 2008 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa | Cameroon | 3–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 5 | 28 March 2009 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa | Norway | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 6 | 17 June 2009 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa | New Zealand | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 7 | 17 June 2009 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa | New Zealand | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 8 | 16 May 2010 | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa | Thailand | 4–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 9 | 31 May 2010 | Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa | Guatemala | 5–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 10 | 4 September 2010 | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa | Niger | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 11 | 11 September 2012 | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa | Mozambique | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 12 | 11 September 2012 | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa | Mozambique | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 13 | 23 March 2013 | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa | Central African Republic | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 14 | 8 June 2013 | Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon | Central African Republic | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 15 | 16 June 2013 | Addis Ababa Stadium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Ethiopia | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 16 | 7 September 2013 | Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa | Botswana | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17 | 7 September 2013 | Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa | Botswana | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18 | 10 September 2013 | Orlando Stadium, Soweto, South Africa | Zimbabwe | 1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 19 | 19 November 2013 | Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa | Spain | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 20 | 11 January 2014 | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa | Mozambique | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2014 African Nations Championship |
| 21 | 11 January 2014 | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa | Mozambique | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2014 African Nations Championship |
| 22 | 15 January 2014 | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa | Mali | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2014 African Nations Championship |
| 23 | 19 January 2014 | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa | Nigeria | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2014 African Nations Championship |

## Honours

FC Twente
* Eredivisie: 2009–10
* Johan Cruijff Schaal: 2010
Kaizer Chiefs
* Premier Soccer League: 2012–13, 2014–15
* Nedbank Cup: 2012–13
* MTN 8: 2015
Individual
* Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot: 2013–14
* African Nations Championship Golden Boot: 2014