Eric Tinkler

**Eric Tinkler** (born 30 July 1970) is a South African football coach and former player. Eric Tinkler's style of play is characterized by a front-foot approach and a focus on defensive and finishing. He emphasizes the importance of making better decisions in defense and improving finishing to avert goals. Tinkler believes in playing on the front foot constantly and has been consistent in his approach, even after facing challenges and setbacks. Widely regarded as one of the best South Africa's defensive midfielders.

## Club career

In 1990, he began his career in the South African National Football League. In 1992, the midfielder moved to Viktoria Setúbal, for which he played two seasons in the second division and two seasons in the first division. In 1996 he moved to Cagliari, for whom he played 20 matches in Serie A. In the summer of 1997 he moved to the English Premier League club Barnsley for 650 thousand pounds. He played his first match in the Premier League on August 9, 1997 against West Ham (defeat with a score of 1-2). The South African footballer scored his first goal for the club in a match against Bolton Wanderers on August 27, 1997. Barnsley then won with a score of 2-1. In the 1997/98 season, Eric played 29 (25 in the Premier League, 2 in the Cup, 2 in the League Cup) and scored 2 goals (2 in the Premier League), Barnsley took 19th place and were relegated to the First Division. Eric Tinkler played in the First Division until 2002. From 2002 to 2005 he played for the Portuguese third division club Caldas. In 2005, Eric returned to Wits University and helped the team win the second division and promotion to the Premier League.

## International career

In 1994, he made his debut in official matches as part of the national team of South Africa. He was the main player of the national team at its home African Cup of Nations in 1996, winning the title of continental champion that year. This victory gave the national team the right to participate in the 1997 Confederations Cup, where Tinkler was also in the application, but did not enter the field. Subsequently, he participated in two more African Cups of Nations - in 2000 in Ghana and Nigeria, as well as in 2002 in Mali. In total, during his career in the national team, which lasted 8 years, he spent 45 matches in its uniform, scoring 1 goal.

## Coaching career

He began his coaching career, returning to football after a short break, in 2015, heading the coaching staff of the Orlando Pirates club, where he worked from 2015 to 2016.

During his coaching career, he also led the teams Cape Town City, Supersport United, Chippa United and Maritzburg United.

Since 2021, he has again headed the coaching staff of the Cape Town City team.

## Honours

- Player
- African Cup of Nations: 1996, 2000; runner-up
- South African Second Division: 2005–06

- Coach
- League Cup: 2016
- Cup of Eight: 2017

## Infobox (football biography)

- **name**: Eric Tinkler
- **birth place**: Roodepoort, South Africa
- **height**: 1.86m
- **position**: Midfielder
- **years1**: 1990–1991
- **clubs1**: Bidvest Wits F.C., Wits University
- **caps1**: 18
- **goals1**: 0
- **years2**: 1991–1992
- **clubs2**: União de Tomar
- **caps2**: 34
- **goals2**: 5
- **years3**: 1992–1996
- **clubs3**: Vitória F.C., Vitória
- **caps3**: 84
- **goals3**: 2
- **years4**: 1996–1997
- **clubs4**: Cagliari Calcio, Cagliari
- **caps4**: 20
- **goals4**: 0
- **years5**: 1997–2002
- **clubs5**: Barnsley F.C., Barnsley
- **caps5**: 99
- **goals5**: 9
- **years6**: 2002–2005
- **clubs6**: Caldas S.C., Caldas
- **caps6**: 54
- **goals6**: 15
- **years7**: 2005–2007
- **clubs7**: Bidvest Wits F.C., Bidvest Wits
- **caps7**: 29
- **goals7**: 3
- **totalcaps**: 337
- **totalgoals**: 34
- **nationalyears1**: 1994–2002
- **nationalteam1**: South Africa national football team, South Africa
- **nationalcaps1**: 45
- **nationalgoals1**: 1
- **manageryears1**: 2013–2016
- **managerclubs1**: Orlando Pirates
- **manageryears2**: 2016–2017
- **managerclubs2**: Cape Town City F.C. (2016), Cape Town City
- **manageryears3**: 2017–2018
- **managerclubs3**: SuperSport United F.C., SuperSport United
- **manageryears4**: 2018
- **managerclubs4**: Chippa United
- **manageryears5**: 2019–2020
- **managerclubs5**: Maritzburg United
- **manageryears6**: 2021–2024
- **managerclubs6**: Cape Town City F.C. (2016), Cape Town City