Shaun Bartlett

**Shaun Bartlett** (born 31 October 1972) is a South African professional football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of Cape Town Spurs. During his playing career, he played as a striker. A dynamic forward for the South Africa national team, who made a significant impact with his relentless energy and eye for goal. Known for his aerial prowess and sharp positioning, Bartlett was pivotal in South Africa's offensive strategies, bringing a mix of power and precision to the Bafana Bafana lineup. Commonly considered as one of the best South African strikers of his generation.

## Early life
Born in Cape Town, Bartlett was raised by his grandmother in Factreton on the Cape Flats. He began playing for his church team and quickly developed a deft striking ability on the field. He was also a talented cricketer.

## Club career
Shaun Bartlett began his career in the youth of Vasco Da Gama. In 1992, he moved to Ajax Cape Town and played there until 1996. In 1996, he moved to Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids, where he scored nine goals in 36 games. In 1997, he had a guest appearance for half a year with the NY/NJ MetroStars. He then played a year on loan at his old club Ajax Cape Town. In 1998, he moved to the Swiss club FC Zurich. By 2000, he had played 77 games and scored 38 goals. In 2000, he moved to English club Charlton Athletic on loan for one year. He made 18 appearances that year, scoring seven goals and was bought by Charlton Athletic for £2 million. He received the award for the 2000/01 Premier League Goal of the Year with his beautiful volley against Leicester City. However, at the end of the 2005–06 season, his contract was not renewed. During his time there, he played 123 games and scored 24 goals. He then went back to his home country to the Kaizer Chiefs. After two years, 31 games and eleven goals, he ended his professional career for the time being. However, after several conversations, he joined the Bloemfontein Celtics.

## International career
On April 26, 1995, he made his debut in official games as part of the national team of South Africa in a match against the Lesotho national team. The following year, as part of the national team, he participated in the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, winning the title of continental champion that year. Two years later, he played in the historic first World Cup for Bafana Bafana in 1998 in France. At the tournament, Bartlett scored a double in the last match against Saudi Arabia, but his team drew 2-2 and did not get out of the group. Subsequently, he participated in the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana and Nigeria, where the team won bronze medals, and Bartlett became the top scorer of the tournament with 5 goals, as well as the next African Cup of Nations in 2002 in Mali, where his national team was eliminated at the quarterfinal stage. During his career in the national team, which lasted 11 years, he played 74 matches in the uniform of the country's main team, scoring 28 goals (2nd after Benny McCarthy).

## Managerial career
Bartlett coached Golden Arrows to the National First Division title in the 2014/15 season. He went on to play a crucial role as Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach in turning around the club from a ninth-place finish in the 2018/19 season to topping the table for most of the following season. In October 2021, Bartlett was appointed as manager of National First Division side Cape Town Spurs. After leading them to promotion, Spurs parted ways with Bartlett after seven consecutive defeats at the start of the 2023–24 season.

## Honours
### Player
**FC Zürich**
* Swiss Cup: 2000

**Kaizer Chiefs**
* Telkom Knockout: 2007
* MTN 8: 2008

**South Africa**
* African Cup of Nations: 1996

**Individual**
* BBC Goal of the Season: 2000–01

### Manager
**Golden Arrows**
* National First Division: 2014–15

**Cape Town Spurs**
*DSTV Premiership Promotional Playoffs: 2022-23

## References