 Parker withFC Twente in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bernard Melvin Parker[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1986-03-16)16 March 1986 (age 39) | ||
| Place of birth | Boksburg, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | TS Galaxy reserves (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Transnet School of Excellence[3] | |||
| Mamelodi Sundowns | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2009 | Thanda Royal Zulu | 116 | (29) |
| 2009 | →Red Star Belgrade | 16 | (6) |
| 2009–2011 | FC Twente | 17 | (0) |
| 2011 | →Panserraikos (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2011–2022 | Kaizer Chiefs | 283 | (49) |
| 2022–2024 | TS Galaxy | 34 | (3) |
| Total | 478 | (88) | |
| International career | |||
| 2006–2008 | South Africa U23 | 22 | (12) |
| 2007–2015 | South Africa | 73 | (23) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024– | TS Galaxy reserves | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bernard Parker (born 16 March 1986) is a South Africansoccer manager and former player who manages theTS Galaxy reserves. He played as amidfielder orforward. Between 2007 and 2015 he made 73 appearances for the South Africa national team scoring 23 goals.
Parker started his professional football career playing forThanda Royal Zulu in thePremier Soccer League, where he made 70 appearances before a one-year loan toSerbian sideRed Star Belgrade. He joinedEredivisie sideFC Twente in 2009, where he spent a season and a half before being loaned out toPanserraikos in theGreek Super League. During his time in the Eredivisie, Parker won the2009-10 Eredivisie and the2010 Johan Cruyff Shield.
He moved to Kaizer Chiefs in 2011. He was awarded the 2013–14Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot and won two league titles, theNedbank Cup and theMTN 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
Parker was born and grew up inReiger Park, a township next toBoksburg,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.
A product of the School of Excellence, Parker made his debut in the professional ranks for Cape Town'sHellenic FC, later bought and renamedBenoni Premier United. After the club was once again renamed and moved to Durban he remained withThanda Royal Zulu F.C. until early 2009 when he obtained a transfer to European Cup WinnersRed Star in Serbia. His stay in Belgrade was cut short after reports that the club had cash flow problems and owed its players' salaries.[4]
Parker signed withFC Twente in July 2009 and was a member of the team that won the Dutch2009–10 Eredivisie. After Twente managerSteve McClaren's move toBundesliga, Parker failed to convince new coachMichel Preud'homme of his qualities and thus spent the first half of the 2010–11 Dutch season mostly on the bench. He joinedLeicester City on trial in December 2010 with a view to a permanent move away from the Dutch club. On 18 January 2011, he moved toPanserraikos F.C. on loan, to secure extra game time and returned to FC Twente after the end of the2010–11 season.
After receiving interest from Swedish clubs Malmö FF and Helsingborgs IF as well as South Africa'sKaizer Chiefs, Parker chose the latter ahead of the other clubs.[5] In the 2012–13 season, Parker scored 12 league goals in 28 matches and finished as runner up toKatlego Mashego who had 13 and helped Chiefs to a league and cup double.[6] The following season, he won the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot with 10 goals.[7]
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.[8] He scored over 60 goals in 350 appearances there.[9]
In August 2022 Parker joinedTS Galaxy on a two-year contract.[10]
On 18 October 2023, Parker suffered a broken leg from a "nightmare challenge" byMamelodi Sundowns playerBongani Zungu during a Round Of 16 match in the2023 Carling Knockout Cup between TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns atMbombela Stadium.[11]
In July 2024 Parker announced his retirement from playing.[12]
Parker had hisSouth 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 overNew Zealand in the2009 Confederations Cup,[13] and also received the Man of the Match award.[14] He played in2010 FIFA World Cup representing South Africa but the team was eliminated after group stage. He also played in2013 African Cup of Nations hosted inSouth Africa.
On 16 June 2013, Parker scored an own goal in a 2–1 defeat toEthiopia 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.[15] Parker also scored by chipping the ball overVíctor Valdés in the 56th minute in a 1–0 shock win over the then-world and European championsSpain atSoccer City, where it won the World Cup in 2010.[16] Parker won the top goalscorer award at the2014 African Nations Championship with four goals from three group matches.[17]
Parker was appointed head coach of theTS Galaxy reserves, playing in thePSL Reserve League, ahead of the 2024–25 season.[18]
Parker married Wendy Cherry inBallito,KwaZulu-Natal, on 16 June 2012 at a ceremony attended by 170 guests.[19]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||||||
| 2007–08 | 28 | 5 | 28 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 2008–09 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 10 | ||||||||
| 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[20] | Eredivisie | 14 | 0 | 5 | 2 | – | 6 | 0 | – | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11[20] | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 7 | 1 | |||
| Total | 17 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 3 | ||
| Panserraikos (loan) | 2010–11[21] | Superleague Greece | 12 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |||||
| Kaizer Chiefs | 2011–12[21] | Premier Soccer League | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[b] | 1 | 33 | 4 | ||
| 2012–13[21] | 28 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1[b] | 0 | 35 | 14 | ||||
| 2013–14[21] | 27 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3[b] | 1 | 36 | 11 | ||||
| 2014–15[21] | South African Premier Division | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1[b] | 0 | 27 | 8 | |||
| 2015–16[21] | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[b] | 2 | 34 | 4 | ||||
| 2016–17[21] | 24 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 28 | 5 | ||||
| 2017–18[21] | 24 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1[b] | 0 | 32 | 6 | ||||
| 2018–19[21] | 26 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 37 | 3 | ||||
| 2019–20[21] | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21[21] | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 3[b] | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22[21] | 24 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 1 | 26 | 5 | ||
| 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 |
| 2023-24 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Total | 34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 432 | 79 | 34 | 6 | 19 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 23 | 5 | 527 | 94 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 2007 | 5 | 0 |
| 2008 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2009 | 14 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 17 | 7 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 73 | 23 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 September 2008 | Driehoek Stadium,Germiston, South Africa |  Malawi | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 2–0 | |||||
| 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 | 2–0 | |||||
| 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 | 2–0 | |||||
| 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 | 4–1 | |||||
| 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 | 3–1 | |||||
| 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 |
FC Twente
Kaizer Chiefs
Individual
South Africa squads | |||||||||||||||||||
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