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Bernard Parker
Bernard Parker FC Twente.jpg
Parker with FC Twente in 2009
Personal information
Full name Bernard Melvin Parker
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)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
forward
Team information
Current team
 TS Galaxy reserves (head coach)
Youth career
Transnet School of Excellence
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 on March 16, 1986) is a South African soccer coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the TS Galaxy reserves team. During his playing career, he was a midfielder or forward. He played 73 games for the South Africa national team between 2007 and 2015, scoring 23 goals.

Parker began his professional soccer journey with Thanda Royal Zulu F.C. in South Africa. He then moved to Europe, playing for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia and FC Twente in the Netherlands. While in the Netherlands, he helped FC Twente win the 2009-10 Eredivisie league title and the 2010 Johan Cruyff Shield.

In 2011, Parker returned to South Africa to play for Kaizer Chiefs. He became a very important player for them. He won the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot award in the 2013–14 season for scoring the most goals. He also helped Kaizer Chiefs win two league titles, the Nedbank Cup, and the MTN 8 cup. After more than ten years with the club, Parker left Kaizer Chiefs in June 2022. He then joined TS Galaxy before retiring from playing in July 2024.

Bernard Parker's Early Life

Parker was born and grew up in Reiger Park, a township near Boksburg, Gauteng. He was good at many sports when he was young. He was excellent at both short and long-distance running. He also earned special recognition in swimming for Eastern Gauteng.

Bernard Parker's Club Career Highlights

Parker started his professional journey after training at the School of Excellence. He first played for Hellenic FC in Cape Town. This club later changed its name to Benoni Premier United. When the club moved to Durban and changed its name again to Thanda Royal Zulu F.C., Parker stayed with them.

In early 2009, he moved to Europe to play for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. However, his time there was short because the club had money problems.

Playing for FC Twente

Parker signed with FC Twente in the Netherlands in July 2009. He was part of the team that won the Dutch league title, the 2009–10 Eredivisie. After the coach, Steve McClaren, left, Parker did not play as much. He was loaned to Panserraikos F.C. in Greece in January 2011 to get more playing time. He returned to FC Twente after that season.

Time at Kaizer Chiefs

After his time in Europe, Parker chose to join Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa. In the 2012–13 season, he scored 12 goals in 28 league games. He helped Chiefs win both the league and a cup that season. The next season, he won the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot award by scoring 10 goals.

Parker played for Kaizer Chiefs for over ten years. He played more than 350 games and scored over 60 goals for the club. His contract ended in June 2022, and he left the team.

Joining TS Galaxy

In August 2022, Parker signed a two-year contract with TS Galaxy. In October 2023, he suffered a broken leg during a match against Mamelodi Sundowns. This injury was very serious. In July 2024, Bernard Parker announced that he was retiring from playing professional soccer.

Bernard Parker's International Career

Parker made his first appearance for the South Africa national team in 2007 against Malawi. He scored his first goal for his country in 2008, also against Malawi.

In June 2009, he scored two goals in a 2–0 win against New Zealand in the 2009 Confederations Cup. He was named the Man of the Match for that game. He also played for South Africa in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted in South Africa. The team did not make it past the group stage. He also played in the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

In June 2013, Parker scored an own goal in a game against Ethiopia. This loss meant South Africa could not qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Earlier in that same game, he had scored to give South Africa a 1–0 lead. Later that year, in November 2013, Parker scored the only goal in a surprising 1–0 win against Spain. Spain was the world and European champion at the time. Parker also won the top goalscorer award at the 2014 African Nations Championship, scoring four goals in three group matches.

Bernard Parker's Managerial Career

After retiring as a player, Parker became the head coach of the TS Galaxy reserves team. This team plays in the PSL Reserve League. He started this coaching role before the 2024–25 season.

Bernard Parker's Personal Life

Bernard Parker married Wendy Cherry on June 16, 2012. Their wedding took place in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, and had 170 guests.

Bernard Parker's Career Statistics

Club Appearances and Goals

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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 Eredivisie 14 0 5 2 – 6 0 – 25 2
2010–11 3 0 3 1 – 0 0 1 0 7 1
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
2012–13 28 12 5 1 1 1 1 0 35 14
2013–14 27 10 3 0 3 0 3 1 36 11
2014–15 South African Premier Division 24 7 0 0 2 1 1 0 27 8
2015–16 26 2 1 0 3 0 4 2 34 4
2016–17 24 5 2 0 1 0 1 0 28 5
2017–18 24 4 4 1 3 1 1 0 32 6
2018–19 26 2 5 1 3 0 3 0 37 3
2019–20 27 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 32 0
2020–21 25 0 1 0 0 0 13 1 3 0 42 1
2021–22 24 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 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

International Appearances and Goals

Appearances and goals by national team and year
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
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 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

Bernard Parker's Awards and Honours

FC Twente

  • Eredivisie: 2009–10 (Dutch League Champions)
  • Johan Cruijff Schaal: 2010 (Dutch Super Cup)

Kaizer Chiefs

  • Premier Soccer League: 2012–13, 2014–15 (South African League Champions)
  • Nedbank Cup: 2012–13 (South African Knockout Cup)
  • MTN 8: 2015 (South African Top 8 Cup)

Individual Awards

  • Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot: 2013–14 (Top Goal Scorer in South African League)
  • African Nations Championship Golden Boot: 2014 (Top Goal Scorer in African Nations Championship)

See also

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