{{Short description|South African soccer player, coach, and manager}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Use South African English|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Eric Tinkler |image = |image_size = |caption = |fullname = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|7|30|df=y}} |birth_place = Roodepoort, South Africa |height = 1.86m<ref name = "NFT"/> |position = Midfielder |currentclub = |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = |years1 = 1990–1991 |clubs1 = Wits University |caps1 = 18 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 1991–1992 |clubs2 = União de Tomar |caps2 = 34 |goals2 = 5 |years3 = 1992–1996 |clubs3 = Vitória |caps3 = 84 |goals3 = 2 |years4 = 1996–1997 |clubs4 = Cagliari |caps4 = 20 |goals4 = 0 |years5 = 1997–2002 |clubs5 = Barnsley |caps5 = 99 |goals5 = 9 |years6 = 2002–2005 |clubs6 = Caldas |caps6 = 54 |goals6 = 15 |years7 = 2005–2007 |clubs7 = Bidvest Wits |caps7 = 29 |goals7 = 3 |totalcaps = 337 |totalgoals = 34 |nationalyears1 = 1994–2002 |nationalteam1 = South Africa |nationalcaps1 = 45 |nationalgoals1 = 1 |manageryears1 = 2013–2016 |managerclubs1 = Orlando Pirates |manageryears2 = 2016–2017 |managerclubs2 = Cape Town City |manageryears3 = 2017–2018 |managerclubs3 = SuperSport United |manageryears4 = 2018 |managerclubs4 = Chippa United |manageryears5 = 2019–2020 |managerclubs5 = Maritzburg United |manageryears6 = 2021–2024 |managerclubs6 = Cape Town City |manageryears7 = 2025–2026 |managerclubs7 = Sekhukhune United }} '''Eric Tinkler''' (born 30 July 1970) is a South African football coach and former player.
==Early and personal life== Tinkler was born in Roodepoort.<ref name = "NFT">{{NFT player|id=6933|access-date=14 January 2019}}</ref>
==Club career== Tinkler played club football for Wits University, União de Tomar, Vitória, Cagliari, Barnsley, Caldas and Bidvest Wits.<ref name = "NFT"/>
Tinkler moved from Italian club Cagliari to English club Barnsley on 1 July 1997 for a transfer fee of £650,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-tinkler-joins-the-barnsley-party-1248611.html|title=Football: Tinkler joins the Barnsley party|date=2 July 1997|access-date=14 January 2019|author=Rupert Metcalf and Alan Nixon|work=The Independent}}</ref>
==International career== Tinkler earned 45 caps for the South African national team between 1994 and 2002, scoring 1 goal.<ref name = "NFT"/> He was part of the South Africa squad that won the 1996 African Cup of Nations, playing in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/62458/bafana-bafanas-1996-african-cup-of-nations-victory-remembered|title=Bafana Bafana's 1996 African Cup of Nations victory remembered|date=3 February 2016|access-date=14 January 2019|publisher=KickOff}}</ref>
==Coaching career== Tinkler became head coach of Orlando Pirates in December 2013; in May 2015, it was announced that he would continue in that role for the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2015/05/18/Tinkler-confirmed-as-Pirates-coach-for-next-season1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122154647/http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2015/05/18/Tinkler-confirmed-as-Pirates-coach-for-next-season1|title=Tinkler confirmed as Pirates coach for next season|date=18 May 2015|archive-date=22 January 2017|access-date=14 January 2019|publisher=Times Live}}</ref> Tinkler left Orlando Pirates to become the first head coach of Cape Town City club on 17 June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supersport.com/football/absa-premiership/news/160617/Tinkler_to_lead_Black_Aces|title=Tinkler to lead Black Aces|date=17 June 2016|access-date=14 January 2019|publisher=SuperSport}}</ref> On 8 June 2017, he became head coach of SuperSport United.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/75965/stan-matthews-backs-eric-tinkler-to-succeed-at-supersport-united|title=Stan Matthews backs Eric Tinkler to succeed at SuperSport United|date=8 June 2017|access-date=14 January 2019|publisher=KickOff}}</ref> He quit in March 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/breaking-eric-tinkler-quits-supersport-united-13567149|title=BREAKING: Eric Tinkler quits SuperSport United|date=2 March 2018|access-date=14 January 2019|author=Ashfak Mohamed|publisher=IOL}}</ref>
After a spell with Chippa United, he became manager of Maritzburg United in January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://us.soccerway.com/coaches/eric-tinkler/230864/|title=South Africa - E. Tinkler - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=us.soccerway.com}}</ref> He left the club in November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/maritzburg-united-part-ways-with-eric-tinkler|title=Maritzburg United part ways with Eric Tinkler|first=Dylan Appolis 23|last=November 2020|website=fourfourtwo.com|date=23 November 2020 }}</ref>
He returned as manager of Cape Town City on 24 May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/cape-town-city-confirm-appointment-of-eric-tinkler/699661|title=Cape Town City confirm appointment of Eric Tinkler|date=24 May 2021|website=Kick Off}}</ref> On 31 December 2024, Tinkler left the club.<ref>https://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/cape-town-city-eric-tinkler-part-ways-by-mutual-consent-46f19ea5-18df-400d-a080-f37fca774020</ref>
He joined Sekhukhune United in March 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sekhukhune United Appoints Eric Tinkler as New Head Coach |url=https://centralnews.co.za/sekhukhune-united-appoints-eric-tinkler-as-new-head-coach/ |access-date=17 April 2026 |website=centralnews.co.za}}</ref> He was voted the August 2025 South African Premiership coach of the month.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 September 2025 |title=Dithejane, Tinkler, Sebelebele bag Betway Prem Monthly Awards |url=https://supersport.com/olympic/news/d338c9ec-8f4f-4fb2-b777-b3b826e24144/dithejane-tinkler-sebelebele-bag-betway-prem-monthly-awards |access-date=30 May 2026 |website=SuperSport |language=en}}</ref> He left the club in April 2026 by mutual consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dube |first=Mthokozisi |date=14 April 2026 |title=What next for Sekhukhune United after Eric Tinkler exit? |url=https://farpost.co.za/2026/04/14/what-next-for-sekhukhune-united-after-eric-tinkler-exit/ |access-date=17 April 2026 |website=FARPost ZA |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6" valign="center"|Barnsley |1997–98<ref>{{soccerbase season|10513|1997|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref> |Premier League |25||2||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|-||29||2 |- |1998–99<ref>{{soccerbase season|10513|1998|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref> |rowspan="4" valign="center"|First Division |25||3||3||0||2||0||colspan="2"|-||30||3 |- |1999–2000<ref>{{soccerbase season|10513|1999|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref> |33||4||1||0||5||0||3||0||42||4 |- |2000–01<ref>{{soccerbase season|10513|2000|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref> |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||0||0 |- |2001–02<ref>{{soccerbase season|10513|2001|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref> |16||0||0||0||1||1||colspan="2"|-||17||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !99!!9!!6!!0!!10!!1!!3!!0!!118!!10 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !99!!9!!6!!0!!10!!1!!3!!0!!118!!10 |}
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !colspan=3|South Africa national team<ref name = "NFT"/> |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |1994||5||0 |- |1995||4||0 |- |1996||11||1 |- |1997||10||0 |- |1998||0||0 |- |1999||2||0 |- |2000||6||0 |- |2001||2||0 |- |2002||5||0 |- !Total||45||1 |}
==Honours== '''Cape Town City''' *Telkom Knockout Final<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://citizen.co.za/phakaaathi/south-africa-soccer-phakaaathi-phakaaathi/1668913/tinklers-achievements-dont-surprise-khoza/|website=citizen.co.za|access-date=11 August 2019|title=Tinkler's achievements don't surprise Khoza|date=27 September 2017}}</ref>
'''Supersport United''' *MTN 8 Cup Final<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2017-10-15-tinkler-says-no-time-to-celebrate-mtn8-success-as-they-turn-attention-to-caf-confed-cup/|title='Winning trophies must become an addiction and a drug for us': Tinkler|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA|access-date=11 August 2019}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *South African Premiership Coach of the Month: August 2025
==References== {{reflist}}
{{South African Premier Division managers}} {{Cape Town City F.C. squad}} {{Navboxes | bg = #F7EB29 | fg = #006400 | bordercolor = #006400 | title = South Africa squads | list1 = {{South Africa Squad 1996 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{South Africa Squad 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup}} {{South Africa Squad 2000 Africa Cup of Nations}} {{South Africa Squad 2002 Africa Cup of Nations}} }} {{Orlando Pirates managers}} {{SuperSport United F.C. managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tinkler, Eric}} Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Roodepoort Category:Soccer players from Gauteng Category:Africa Cup of Nations–winning players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:South African men's soccer players Category:South Africa men's international soccer players Category:South African expatriate men's soccer players Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in England Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in Portugal Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Bidvest Wits F.C. players Category:Cagliari Calcio players Category:Barnsley F.C. players Category:Premier League players Category:Primeira Liga players Category:Serie A players Category:1996 African Cup of Nations players Category:1997 FIFA Confederations Cup players Category:2000 African Cup of Nations players Category:2002 African Cup of Nations players Category:White South African people Category:Caldas S.C. players Category:Orlando Pirates F.C. managers Category:Cape Town City F.C. (2016) managers Category:South African soccer managers Category:SuperSport United F.C. managers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:English Football League players Category:Chippa United F.C. managers
{{SouthAfrica-footy-midfielder-stub}}