# Martin Pringle

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Martin_Pringle
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Martin_Pringle.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Pringle
> Source revision: 1330387103
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

For the New Zealand cricketer, see [Martin Pringle (cricketer)](/source/Martin_Pringle_(cricketer)).

**Martin Ulf Pringle** (born 18 November 1970) is a Swedish former professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who played as a [centre forward](/source/Centre_forward), and the current manager of [Varbergs BoIS](/source/Varbergs_BoIS).[1][2]

As a player, he played from 1991 until his career was cut short by injury in 2002. Having started his career with [Stenungsund](/source/Stenungsunds_IF) he soon moved on to [Helsingborgs IF](/source/Helsingborgs_IF) before a switch to Portugal in 1996 with [Benfica](/source/S.L._Benfica). In 1999, he moved to England with [Charlton Athletic](/source/Charlton_Athletic_F.C.). Having suffered a horrific injury at Athletic that sidelined him for up to a year he returned in 2002 in a loan spell with [Grimsby Town](/source/Grimsby_Town_F.C.) but was forced to retire in his second game for the club following a leg breaking tackle that ended his professional football career.

Pringle has since subsequently forged a career in coaching, notably in [women's football](/source/Women's_association_football).

## Club career

### Early career and Benfica

Born in [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg) of [Jamaican](/source/Jamaicans) descent, Pringle did not play top flight football until well into his 20s, when he joined [Helsingborgs IF](/source/Helsingborgs_IF). After consistent performances, he caught the eye of [Portugal](/source/Portugal)'s [S.L. Benfica](/source/S.L._Benfica), which signed him in August 1996.

However, Pringle's chances at the [Lisbon](/source/Lisbon) club were very limited, and he amassed just over 40 [league](/source/Primeira_Liga) appearances in nearly three full seasons.[3] His best individual campaign was [his first](/source/1996%E2%80%9397_Primeira_Liga), as he started in 11 of his 15 matches and scored three times with Benfica eventually ranking third.[4]

### Charlton Athletic

In January 1999, Pringle signed for [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) outfit [Charlton Athletic](/source/Charlton_Athletic_F.C.) on a two-month loan from Benfica.[5] Under the stewardship of [Alan Curbishley](/source/Alan_Curbishley), the club was embroiled in a relegation battle and had added Pringle to bolster the club's attacking ranks which included the likes of [Clive Mendonca](/source/Clive_Mendonca), [Andy Hunt](/source/Andy_Hunt_(footballer)), [Kevin Lisbie](/source/Kevin_Lisbie) and [Bradley Allen](/source/Bradley_Allen). He was handed his debut on 9 January 1999 in the club's 1–3 away defeat against [Southampton](/source/Southampton_F.C.) when he [replaced](/source/Substitute_(association_football)) [Steve Jones](/source/Steve_Jones_(footballer_born_March_1970)) in the 71st minute.

In his second game for Charlton, Pringle scored a dramatic [90th minute](/source/Last-minute_goal) equaliser against [Newcastle United](/source/Newcastle_United_F.C.) in a 2–2 draw at [The Valley](/source/The_Valley_(London)). In March 1999, following his two-month loan at the club, he signed permanently for a fee of [£](/source/Pound_sterling)800,000 but, ultimately was unable to help the Addicks avoid [relegation](/source/1998%E2%80%9399_FA_Premier_League), finishing the season with three goals in 18 games.

During the [1999–2000 season](/source/1999%E2%80%932000_in_English_football), Pringle and Charlton were eventual winners of the [First Division](/source/EFL_Championship) and earned an automatic return to the top flight. He remained a favoured forward in the team's strike force, scoring another Premier League goal against [Chelsea](/source/Chelsea_F.C.) in a 2–0 win on 18 November 2000, but spent the entire [following campaign](/source/2000%E2%80%9301_FA_Premier_League) on the sidelines due to injury.[6]

#### Loan to Grimsby Town

On his return to fitness, Pringle was loaned out to First Division outfit [Grimsby Town](/source/Grimsby_Town_F.C.), along with Charlton teammate [Andy Todd](/source/Andy_Todd_(footballer_born_1974)), in February 2002.[7][8] He made his debut for his new team in a 0–0 away draw with [Nottingham Forest](/source/Nottingham_Forest_F.C.) on 23 February 2002. In his second game for the Mariners, with the score 3–1 in their favour against [Stockport County](/source/Stockport_County_F.C.), opposition [defender](/source/Defender_(association_football)) [Dave Challinor](/source/Dave_Challinor) went in for a challenge on Pringle, which would break one of his legs in two places.[9] He was rushed immediately to the [Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital](/source/Diana,_Princess_of_Wales_Hospital) in [Grimsby](/source/Grimsby).[10]

#### Retirement

Despite his injury, Pringle was subsequently given the opportunity to stay at Charlton[11] and was given a squad number and registered for the club for the [2002–03 season](/source/2002%E2%80%9303_FA_Premier_League). On 4 November 2002, however, he was forced to retire from professional football.

## International career

Pringle was [capped](/source/Cap_(sport)) twice by [Sweden](/source/Sweden_men's_national_football_team) during one year, his debut coming in 1995.

## Managerial career

Pringle then took up coaching, his first head coach spell being with [Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC](/source/Kopparbergs/G%C3%B6teborg_FC) in the [Swedish Women's League](/source/Damallsvenskan). In 2008, he returned to the men's game, assisting at [Örgryte IS](/source/%C3%96rgryte_IS).

In December 2009, Pringle was named [Västra Frölunda IF](/source/V%C3%A4stra_Fr%C3%B6lunda_IF) manager.[12] On 11 July 2011, he and Johan Lange joined [Roland Nilsson](/source/Roland_Nilsson)'s coaching staff at [FC Copenhagen](/source/FC_Copenhagen).[13] In 2014 he returned to Sweden, first to assist [Ängelholms FF](/source/%C3%84ngelholms_FF) and then to manage [Eskilsminne IF](/source/Eskilsminne_IF).[citation needed] In December 2019 he started as director of sports in then-newly promoted [Allsvenskan](/source/Allsvenskan) club [Varbergs BoIS](/source/Varbergs_BoIS).[14]

## Career statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year[15] National team Year Apps Goals Sweden 1995 1 0 1996 1 1 Total 2 1

- *Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pringle goal*.

List of international goals scored by Martin Pringle No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref. 1 22 January 1996 Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong Japan 1–1 1–1 (a.e.t.) 1996 Lunar New Year Cup [16]

## References

1. [Martin Pringle: «Antes de ir para o Benfica fui ‘Navy Seal’»](https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/destino-90s/destinos/martin-pringle-antes-de-ir-para-o-benfica-fui-navy-seal) maisfutebol.iol.pt

1. ["Pressrelease – Martin Pringle ny tränare för Eskilsminnes herrlag"](http://www.eskils.nu/nyheter/?ID=18274&NID=114654). 14 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.

1. Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). *Almanaque do Benfica*. Portugal: Lua de Papel. pp. 555–562–570. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.

1. Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). *Almanaque do Benfica*. Portugal: Lua de Papel. p. 555. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.

1. [Charlton run into a spot of trouble on brink of the snake pit](https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/apr/19/match.sport1); [The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian), 19 April 1999

1. [Arsenal v Charlton preview](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/896341.stm); [BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport), 25 August 2000

1. ["Pringle heads to Grimsby"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160616022750/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=eng/news/newsid=17910.html). UEFA. 21 February 2002. Archived from [the original](http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=eng/news/newsid=17910.html) on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.

1. [Addick duo joins Grimsby](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/grimsby_town/1833849.stm); BBC Sport, 21 February 2002

1. ["Pringle contract boost"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/1991461.stm). BBC Sport. 16 May 2002. Retrieved 9 May 2007.

1. [Grimsby 3–1 Stockport](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1837441.stm); BBC Sport, 26 February 2002

1. [Pringle contract boost](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/1991461.stm); BBC Sport, 16 May 2002

1. [Martin Pringle ny huvudtränare i Västra Frölunda](http://www.ois.se/default.aspx?sID=3&tID=3&oID=4664) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928062303/http://www.ois.se/default.aspx?sID=3) 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine (in Swedish)

1. [F.C. København fuldender trænerstaben](http://www.fck.dk/nyhedsvisning/?newsid=11541) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110714054014/http://fck.dk/nyhedsvisning/?newsid=11541) 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish)

1. Flodmark, Ossian (26 November 2019). ["Martin Pringle ny sportchef i Varberg – värvar direkt"](https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/aw0Oya/martin-pringle-ny-sportchef-i-varberg-varvar-direkt) (in Swedish). *Aftonbladet*. Retrieved 12 November 2021.

1. ["Martin Pringle – Spelarstatistik – Svensk fotboll"](https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/martin-pringle/4bd0a3ef-9e3f-4d9c-b845-62fd0653322f/) (in Swedish). *svenskfotboll.se.*. Retrieved 2021-07-07.

1. ["Japan – Sverige – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll"](https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/japan-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1569520/) (in Swedish). *svenskfotboll.se*. Retrieved 2021-07-07.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Martin Pringle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Pringle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Pringle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.