CURRICULUM VITAE
SURNAME:
IGESUND
FIRST NAME:
GORDON GEORGE
DATE OF BIRTH:
22.07.1956
NATIONALITY:
SOUTH AFRICAN
LANGUAGES:
ENGLISH (Written & Spoken = Perfect)
GERMAN (Spoken = Good)
HEALTH:
EXCELLENT
QUALIFICATIONS:
LEVEL II COACHING CERTIFICATE
(UEFA A LICENCE)
SPORTS SCIENCE COACHING
CERTIFICATE
PLAYING HISTORY
From the age of 16 (1972), Gordon has practiced his trade consistently at the highest
level of the paid ranks, both in South Africa and in Europe.
Gordon has played for all of the top clubs in South Africa. He also played with the
English clubs West Ham and Crystal Palace.
The pinnacle of Gordon’s playing career was the receipt of a five-year contract with
leading Austrian Bundisliga club, Amira Wacker. During this time, Gordon was
regarded as the top foreigner player in the league and was selected for the foreign All
Stars to play against the Austrians.
Gordon also played in the UEFA Cup competitions and in 1982 won the Inter Toto Cup
competition with Amira Wacker in Israel.
COACHING HISTORY
Gordon started his coaching career in 1986; he was one of the first player/coaches in the
history of South African professional Football.
He has won six professional league championships. Gordon won the league
championship in 1992 with D’Aberton Callies and in 1994 he won the league
championship with African Wanderers. In 1996/7 he won the Premier Soccer league
with Manning Rangers. All three of these clubs were considered unfashionable and were
relegation candidates when Gordon took over.
In 2000/1 he won the Premier league championship again, this time with the Orlando
Pirates. Orlando Pirates under Gordon went on to win the BP Top 8 and were runners up
in the Rothmans Cup Final in the same season. Prior to Gordon joining Orlando Pirates,
they had not won any silverware for many years.
In 2001/2 he won the league championship with Santos FC, another so called small team,
and also reached the semi-final of the Coca Cola cup.
In 2002/3 Gordon took over Ajax Cape Town. In his first year as coach of this young and
relatively inexperienced side, he fought a relegation battle but took the team to the ABSA
Cup final.
In 2003/4 he finished second in the league, having qualified for the African Champions
League and reached the quarterfinals.
COACHING HISTORY CONTINUED
In 2004/5 he took the young Ajax team to sixth position in the league and reached the
semi-final of the Coca Cola Cup.
2005/6 Ajax finished 10th in the League.
2006/7 he won the league championship with Mamelodi Sundowns
2007/8 he won the SAA Super 8.
Gordon has won the coach of the year award three times. In 2004 he received the
prestigious Coach of the Decade award.
In 1998 Gordon was offered the position of caretaker coach of the South African National
team for the African Cup of Nations final in Burkino Faso, he turned it down as he was
not interested in a short term contract. Gordon was also approached to form part of the
technical staff for the South African World cup campaign in the same year.
In 2002 Gordon was asked to be the technical advisor to National team Coach Jomo
Sono.
2008 – 2009
: Maritzburg United FC (SA Premier League)
2006 – 2008
: Mamelodi Sundowns (SA Premier League)
2002 - 2006
: Ajax Cape Town (SA Premier League)
2001 – 2002
: Santos (SA Premier League)
2000 – 2001
: Orlando Pirates (SA Premier League)
1996 – 2000
: Manning Rangers (SA Premier League)
1994 – 1996
: African Wanderers (PSL)
1992 – 1993
: D’Aberton Callies (PSL)
1991
: Amazulu (PSL – player/coach)
1988 – 1990
: Durban Bushbucks (PSL – player/coach)
1986 – 1987
: Witbank Aces (PSL – player/coach)
COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS
2007/8
: SAA Super 8 Cup winners
Telkom Knockout Cup Final (Lost on penalties)
2006/7
: Won League Championship with Mamelodi Sundowns FC (Premier
League)
ABSA Cup Final
SAA Super 8 Cup Final
2005/6
: Absa Cup Semi Final
Reached quarter finals of Champions League
2004/5
: Finished 2nd in the league (Behind Kaizer Chiefs)
Qualified for Champions League
2004
: Coach of the Decade
2002/3
: Absa Cup final
2001/2
: Won League Championship with Santos FC (Premier League)
Champion of Champions Cup Final Winners (Cape Regional trophy)
Semi-final Coca Cola Cup.
2000/1
: Won League Championship with Orlando Pirates FC
(PremierLeague)
Won BP Top 8 Cup Final
Reached the Rothmans Cup Final
1998
: Turned down offer to lead South Africa at the African
Cup of Nations due to caretaker role
1998
: One game away from Champions League final (finished
runners up to Group winners Raja Casablanca on goal
average)
1998/9
: Finished 3rd in League
1997/8
: Rothmans Cup Semi-finalists
1996/1997
: Won League Championship Manning Rangers FC (Premier League)
His team remained in the top 5 for the next three years
COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS CONTINUED
1995
: Won the South African Football Association InterProvincial tournament
1994
: Won the League Championship with African Wanderers
(1st Division)
: Won his first League Championship with D’Aberton
Callies (1st Division)
1992
References:
Rod McDonald (Professional football coach - Holland):
“Gordon is the master at the percentage game. He will always get a team fighting for the
championship . Gordon’s a fantastic motivator, he’d be a big hit in England as a coach.”
Sean Dundee (International Bundesliga player – Karlsruhe (Germany) :
“Gordon should be the man to take South Africa to the World Cup 2010. The first thing
the team needs is a good coach, that is the main thing. Gordon should be there. He’s a lot
more intelligent about the football game than a lot of people give him credit for. He
should be coaching a team in Europe”
Afzal Khan (Ex Manager – Manning Rangers, Santos):
“Having been the CEO and general manager of two of the clubs of which Gordon has
won championships, I have first hand knowledge of his tactical mastery. Gordon’s
preparation of the team was second to none in terms of psychology and technical
knowledge. His ability to study the opposition, motivate the players and change the game
plan at the stroke of a finger, all tell of Gordon’s football genius.”
Goolam Allie (CEO of Santos):
“Gordon has achieved what no other has achieved and this is not done through luck, it is
done through ability. He knows how to win matches, he knows how to win trophies and
he is a man who can see a mission to its victory. Gordon has the metal to go somewhere.
He has the ability to develop strong relationships with his player and knows exactly how
to get the very best out of them.”
Phil Setshedi (General Manager – Orlando Pirates):
“Gordon is very talented and disciplined. He is a dedicated and hardworking coach who
has the skill to read a game and remain flexible. He is the only coach who has managed
to win four Premier league championships with four different teams. This is a sign of an
excellent coach.”
Peter Du Toit (Editor of Soccer-Laduma, Ex-professional Football player):
“Gordon has excellent media skills, which is essential in today’s game. From a coaching
aspect, his record speaks for itself. In our interviews with player within the PSL, virtually
to a man, they all speak incredibly highly of his abilities as a coach. From a personal
point of view, Gordon displays all the qualities of a winner whilst always remaining a
gentleman.