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Clive Barker

1944 – 2023

South African football manager

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About Clive Barker

Lived 1944 – 2023 (aged 78). Clive Barker was a South African association football player, association football coach, athlete and coach.

Clive William Barker (23 June 1944 – 10 June 2023) was a South African football coach. He guided the South Africa national team to their only Africa Cup of Nations title in 1996. He was uncle of Steve Barker.

Playing career Barker was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. He became a professional footballer in the 1960s, playing for Durban City and Durban United having made his debut at the age of 17. He had a trial with Leicester City, but a serious knee injury quickly ended his career.

Managerial career "The Dog", as he is nicknamed, became a manager in the 1970s, coaching numerous clubs in South Africa, including Durban City, Manning Rangers, AmaZulu (Zulu Royals) and Santos Cape Town.

During his club career he won two league championships and two league cups. He was one of the first white managers of a black team in the South African league. He took the South Africa national team to their only Africa Cup of Nations title in 1996, with a 2–0 victory in the final against Tunisia. Under his guidance South Africa qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, their first World Cup.

Barker was a local television commentator during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Barker was appointed manager of Bidvest Wits in January 2013.

Personal life and death Barker's son, John Barker, is a South African filmmaker. Barker's nephew Steve Barker followed in Clive's footsteps as a soccer manager.

Barker was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2023.

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Important facts

People in Clive Barker's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Clive Barker's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Clive Barker?

South African football manager (1944–2023)

When was Clive Barker born?

Clive Barker was born on 23 July 1944 in Durban.

When did Clive Barker die?

Clive Barker died on 10 June 2023 in Durban.

What was Clive Barker's occupation?

Clive Barker was an association football player, association football coach, athlete and coach.

What nationality was Clive Barker?

Clive Barker was South African.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Clive Barker

· Wikidata: Q3680861

· DBpedia: Clive Barker (soccer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Clive Barker. https://biography.guide/clive-barker-association-football-player/

MLA: "Clive Barker." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/clive-barker-association-football-player/.

Chicago: "Clive Barker." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/clive-barker-association-football-player/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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