Martin Pringle
Encyclopedia
Martin Pringle is a former Swedish
professional footballer and current football manager who played as a centre forward between 1991 and 2002 notably for Benfica and Charlton Athletic
, having also featured for Stenungsunds IF
, Helsingborgs
and Grimsby Town
. Pringle is currently assistant manager
of FC Copenhagen.
, Pringle did not play top flight football until well into his 20s, when he joined Helsingborgs IF
. After consistent performances, he caught the eye of Portugal
's S.L. Benfica, which signed him in August 1996.
However, Pringle's chances at the Lisbon
club were very limited, and he chalked up just over 40 league
appearances. In March 1999, following a two-month loan, he signed permanently for Premier League outfit Charlton Athletic
, for a fee of £
800,000. In his first season, he was unable to help the club avoid relegation.
Pringle remained a prominent force in the Addicks strike force, benefiting with more appearances due to an injury sustained by fellow forward Clive Mendonca
. He helped the club climb straight back up into the top level at its first attempt, but found himself sidelined for a whole year, due to injury troubles. On his return to fitness, he was loaned out to Grimsby Town
, along with Andy Todd, in February 2002.
In just his second game for Grimsby, with the score 3–1 in their favour against Stockport County
, defender
Dave Challinor
went in for a challenge on Pringle, which would break one of his legs in two places. He was rushed immediately to the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital
in Grimsby
.
Despite his injury, Pringle was subsequently given a squad number by Charlton, and was registered for the club for the 2002–03 season. On 4 November 2002, however, he was forced to retire from professional football.
in the Swedish Women's League
. In 2008, he returned to the men's game, assisting at Örgryte IS
.
In December 2009, Pringle was named Västra Frölunda IF
manager.
As of July 11 2011, Pringle was named assistant manager
of Roland Nilsson
in FC Copenhagen alongside other assistant Johan Lange.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
professional footballer and current football manager who played as a centre forward between 1991 and 2002 notably for Benfica and Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, having also featured for Stenungsunds IF
Stenungsunds IF
Stenungsunds IF is a Swedish football club located in Stenungsund. -Background:Stenungsunds IF currently plays in Division 4 Bohuslän/Dalsland which is the sixth tier of Swedish football. They play their home matches at the Nösnäsvallen in Stenungsund....
, Helsingborgs
Helsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF , commonly referred to as Helsingborg and locally HIF, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
and Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. Pringle is currently assistant manager
Assistant Manager
An assistant manager is an employee of an organization with manager's authority. Examples of this position can be found in retail and other service businesses where the need to have more than one member of daily operations management is important....
of FC Copenhagen.
Playing career
Born in GothenburgGothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Pringle did not play top flight football until well into his 20s, when he joined Helsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF , commonly referred to as Helsingborg and locally HIF, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
. After consistent performances, he caught the eye of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
's S.L. Benfica, which signed him in August 1996.
However, Pringle's chances at the Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
club were very limited, and he chalked up just over 40 league
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
appearances. In March 1999, following a two-month loan, he signed permanently for Premier League outfit Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, for a fee of £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
800,000. In his first season, he was unable to help the club avoid relegation.
Pringle remained a prominent force in the Addicks strike force, benefiting with more appearances due to an injury sustained by fellow forward Clive Mendonca
Clive Mendonca
Clive Paul Mendonca is an English former professional footballer, who played as a striker between 1986 and 2002 notably for Grimsby Town and Charlton Athletic...
. He helped the club climb straight back up into the top level at its first attempt, but found himself sidelined for a whole year, due to injury troubles. On his return to fitness, he was loaned out to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, along with Andy Todd, in February 2002.
In just his second game for Grimsby, with the score 3–1 in their favour against Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Dave Challinor
Dave Challinor
David Paul "Dave" Challinor is an English former footballer who is currently the manager of AFC Fylde. He played in the Football League as a professional from 1994 until 2008 with Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County and Bury....
went in for a challenge on Pringle, which would break one of his legs in two places. He was rushed immediately to the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital
Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital
Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital is situated off Scartho Road, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. It was renamed in the Princess' honour after her death because she had opened it a decade before on 26 July 1983....
in Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
.
Despite his injury, Pringle was subsequently given a squad number by Charlton, and was registered for the club for the 2002–03 season. On 4 November 2002, however, he was forced to retire from professional football.
Management career
Pringle then took up coaching, his first head coach spell being with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FCKopparbergs/Göteborg FC
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC is a football club from Gothenburg, Sweden. The club was established in 1970 under the name Landvetters IF. In 2004 the team moved from Landvetter, a Gothenburg suburb, into Gothenburg city and changed its name accordingly...
in the Swedish Women's League
Damallsvenskan
The Damallsvenskan, Swedish for ladies' all-Swedish, is the highest division of women's football in Sweden. It is also referred as to the women's Allsvenskan, this term being used alone to refer to the men's division....
. In 2008, he returned to the men's game, assisting at Örgryte IS
Örgryte IS
Örgryte IS, also commonly referred to as ÖIS, is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg.-History:The club was founded on 4 December 1887 and participated in the first football match in Sweden on 22 May 1892. Örgryte IS has won 12 national championship titles and one national cup title. After...
.
In December 2009, Pringle was named Västra Frölunda IF
Västra Frölunda IF
Västra Frölunda Idrottsförening is a Swedish football club located in Gothenburg. The club, formed January 1930, is most known for its ability to produce talented youths...
manager.
As of July 11 2011, Pringle was named assistant manager
Assistant Manager
An assistant manager is an employee of an organization with manager's authority. Examples of this position can be found in retail and other service businesses where the need to have more than one member of daily operations management is important....
of Roland Nilsson
Roland Nilsson
Roland Nilsson is a Swedish football manager and the current manager of FC Copenhagen. As a player, Nilsson played 116 games for Sweden, making him second only to Thomas Ravelli in international appearances for Sweden...
in FC Copenhagen alongside other assistant Johan Lange.