Collin Benjamin

{{short description|Namibian retired football midfielder|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{BLP sources|date=January 2024}}

{{EngvarB|date=February 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox football biography

| image = Collin Benjamin 1860 2011 2.JPG

| image_size =

| caption = Benjamin at practice with 1860 Munich in 2011

| name = Collin Benjamin

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|8|3}}

| birth_place = Windhoek, South West Africa

| height = 1.82m{{cite web|title=Player Profile|url=http://www.tsv1860.de/teams/profis/spieler/2011-2012/collin-benjamin-91/lebenslauf|publisher=TSV 1860 Munich|accessdate=17 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925043745/http://www.tsv1860.de/teams/profis/spieler/2011-2012/collin-benjamin-91/lebenslauf|archive-date=25 September 2011|url-status=dead}}

| currentclub = Namibia (head coach)

| clubnumber =

| position = Defender

| years1 = 1996–1999

| clubs1 = Civics Windhoek

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1999

| clubs2 = TuS Germania Schnelsen

| caps2 = 9

| goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2000

| clubs3 = FC Elmshorn 1920

| caps3 = 28

| goals3 = 4

| years4 = 2001–2011

| clubs4 = Hamburger SV

| caps4 = 146

| goals4 = 13

| years5 = 2011–2012

| clubs5 = 1860 Munich

| caps5 = 18

| goals5 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1999–2012

| nationalteam1 = Namibia

| nationalcaps1 = 32

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| manageryears1 = 2018–2021

| managerclubs1 = Namibia (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2022–

| managerclubs2 = Namibia

}}

Collin Benjamin (born 3 August 1978) is a Namibian professional football coach and a former player who played as a midfielder. He is the head coach of the Namibia national football team. He spent most of his professional career with Hamburger SV while representing Namibia at international level.{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/collin-benjamin/spieler/bundesliga/2009-10/hamburger-sv | title = Benjamin, Collin | language = German | publisher = Kicker | access-date = 30 October 2010}}

Benjamin represented Namibia at the 2008 African Cup of Nations, earning 32 caps; he captained the team for several years. Benjamin was known for his speed and was mainly used for wing play as a defender.

He was named as the head coach of the Namibia national team in June 2022, succeeding Bobby Samaria.{{cite web | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/113403/read/Benjamin-appointed-Namibia-coach | title=Benjamin appointed Namibia coach | access-date=15 June 2022 | archive-date=11 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311160320/https://www.namibian.com.na/113403/read/Benjamin-appointed-Namibia-coach | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | author=Shina Oludare| title=Collin Benjamin: Ex- Hamburger SV defender named as new Namibia coach | website=Goal.com | date=15 June 2022 | url=https://www.goal.com/en-cm/news/collin-benjamin-ex-hamburger-sv-defender-named-as-new-namibia-coach/blt2a027020885afd5a | access-date=2 January 2024}}

After his 10 years at Hamburg Benjamin ended his playing career in Germany at 1860 Munich, where he then spent time in the club's coaching set-up.

Benjamin, who won 41 caps for Namibia and captained his country, said he was up to the "daunting" challenge of coaching the Brave Warriors - but would require "resources to accomplish the task ahead" of him.

Namibia began their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 1–1 draw against Burundi in neutral Johannesburg earlier in June 2022.

In 2024, Benjamin led Namibia Brave warriors to its first victory record and reaching round of 16 after 26 years in the AFCON 2023 Cup of Nation in the Ivory Coast.{{Cite web |last=Schutz |first=Helge |date=2024-02-01 |title=History makers return home |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/history-makers-return-home/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=The Namibian |language=en-GB}}