Eli Ohana
Encyclopedia
Eli Ohana is a former Israel
i football
player and later a manager
. He is currently the manager of the Israel U21
team. He is considered to be one of the greatest Israel
i players ever.
ma'abara
in Haifa
. He had 7 brothers and two sisters (one of them was from his fathers previous marriage). The family struggled with financial problems.
Despite being good on the field, at school he had problems and his brother Yossi told him he has to choose, football or school. He chose football, despite his fathers resistance. At that time Eli's brother Yossi got married and took Eli to live with him and his wife.
In 1977 Ohana led the youth team of Beitar Jerusalem to a state championship at the youth league.
Ohana stood out for his extremely good talent at finding the back of the net and was quickly promoted to the first team. Beitar then played in the second league, and in his first matches Ohana showed bad games. But after some time, he together with Uri Malmilian
brought the club to the highest league., and eventually to bring the club the first league title and two State Cups
.
By age twenty-three, Ohana had enough with Israeli football and signed with KV Mechelen in Belgium. With the money Beitar gained from the Ohana sale, they bought the Bayit VeGan
pitches used since then for the team practice. After one season, Ohana helped bring the club to one of its greatest achievements ever, winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
. His goal in the semi-final and assist on the game winning goal in the final helped write his name into the history books of Mechelen. Italian magazine, Guerin' Sportivo awarded Ohana with the Bravo Award
which is handed out to the best young player (under 23) playing in European competition in a season. Ohana also took part on the testimonial match to Oleg Blokhin
.
Despite his success in Europe, Ohana returned home to Israel
to resign with Beitar Jerusalem who were then playing in the Liga Artzit (Nationwide League)
. After just one season he helped them return to the Liga Leumit (National League)
and then guided the club to a league title just after being promoted. About five years later Ohana would lead the club to back to back league titles. An injury during the 1997/98 season led Ohana to retire from active football.
in 1983. After a friendly match Israel
lost to Argentina
7–2, Diego Maradona
said there is one great player in Israel
, and this is Eli Ohana.
The most memorable moment of Ohana in the national team was in a crucial FIFA World Cup
Qualifier against Australia in 1989. Australia manager, Frank Arok
apparently had made anti-semitic comments before the game. During the match, Ohana dribbled through two defenders and completely fooled the keeper to give Israel a 1–0 lead. Ohana quickly ran to the Australian manager and kissed the star of David in front of his face forever immortalizing himelf in Israeli football history.
In 1990 Ohana was called to the squad for a game against the Soviet Union national football team. A few hours before the game, Ohana and the two other legioners of the Israel
i team, Ronny Rosenthal
and Shalom Tikva
found out their insurance wasn't settled yet, but it was promised it will be. Minutes before the match, the players found out the case was not settled and refused to go on pitch. All the players were punished, with Ohana receiving the worst punishment, banned from 10 league games and four years from the national team.
In 1995/1996 Ohana had a weak season and at the end of it he decided to quit international football. The Uruguay national football team
was invited to Israel
for Ohana's testimonial match, which Israel
won 3–1 with Ohana scoring the first goal.
In 1996–97 Ohana had an excellent season (he was chosen player of the year at the end of it) and Shlomo Sharf returned him to the team, with Ohana again scoring often for the international team.
. After retiring he was promoted to manager replacing Kashtan
. After leading his childhood club to a sixth place league finish and cup final, he left for Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
but resigned after they were relegated to the Liga Leumit
. After seven matches in charge of Maccabi Petah Tikva in 2001, he was fired and rejoined Bnei Yehuda
, the same club he led to relegation the year before. This time he was able to guide them to a dramatic return to the Israeli Premier League.
The next season he was fortunate to keep the team from being relegated again. Calls came from fans of Beitar Jerusalem to bring Ohana back to the club and that is essentially what happened before the 2003/04 season. There he would stay for three seasons before stepping down as manager after the club was sold to Arcadi Gaydamak
. He would make a return to management with Hapoel Kfar Saba
and save them from relegation, for what he received the title Coach of the Year.
In the end of 2007-08 Israeli Premier League Ohana has been relegated with Hapoel Kfar Saba
to Liga Leumit
although they won the last game of the season.
On June 18, 2008 Ohana was selected to be Israel U19
new manager.
When the coach of the Israel national football team
quit in 2010, Ohana was made the caretaker of the team. With Ohana on the lines, Israel beat Romania 2–0 in a friendly match. That game started rumours Ohana will be the new head coach of the team, but Ohana said in an interview his time is yet to come.
Ohana is known to be private and protective of his family and personal life. When a reporter wrote that Ohana's father fought with someone who insulted Eli, Ohana reportedly responded: "I don't care about the crap you write about me, but leave my family alone".
In December 1991 Ohana married the model Ronit Ben Basat, with whom he has his only child, his son Tom (despite the fact that he himself considers the daughter of Ronit from her previous marriage as his own). In 2004 they decided to live separately without filing for divorce.
Some of his friends are well-known politicians from the Likud
(Benjamin Netanyahu
, Reuven Rivlin
), and he has also attended the Bar Mitzva celebrations of the son of the of the Likud
party leader in Jerusalem.
In 2005, he was voted the 40th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and later a manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He is currently the manager of the Israel U21
Israel national under-21 football team
Israel's national Under-21 team , also known as Israel Under-21s or Israel U-21s, is considered to be the feeder team for the Israel national football team...
team. He is considered to be one of the greatest Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i players ever.
Early life and playing career
Ohana was born in Jerusalem to a Jewish traditional family that moved to Jerusalem from the Wadi SalibWadi Salib
Wadi Salib is a neighbourhood located in the heart of Downtown Haifa, Israel, on the lower northeastern slope of Mount Carmel, between the Hadar HaCarmel and the city's historic center and CBD.-History:...
ma'abara
Ma'abarot
The Ma'abarot were refugee absorption camps in Israel in the 1950s. The Ma'abarot were meant to provide accommodation for the large influx of Jewish refugees and new Olim arriving to the newly independent State of Israel, replacing the less habitable immigrant camps or tent cities...
in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. He had 7 brothers and two sisters (one of them was from his fathers previous marriage). The family struggled with financial problems.
Club career
At the age of eleven, Ohana joined the youth system of Beitar Jerusalem. The one who encouraged him to do that was his brother, Yossi. His father, a traditional Jew, opposed but eventually allowed him on condition he will visit a synagoge before a practice every Saturday.Despite being good on the field, at school he had problems and his brother Yossi told him he has to choose, football or school. He chose football, despite his fathers resistance. At that time Eli's brother Yossi got married and took Eli to live with him and his wife.
In 1977 Ohana led the youth team of Beitar Jerusalem to a state championship at the youth league.
Ohana stood out for his extremely good talent at finding the back of the net and was quickly promoted to the first team. Beitar then played in the second league, and in his first matches Ohana showed bad games. But after some time, he together with Uri Malmilian
Uri Malmilian
Uri Malmilian is an Israeli former football player and current manager.-Early life and playing career:Born in the neighbourhood of Mamilla in Jerusalem, Israel, Malmilian had a memorable playing career in the Liga Leumit at Beitar Jerusalem. He is regarded as one the best Israeli players...
brought the club to the highest league., and eventually to bring the club the first league title and two State Cups
Israel State Cup
The State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
.
By age twenty-three, Ohana had enough with Israeli football and signed with KV Mechelen in Belgium. With the money Beitar gained from the Ohana sale, they bought the Bayit VeGan
Bayit Vegan
Bayit VeGan is a neighborhood in southwest Jerusalem, Israel, with a mostly charedi religious population. Bayit VeGan is located to the east of Mount Herzl and borders the neighborhoods of Kiryat Hayovel and Givat Mordechai. The Shaare Zedek Medical Center is located near Bayit VeGan...
pitches used since then for the team practice. After one season, Ohana helped bring the club to one of its greatest achievements ever, winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
. His goal in the semi-final and assist on the game winning goal in the final helped write his name into the history books of Mechelen. Italian magazine, Guerin' Sportivo awarded Ohana with the Bravo Award
Bravo Award
The Bravo Award is an annual award which is handed out by the Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo to the most outstanding young European footballer. The first winner of the award was English Jimmy Case. Until 1992 only under-23 players participating in one of the three European club cups were eligible...
which is handed out to the best young player (under 23) playing in European competition in a season. Ohana also took part on the testimonial match to Oleg Blokhin
Oleg Blokhin
Oleh Volodymyrovych "Oleg" Blokhin is a Ukrainian football coach and current head coach of the Ukrainian national team. Blokhin was formerly a standout striker for Dynamo Kyiv and the Soviet national team...
.
Despite his success in Europe, Ohana returned home to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
to resign with Beitar Jerusalem who were then playing in the Liga Artzit (Nationwide League)
Liga Artzit
Liga Artzit was the third tier of Israeli football after the Premier League and Liga Leumit, and was run by the Israel Football Association.-Structure:...
. After just one season he helped them return to the Liga Leumit (National League)
Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
and then guided the club to a league title just after being promoted. About five years later Ohana would lead the club to back to back league titles. An injury during the 1997/98 season led Ohana to retire from active football.
International
Ohana was first invited to the Israel national football teamIsrael national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
in 1983. After a friendly match Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
lost to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
7–2, Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
said there is one great player in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and this is Eli Ohana.
The most memorable moment of Ohana in the national team was in a crucial FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
Qualifier against Australia in 1989. Australia manager, Frank Arok
Frank Arok
Ferenc 'Frank' Arok is a retired Serbian football player and coach of Hungarian descent....
apparently had made anti-semitic comments before the game. During the match, Ohana dribbled through two defenders and completely fooled the keeper to give Israel a 1–0 lead. Ohana quickly ran to the Australian manager and kissed the star of David in front of his face forever immortalizing himelf in Israeli football history.
In 1990 Ohana was called to the squad for a game against the Soviet Union national football team. A few hours before the game, Ohana and the two other legioners of the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i team, Ronny Rosenthal
Ronny Rosenthal
Ronny Rosenthal also known by the nickname Rocket Ronny is an Israeli former footballer. After starting his career in the city of his birth with Maccabi Haifa, Rosenthal went on to play in Belgium with Club Brugge and Standard Liège. He moved to Liverpool in 1990 for a fee of £1.1million, becoming...
and Shalom Tikva
Shalom Tikva
Shalom Tikva , is a former Israeli international footballer.-Honours:*Israeli Championship :**1999-00*Israel State Cup :**1999, 2000-References:***...
found out their insurance wasn't settled yet, but it was promised it will be. Minutes before the match, the players found out the case was not settled and refused to go on pitch. All the players were punished, with Ohana receiving the worst punishment, banned from 10 league games and four years from the national team.
In 1995/1996 Ohana had a weak season and at the end of it he decided to quit international football. The Uruguay national football team
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
was invited to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for Ohana's testimonial match, which Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
won 3–1 with Ohana scoring the first goal.
In 1996–97 Ohana had an excellent season (he was chosen player of the year at the end of it) and Shlomo Sharf returned him to the team, with Ohana again scoring often for the international team.
Managerial career
His managerial career started during his last playing season when he acted as an assistant to Dror KashtanDror Kashtan
Dror Kashtan is an Israeli former footballer and current manager. As a player, he represented the Israeli national team three times. As a manager, he took charge of numerous clubs as well as the Israel under-21 team, and, from 2006 to 2010, the senior national team...
. After retiring he was promoted to manager replacing Kashtan
Dror Kashtan
Dror Kashtan is an Israeli former footballer and current manager. As a player, he represented the Israeli national team three times. As a manager, he took charge of numerous clubs as well as the Israel under-21 team, and, from 2006 to 2010, the senior national team...
. After leading his childhood club to a sixth place league finish and cup final, he left for Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. , commonly known as just Bnei Yehuda, is an Israeli football club from the Hatikva Quarter of Tel Aviv. The club is currently a member of the Israeli Premier League and plays its home matches at Bloomfield Stadium.-History:...
but resigned after they were relegated to the Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
. After seven matches in charge of Maccabi Petah Tikva in 2001, he was fired and rejoined Bnei Yehuda
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. , commonly known as just Bnei Yehuda, is an Israeli football club from the Hatikva Quarter of Tel Aviv. The club is currently a member of the Israeli Premier League and plays its home matches at Bloomfield Stadium.-History:...
, the same club he led to relegation the year before. This time he was able to guide them to a dramatic return to the Israeli Premier League.
The next season he was fortunate to keep the team from being relegated again. Calls came from fans of Beitar Jerusalem to bring Ohana back to the club and that is essentially what happened before the 2003/04 season. There he would stay for three seasons before stepping down as manager after the club was sold to Arcadi Gaydamak
Arcadi Gaydamak
Arcadi Aleksandrovich Gaydamak, is a Russian-Israeli businessman, who was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honour. On April 29, 2011 the Court of Appeal in Paris acquitted him of charges of arms dealing...
. He would make a return to management with Hapoel Kfar Saba
Hapoel Kfar Saba
Hapoel Kfar Saba F.C. are an Israeli football club based in Kfar Saba. They are currently in the Israeli Premier League and play at the Levita Stadium.-History:...
and save them from relegation, for what he received the title Coach of the Year.
In the end of 2007-08 Israeli Premier League Ohana has been relegated with Hapoel Kfar Saba
Hapoel Kfar Saba
Hapoel Kfar Saba F.C. are an Israeli football club based in Kfar Saba. They are currently in the Israeli Premier League and play at the Levita Stadium.-History:...
to Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
although they won the last game of the season.
On June 18, 2008 Ohana was selected to be Israel U19
Israel national under-19 football team
Israel's national Under-19 team , also known as Israel Under-19s or Israel U-19s, is considered to be the feeder team for the Israel national under-21 football team....
new manager.
When the coach of the Israel national football team
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
quit in 2010, Ohana was made the caretaker of the team. With Ohana on the lines, Israel beat Romania 2–0 in a friendly match. That game started rumours Ohana will be the new head coach of the team, but Ohana said in an interview his time is yet to come.
Personal life
In 1982 Ohana's girlfriend, Sarit Shwartz, was in a fatal car accident. While spending most of his time with her at the hospital, his play on the pitch began to suffer, leading some to believe his career was coming to an end. Sarit's death drove Ohana into depression and social seclusion. He garnered emotional support from his brother Yossi and Beitar's owner, Moshe Dadash, who had a close relationship with Ohana.Ohana is known to be private and protective of his family and personal life. When a reporter wrote that Ohana's father fought with someone who insulted Eli, Ohana reportedly responded: "I don't care about the crap you write about me, but leave my family alone".
In December 1991 Ohana married the model Ronit Ben Basat, with whom he has his only child, his son Tom (despite the fact that he himself considers the daughter of Ronit from her previous marriage as his own). In 2004 they decided to live separately without filing for divorce.
Some of his friends are well-known politicians from the Likud
Likud
Likud is the major center-right political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had...
(Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
, Reuven Rivlin
Reuven Rivlin
Reuven "Rubi" Rivlin is an Israeli lawyer, politician, currently serving as a speaker of the Knesset. He belongs to conservative Likud. A former Speaker of the Knesset, in 2007 he ran in the election for President as the Likud candidate...
), and he has also attended the Bar Mitzva celebrations of the son of the of the Likud
Likud
Likud is the major center-right political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had...
party leader in Jerusalem.
Beitar Jerusalem
- Israeli Premier League:
- Winner (4): 1986/87Liga Leumit 1986-87The 1986–87 Liga Leumit season saw Beitar Jerusalem win their first title. Maccabi Yavne, Maccabi Jaffa and Beitar Netanya were all relegated to Liga Artzit. Eli Yani of Hapoel Kfar Saba was the league's top scorer with 16 goals.-Final table:-References:* RSSSF...
, 1992/93Liga Leumit 1992-93The 1992–93 Liga Leumit, Israeli national soccer league season ended with Beitar Jerusalem winning the championship after being promoted in the previous season from Liga Artzit.-League standings:-References:* RSSSF...
, 1996/97Liga Leumit 1996-97The 1996–97 Liga Leumit season saw Beitar Jerusalem win their third title. Hapoel Tayibe and Tzafririm Holon were relegated to Liga Artzit. Moti Kakun of Hapoel Petah Tikva was the league's top scorer with 20 goals.-Final table:-References:* RSSSF...
, 1997/98Liga Leumit 1997-98The 1997–98 Liga Leumit season began on 2 August 1997 and ended on 9 May 1998, with Beitar Jerusalem win their second consecutive title.That season had two rounds, each team played the other teams twice...
- Winner (4): 1986/87
- State CupIsrael State CupThe State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
:- Winner (2): 1985, 1986
KV Mechelen
- Belgian First DivisionJupiler LeagueThe Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division...
:- Winner (1): 1988/89Belgian First Division 1988-89-Overview:It was performed in 18 teams, and KV Mechelen won the championship. And demotion of R.W.D. Molenbeek, K.R.C. Genk was decided.-League standings:-Topscorers:...
- Winner (1): 1988/89
- European Cup Winners Cup:
- Winner (1): 19881988 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup FinalThe 1988 European Cup Winners' Cup Final was a football match contested between K.V. Mechelen of Belgium and the defending champions, AFC Ajax of Netherlands. It was the final match of the European Cup Winners' Cup 1987–88 and the 28th European Cup Winners' Cup Final. The final was held at Stade de...
- Winner (1): 1988
- European Super CupEuropean Super CupThe UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
:- Winner (1): 19881988 UEFA Super CupThe 1988 UEFA Super Cup was played between KV Mechelen and PSV Eindhoven, with Mechelen winning 3–1 on aggregate.- First leg:- Second leg:KV Mechelen won 3–1 on aggregate.-External links:* from UEFA* from RSSSF...
- Winner (1): 1988
Individual
- Bravo AwardBravo AwardThe Bravo Award is an annual award which is handed out by the Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo to the most outstanding young European footballer. The first winner of the award was English Jimmy Case. Until 1992 only under-23 players participating in one of the three European club cups were eligible...
:- 1988
- Israeli player of the Year:
- 1984, 1997
- Israeli coach of the year:
- 2007
In 2005, he was voted the 40th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet
Ynet
Ynet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...
to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.
Trivia
- In the youth team of Beitar he played under number 9, in Mechelen under 10, in Beitar Jerusalem under 11.
See also
- List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players