Elisha Levy
Encyclopedia
Elisha Levy is a former professional football player and is currently manager
of Israel
i side Maccabi Haifa
.
children's club. He continued to play for them through the ranks when in 1974 he started playing with the senior squad. Levy played for Beit She'an for four years in third division
, and another four years in second division
Before he moved to first division
team Maccabi Haifa
.
In 1982-83 Levy played as captain for Maccabi and reached State Cup
semi final. After coach Jack Mansell
left Levy was put on the bench and in the following season he moved to Maccabi Petah Tikva.
After playing for Petah Tikva for four seasons he decided to return to his youth club Hapoel Beit She'an. He played for two season before he retired and was appointed as head coach of the team.
promotion. The following year he made history when Beit She'an was promoted to the Liga Leumit
, then the top division. In season 1995-96 he managed Maccabi Herzliya, but after a bad season opening he was fired. In the following year he was coach of Tzafririm Holon
.
In season 1997-98 He returned for a 2nd term at Hapoel Beit She'an. That season is famous for what was known to be the Shoelaces game, where Hapoel Beit She'an
with Levy as manager, was accused of giving Beitar Jerusalem a win on the final day of the league, consequently Beitar won the title.
Two years later Levy was appointed coach of Ironi Rishon LeZion in 1998-99 and lead the team to 6th place, a record position for the club. He continued to coach Rishon until he was fired at the end of 2000-01 with new owners Lior Shahar arrival. Two weeks later he was announced as the new Hapoel Kfar Saba coach. Kfar Saba were placed last, 7 points from staying in the league. Even after a series of impressive victories Levy could not save Kfar Saba from relegation.
In 2001-02 as manager of F.C. Ashdod
Levy managed to reach 4th place earning the Intertoto spot. That year he reached the final of the Toto Cup
but lost to Hapoel Tel Aviv. He was replaced half season in 2003-04 by Yossi Mizrahi
. He returned to Hapoel Kfar Saba in 2005, then in the second league, and won promotion. Half way in the following season Levy resigned when Kfar Saba were at last place.
In 2006-07 he managed Bnei Sakhnin, earning promotion to the Israeli Premier League. In 2007-08 Levy and Sakhnin reached record 4th place and the right to play in Intertoto Cup 2nd round. On 2 April 2008 it was announced that Levy would be the next Maccabi Haifa
manager. He signed a 1 year contract and replaced former manager Ronny Levy
and won the Israeli championship in 2008/2009 season, a feat repeated two years later.
.
He also have a brother, Elias who also was a football player in Hapoel Beit She'an
that now works a manager. The Levy brothers worked together in Hapoel Beit She'an when Elias worked as Elisha's assistant and also in Maccabi Herzliya
in the mid-90's.
As Coach
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:...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i side Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
.
Player
Levy was born in Jerusalem and in the beginning of the 60s moved with his family to Beit She'an. At the age of 11 he joined Hapoel Beit She'anHapoel Beit She'an F.C.
Hapoel Beit She'an was an Israeli football club based in Beit She'an. The club spent several seasons in the top division in the 1990s, but after several relegations, folded in 2006.-History:...
children's club. He continued to play for them through the ranks when in 1974 he started playing with the senior squad. Levy played for Beit She'an for four years in third division
Liga Alef
-History:League football began in Israel in 1949–50, a year after independence. However, the financial and security crises gripping the young nation caused the 1950–51 season to be abandoned before it had started. When football resumed in 1951–52, the new top division went by the name of Liga Alef...
, and another four years in second division
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:...
Before he moved to first division
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...
team Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
.
In 1982-83 Levy played as captain for Maccabi and reached State Cup
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...
semi final. After coach Jack Mansell
Jack Mansell
Jack Mansell is a former professional footballer who made 274 appearances in the Football League as a fullback for Brighton & Hove Albion, Cardiff City and Portsmouth. After retiring as a player he joined the coaching staff at Sheffield Wednesday. He coached many clubs, such as Boston Beacons and...
left Levy was put on the bench and in the following season he moved to Maccabi Petah Tikva.
After playing for Petah Tikva for four seasons he decided to return to his youth club Hapoel Beit She'an. He played for two season before he retired and was appointed as head coach of the team.
Coach
Levy coached Bet She'an for six years in his first term. In season 1992/93 he won Second divisionLiga 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:...
promotion. The following year he made history when Beit She'an was promoted 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...
, then the top division. In season 1995-96 he managed Maccabi Herzliya, but after a bad season opening he was fired. In the following year he was coach of Tzafririm Holon
Hapoel Tzafririm Holon F.C.
Hapoel Tzafririm Holon F.C. is an Israeli football club based in the city of Holon. The club was founded in 1985 by a merger of Hapoel Holon and Tzafririm Holon.-Hapoel Holon:...
.
In season 1997-98 He returned for a 2nd term at Hapoel Beit She'an. That season is famous for what was known to be the Shoelaces game, where Hapoel Beit She'an
Hapoel Beit She'an F.C.
Hapoel Beit She'an was an Israeli football club based in Beit She'an. The club spent several seasons in the top division in the 1990s, but after several relegations, folded in 2006.-History:...
with Levy as manager, was accused of giving Beitar Jerusalem a win on the final day of the league, consequently Beitar won the title.
Two years later Levy was appointed coach of Ironi Rishon LeZion in 1998-99 and lead the team to 6th place, a record position for the club. He continued to coach Rishon until he was fired at the end of 2000-01 with new owners Lior Shahar arrival. Two weeks later he was announced as the new Hapoel Kfar Saba coach. Kfar Saba were placed last, 7 points from staying in the league. Even after a series of impressive victories Levy could not save Kfar Saba from relegation.
In 2001-02 as manager of F.C. Ashdod
F.C. Ashdod
F.C. Ashdod is an Israeli football club, playing in the port city of Ashdod. The unorthodox name of the team is the result of the union of two city rivals, Hapoel Ashdod and Maccabi Ironi Ashdod...
Levy managed to reach 4th place earning the Intertoto spot. That year he reached the final of the Toto Cup
Toto Cup
The Toto Cup is an association football tournament that exists separately in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Premier League and Liga Leumit....
but lost to Hapoel Tel Aviv. He was replaced half season in 2003-04 by Yossi Mizrahi
Yossi Mizrahi
Yossi Mizrahi is a retired Israeli goalkeeper, and now hes a football coach and current manager of F.C. Ashdod.-Biography:Yosef Mizrahi was born in Jerusalem, Israel on April 4, 1953. He grew up in Katamon and studied at Ma'aleh state religious school. As a teenager, he played on the youth team...
. He returned to Hapoel Kfar Saba in 2005, then in the second league, and won promotion. Half way in the following season Levy resigned when Kfar Saba were at last place.
In 2006-07 he managed Bnei Sakhnin, earning promotion to the Israeli Premier League. In 2007-08 Levy and Sakhnin reached record 4th place and the right to play in Intertoto Cup 2nd round. On 2 April 2008 it was announced that Levy would be the next Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
manager. He signed a 1 year contract and replaced former manager Ronny Levy
Ronny Levy
Ronny Levy is a former Israeli international football player and now works as a manager. Levy was one of the best defensive midfielders in Israeli football while playing, and won championships with both Bnei Yehuda and Maccabi Haifa....
and won the Israeli championship in 2008/2009 season, a feat repeated two years later.
Personal life
Levy is married and a father of two. He lives in Kfar SabaKfar Saba
Kfar Saba , officially Kfar Sava, is a city in the Sharon region, of the Center District of Israel. At the end of 2009, Kfar Saba had a total population of 83,600.-History:...
.
He also have a brother, Elias who also was a football player in Hapoel Beit She'an
Hapoel Beit She'an F.C.
Hapoel Beit She'an was an Israeli football club based in Beit She'an. The club spent several seasons in the top division in the 1990s, but after several relegations, folded in 2006.-History:...
that now works a manager. The Levy brothers worked together in Hapoel Beit She'an when Elias worked as Elisha's assistant and also in Maccabi Herzliya
Maccabi Herzliya
Maccabi Herzliya F.C. is an Israeli football club based in Herzliya. The club is currently in Liga Leumit and plays at the Herzliya Municipal Stadium.-History:...
in the mid-90's.
Honours
As Player- With Hapoel Beit She'anHapoel Beit She'an F.C.Hapoel Beit She'an was an Israeli football club based in Beit She'an. The club spent several seasons in the top division in the 1990s, but after several relegations, folded in 2006.-History:...
:- Liga Alef (3rd League) PromotionLiga Alef-History:League football began in Israel in 1949–50, a year after independence. However, the financial and security crises gripping the young nation caused the 1950–51 season to be abandoned before it had started. When football resumed in 1951–52, the new top division went by the name of Liga Alef...
: 1977/78
- Liga Alef (3rd League) Promotion
As Coach
- With Hapoel Beit She'anHapoel Beit She'an F.C.Hapoel Beit She'an was an Israeli football club based in Beit She'an. The club spent several seasons in the top division in the 1990s, but after several relegations, folded in 2006.-History:...
:- Liga Alef (3rd League) PromotionLiga Alef-History:League football began in Israel in 1949–50, a year after independence. However, the financial and security crises gripping the young nation caused the 1950–51 season to be abandoned before it had started. When football resumed in 1951–52, the new top division went by the name of Liga Alef...
: 1992/93 - Liga Artzit (2nd League) PromotionLiga ArtzitLiga Artzit was the third tier of Israeli football after the Premier League and Liga Leumit, and was run by the Israel Football Association.-Structure:...
: 1993/94
- Liga Alef (3rd League) Promotion
- With F.C. AshdodF.C. AshdodF.C. Ashdod is an Israeli football club, playing in the port city of Ashdod. The unorthodox name of the team is the result of the union of two city rivals, Hapoel Ashdod and Maccabi Ironi Ashdod...
:- Toto Cup Runner up: 2001/02
- With Hapoel Kfar Saba:
- Liga Leumit (2nd League) PromotionLiga LeumitLiga 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...
: 2004/05
- Liga Leumit (2nd League) Promotion
- With Bnei Sakhnin:
- Liga Leumit (2nd League) PromotionLiga LeumitLiga 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...
: 2006/07
- Liga Leumit (2nd League) Promotion
- With Maccabi HaifaMaccabi Haifa F.C.Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
:- Israeli Premier League Champion: 2008–09, 2010–11