Eli Ohana (Hebrew: אלי אוחנה), (born February 1, 1964) is an Israeli football manager and currently the manager of the Hapoel Kfar Saba. Hebrew (עִבְרִית, ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of an athletic team or of individual athletes. ... Hapoel Kfar Saba is an Israeli football club, playing in Kfar Saba. ...

Early life and Playing Career

Born in Jerusalem, Israel, Ohana had a memorable playing career in the Liga Leumit at Beitar Jerusalem. He is largely regarded as the best player ever to grow up and don the uniform of Beitar Jerusalem. Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushalayim; Arabic: al-Quds; Greek Ιεροσόλυμα; Latin Aelia Capitolina) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 meters. ... The Israeli Premier League (League A) ליגת העל has twelve clubs. ... Beitar Jerusalem Football Club (מועדון כדורגל ניתר ירושלים; Moadon Kaduregel Beitar Yerushalayyimalso known as Beitar Hot Yerushalayyim after their sponsors from the Hot cable company): Located in the Malkha complex in Jerusalem is one of the most popular sports franchises in the Middle East, as well as one of... Beitar Jerusalem Football Club (מועדון כדורגל ניתר ירושלים; Moadon Kaduregel Beitar Yerushalayyimalso known as Beitar Hot Yerushalayyim after their sponsors from the Hot cable company): Located in the Malkha complex in Jerusalem is one of the most popular sports franchises in the Middle East, as well as one of...

At the age of eleven(11), Eli joined the youth system of Beitar Jerusalem. From the begining, Ohana stood out for his extremly good talent at finding the back of the net and was quickly promoted to the first team. There he coupled with Uri Malmilian to bring the club one(1) league title and two(2) State Cups. Beitar Jerusalem Football Club (מועדון כדורגל ניתר ירושלים; Moadon Kaduregel Beitar Yerushalayyimalso known as Beitar Hot Yerushalayyim after their sponsors from the Hot cable company): Located in the Malkha complex in Jerusalem is one of the most popular sports franchises in the Middle East, as well as one of... Israeli Cup is the second important tournament in Israeli football after the championship. ...

His talent was realized by the manager of the national team and Eli was soon scoring goals for his country. The most memorable of which was in a crucial FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Ausralia in 1989. Australia manager, Frank Aruck 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^[1]. The FIFA World Cup Trophy, which has been awarded to the world champions since 1974. ... First international New Zealand 3 - 1 Australia (Dunedin, New Zealand; June 17, 1922) Largest win Australia 31 - 0 American Samoa (Coffs Harbour, Australia; April 11, 2001) (World Record) Worst defeat Australia 0 - 8 South Africa (Adelaide, Australia; September 17, 1955) World Cup Appearances 2 (First in 1974) Best result Round... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

By age twenty-three(23), Ohana had enough with Israeli football and signed with KV Mechelen in Belgium. After one season, Ohana helped bring the club to one of its greatest achievments 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. Israeli football is everything related to Association football (soccer) in Israel. ... Y.R. K.V. Mechelen is a Belgian football club from Mechelen in Antwerp province. ... The UEFA Cup Winners Cup was a football club competition between the winners of the European domestic cup competitions. ... The Alma Awards or American Latino Media Arts Awards are distinctions awarded to Latino performers (actors, film and television directors, and musicians) who promote positive portrayals of Hispanics. ...

Despite his relative success in Europe, Ohana returned home to Israel to resign with Beitar Jerusalem who were then playing in the Liga Artzit (Nationwide League)^[2]. 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. World map showing Europe Political map Europe is one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... Beitar Jerusalem Football Club (מועדון כדורגל ניתר ירושלים; Moadon Kaduregel Beitar Yerushalayyimalso known as Beitar Hot Yerushalayyim after their sponsors from the Hot cable company): Located in the Malkha complex in Jerusalem is one of the most popular sports franchises in the Middle East, as well as one of... The Liga Artzit (Hebrew: ליגה ארצית) is the third-highest division overall in the Israeli football league system after Ligat haAl (Premier League) and the Liga Leumit (National League). ... The Liga Leumit (Hebrew:ליגה לאומית) is the second-highest division overall in the Israeli football league system after Ligat haAl. ...

Managerial Career

His managerial career started during his last playing season when he acted as an assistant to Dror Kashtan. 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 Premier League). Dror Kashtan (Hebrew: דרור קשטן), (born October 1, 1944) is an Israeli football manager and currently the manager of the Israeli national football team. ... Dror Kashtan (Hebrew: דרור קשטן), (born October 1, 1944) is an Israeli football manager and currently the manager of the Israeli national football team. ... FC Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv (מועדון כדורגל בני יהודה תל אביב) is the football club from the Hatikvah neighbourhood (Shkhunat Hatikva שכונת התקוה in Hebrew), Tel Avivs most notorious slum. ... The Liga Leumit (Hebrew:ליגה לאומית) is the second-highest division overall in the Israeli football league system after Ligat haAl. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... FC Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv (מועדון כדורגל בני יהודה תל אביב) is the football club from the Hatikvah neighbourhood (Shkhunat Hatikva שכונת התקוה in Hebrew), Tel Avivs most notorious slum. ...

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. Beitar Jerusalem Football Club (מועדון כדורגל ניתר ירושלים; Moadon Kaduregel Beitar Yerushalayyimalso known as Beitar Hot Yerushalayyim after their sponsors from the Hot cable company): Located in the Malkha complex in Jerusalem is one of the most popular sports franchises in the Middle East, as well as one of... Arcadi Gaydamak (also spelled Arkady Gaidamak, Russian: Аркадий Гайдамак) (born 1952 in Moscow, Russia) is a Russian businessman and financier, and member of the wealthy Gaydamak family. ... Hapoel Kfar Saba is an Israeli football club, playing in Kfar Saba. ...

Notes

1. ^ Jews in Sports profile - Eli Ohana
2. ^ Up until 1999, the Liga Artzit was the second tier of Israeli football.