Eli Ohana
![]() Ohana in 1991 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Eliyahu Ohana | ||
Date of birth | 1 February 1964 | ||
Place of birth | Jerusalem | ||
Position(s) |
attacking midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Beitar Jerusalem (chairman; 2017–2022) | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1980–1987 | Beitar Jerusalem | 172 | (70) |
1987–1990 |
KV Mechelen | 52 | (10) |
1990–1991 | S.C. Braga | 25 | (3) |
1991–1999 | Beitar Jerusalem | 172 | (82) |
International career‡ | |||
1984–1997 | Israel | 51 | (17) |
Managerial career | |||
1999–2000 | Beitar Jerusalem | ||
2000–2001 |
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv | ||
2001 |
Maccabi Petah Tikva | ||
2001–2003 |
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv | ||
2003–2005 | Beitar Jerusalem | ||
2006–2008 |
Hapoel Kfar Saba | ||
2008–2016 | Israel U19 | ||
2010 | Israel (interim) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 July 2006 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 March 2010 |
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Representing ![]() | ||
Association football (soccer)
| ||
Maccabiah Games | ||
![]() |
1981 Maccabiah | Footballer |
Eliyahu "Eli" Ohana (
Early and personal life
Ohana was born and raised in
At age 11, Ohana joined the youth academy of Israeli club of
Although great on the field, Ohana had difficulties at school and his brother Yossi advised him to choose between football and school. Ohana who has chosen football, was then invited to reside along with his brother Yossi and his newlywed wife.[3]
In 1982, Ohana's girlfriend Sarit Schwarz died in a car accident. Her death drove Ohana into depression and social seclusion.[3] In December 1991, he married Israeli model Ronit Ben-Basat, with whom he had a son, Tom. They separated in 2004, without filing for divorce.[citation needed]
Club career
In 1977, Ohana led the youth league team of
In 1986, Ohana joined Australian club Sydney City on a short-term loan, in which he played five matches.[4][5]
At age 23, Ohana signed with
Despite his success in Europe, Ohana returned home to sign again with Beitar, which was then playing in the Liga Artzit (Nationwide League).[6] After one season, Ohana helped them return to the Liga Leumit (National League) and then guided the club to a league title. Five years later, Ohana led the club to back-to-back league titles. After an injury in the 7th game of the 1997/98 season, Ohana did not play any more that season. He played some games in 1998/99 but retired before the end of the season.
In the youth team of Beitar he played under number 9, in Mechelen under 10, in Beitar Jerusalem under 11.[3]
International career
Ohana played for Team Israel at the 1981 Maccabiah Games, winning a bronze medal. He was called up to the Israel national football team in 1983. After a friendly match in which Israel lost to Argentina 7–2, Diego Maradona said there is one great player in Israel, Eli Ohana.[3]
Ohana secured himself a place in Israeli football history when the national team was in a crucial
In 1990 Ohana was called to the squad for a game against the Soviet Union national football team. Minutes before the game began, Ohana and the two other legionnaires of the Israeli team, Ronny Rosenthal and Shalom Tikva, realized that their insurance had not been arranged as promised, and they refused to go onto the pitch. All the players were punished, with Ohana receiving the worst punishment, banned from 10 league games and banned for four years from the national team.[3]
In 1995/1996 Ohana had a weak season and decided to quit international football. The Uruguay national football team was invited to Israel for his 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
Managerial career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/President_Reuven_Rivlin_granting_the_%C2%ABShield_of_Honor%C2%BB_for_the_2016-17_season%2C_August_2017_%284972%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/260px-President_Reuven_Rivlin_granting_the_%C2%ABShield_of_Honor%C2%BB_for_the_2016-17_season%2C_August_2017_%284972%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
His managerial career started during his last playing season, when he served as an assistant to
The next season, he was able to keep the team from being relegated again. Calls came from fans of Beitar Jerusalem to bring Ohana back; he returned before the 2003–2004 season and stayed for three seasons. He stepped down as manager when the club was sold to
At the end of
On 18 June 2008 Ohana was appointed manager for Israel U19.[8]
In 2010, Dror Kashtan, the coach of the Israel national football team quit from his position, and Ohana was made the caretaker. With Ohana on the lines, Israel beat Romania 2–0 in a friendly match.[9] That game started rumours Ohana would become the new head coach, but Ohana said in an interview his time was yet to come.[10]
Political career
Some of his friends are well-known politicians of the
Ahead of the 2015 elections,
Honours
Player
- Beitar Jerusalem[15]
- Israeli championship: 1986–87, 1992–93, 1996–97, 1997–98
- Israel State Cup: 1984–85, 1985–86
- Toto Cup Top Division: 1997–98
- Israel Super Cup: 1986
- KV Mechelen[16]
- Belgian First Division: 1988–89
- (winners)
- European Super Cup: 1988
- Amsterdam Tournament: 1989[17]
- Joan Gamper Trophy: 1989[18]
- Jules Pappaert Cup: 1990[19]
- Individual
- Bravo Award: 1988[20]
- Israeli Footballer of the Year: Israeli player of the Year: 1984, 1997[21]
- Member of the Israeli Football Hall of Fame
Manager
- Israeli Head Coach of the Year: 2007[22]
See also
- List of Jewish footballers
- List of Jews in sports
- List of Israelis
- List of Israel international footballers
- List of Israeli top-flight league players with 100 or more goals
- List of Jews in sports (non-players)
References
- ^ a b "ynet אלי אוחנה. אלוף התדמיות – חדשות ספורט". Ynet.co.il. 20 June 1995. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Sporting Heroes: No. 39 Eli Ohana". The Jerusalem Post. 26 March 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "בית"ר.נט – אתר האוהדים של בית"ר י-ם – אלי אוחנה – "המלך"". Beitar-jerusalem.net. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- A-League. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "The day that Frank Lowy took his ball and went home". The Roar. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
In 1986 Hakoah signed Israeli star Eli Ohana on a short term loan for five matches...
- Israeli football.
- ^ "Jews in Sports profile – Eli Ohana". Jewsinsports.org. 19 May 2003. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "Israel [U19] - Players and coaches from A-Z". worldfootball.net.
- ^ שחרור, יעל (20 June 1995). "ynet אלי אוחנה: "עשינו עבודה הגנתית מושלמת" – חדשות ספורט". Ynet. Ynet.co.il. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ שחרור, יעל (20 June 1995). "ynet אלי אוחנה: "לא הגיע זמני לאמן את הנבחרת" – חדשות ספורט". Ynet. Ynet.co.il. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "ynet הרב עובדיה בירך בסטירות את מועמדי הליכוד – חדשות היום". Ynet.co.il. 20 June 1995. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ בלומנטל, איתי (27 January 2015). "אלי אוחנה: "מצדי שיפנו את כל ההתנחלויות"". ynet.
- ^ Chaim Levinson (29 January 2015). "Soccer star Eli Ohana quits Habayit Hayehudi, amid criticism". Haaretz. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "Bennett Refuses to Let Kalfa Back onto Jewish Home List". Israel National News. 29 January 2015.
- ^ "Football - Beitar Jerusalem (Israël) : palmares, résultats et identité". www.les-sports.info.
- ^ "Ahomepage". Malinwa Statistics. 11 November 2011.
- ^ "Amsterdam Tournament". RSSSF.
- ^ "Joan Gamper Trophy - Uitslagen & Topscoorders".
- ^ "Le Trophée Pappaert". October 2018.
- ^ "The "Bravo" Award". RSSSF.
- ^ "Israel – Player of the Year". RSSSF. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ כדורגל וספורט (22 June 2006). אלי אוחנה / שחקני כדורגל בארץ / כדורגל ישראלי – יש כדורגל בארץ, שחקנים ישראלים מצליחים באירופה, איצטדיונים ברמה עולמית / מאמנים מהארץ – מאמני כדורגל ישראלים – מאמן – ספורט – כדורגל וגם כדורסל, לא נשכח טניס, מרוצי מכוניות, ספורטאים בכירים, אתלטיקה קלה, כוכבי ספורט, ליגת האלופות, מונדיאל, גביעים ביניבשתיים, אולימפיאדה ועוד. Soccer-and-sports.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
External links
- About Eli Ohana from a fan site of Beitar Jerusalem (Hebrew)
- Eli Ohana – Israel Football Association national team player details
- Eli Ohana – Israel Football Association league player details