Former Israeli coach and player Nir Klinger gave an extended interview in which he apologized for the obscene gesture he made toward Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, saying, "the little delinquent in me came out." He reflected on the emotions and mistakes that shaped his career, and on the period after the incident, when he sought psychological treatment and realized he had trouble controlling his anger.
Klinger said that the most decisive stretch of his coaching life came when he moved from Beitar Be'er Sheva to Maccabi Tel Aviv after two years there. He revisited the title-winning season, the rise of B.B. Dego, the broken leg that ended Dego's campaign, and the pressure surrounding the attempt to bring Avi Nimni back. He said about those relations, "they were never the same again."
He also discussed the Champions League campaign, the turbulent season that followed, and the off-field political pressure and protests over Nimni. Klinger recalled the supporters lifting Nimni on their shoulders at the opening training session, and described the period as a turning point in which he understood he had a problem. Looking back, he said he should have retired and gone into hi-tech instead of continuing in football.
Klinger spoke about later stages of his career as well, including spells in Cyprus, return jobs in Israel, and a historic State Cup win with Hapoel Haifa before joining Beitar. He said that at the end of one difficult episode he felt "awful," and answered a long list of questions about what he learned, what he would change, and what advice he would give his younger self.