Brother of Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Eliniv Barda Discusses Career and Family

Yinon Barda, brother of Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Eliniv Barda, discussed his own football career and his brother's success in an interview. Yinon, a former striker, explained that he was not drawn to coaching due to its instability and low pay, opting instead to pursue a career in mortgage and financial consulting, a field he entered even before retiring from playing. He noted he was among the first to offer such services in Israel.

Reflecting on his playing days, Yinon Barda felt he could have achieved more but was hampered by injuries, including plates in both legs. He highlighted that he often chose to play in the National League where he could be a leading player, rather than a supplementary one in the Premier League, and that the salary was often higher, enabling him to help teams achieve promotion multiple times. He admitted that some past decisions were not optimal, citing a period with Hapoel Be'er Sheva during its dissolution as an example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yinon expressed pride in his brother Eliniv's achievements with Hapoel Tel Aviv, noting the significant improvement since Eliniv took over, leading to packed stadiums and strong professional success. He believes Eliniv is building a lasting legacy with the club, similar to his time at Hapoel Be'er Sheva, and hopes they will win titles. He also commented on the evolution of Hapoel Be'er Sheva, from a large club with a small team to a strong entity with a large fanbase.

Regarding Eliniv's departure from Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Yinon did not view it as a failure, stating that partings are natural in football and that Eliniv is happy in his current role. He expressed confidence that Eliniv and Hapoel Be'er Sheva might reunite in the future. On broader topics, Yinon stated he is not involved in politics but hopes for national unity and peace. He attributed the Israeli national team's lack of success to a lack of seriousness and a need for professional development starting from youth levels, contrasting it with practices in Spain.

When asked about influential figures, Yinon cited coach Yossi Mizrahi, and named Blessing Kaku as the best player he played with. His career highlights included playing for the Israeli youth national team and scoring his first goal for Hapoel Be'er Sheva. In a hypothetical match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be'er Sheva, he would support his brother Eliniv.