Berkovich's Persistent Bid for Israel National Football Coach Role Criticized
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Former Israeli football player Eyal Berkovich has repeatedly declared his ambition to coach the national team for 17 years, despite a history of short-lived and unsuccessful management roles. The article criticizes his self-promotional approach and his views on the national coach position, contrasting it with his past harsh criticisms of other coaches. Berkovich's suitability for the role is questioned due to his limited coaching experience and unconventional methods.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Eyal Berkovich has sought the Israeli national football coach position for 17 years without official offers.
- Berkovich's prior coaching and management roles have been brief and unsuccessful.
- He bypasses traditional channels, using press conferences and media appearances to promote his candidacy.
- Berkovich describes the national team coach role as "pure enjoyment" and less demanding than club management.
- The article questions his suitability, citing his limited experience and past criticism of other coaches.
For 17 years, Eyal Berkovich, a former star player, has repeatedly declared his candidacy to coach the Israeli national football team, despite never being officially approached or offered the position. This recurring ambition, often amplified by media polls, is questioned by the article, which suggests a pattern of self-promotion rather than genuine opportunity.
Berkovich's coaching and management experience since 2006 has been brief and largely unsuccessful. He managed Maccabi Netanya for two months before being fired, resigned from Hapoel Tel Aviv after eight months, left Hapoel Petah Tikva five months after joining as professional director, and departed from Hapoel Ra'anana as a professional advisor after only a few months. In contrast, several coaches, including Luis Fernandez, Eli Guttman, and Andy Herzog, have held the national team position during the years Berkovich has expressed his desire.
The article highlights Berkovich's unconventional approach to seeking the coaching job, bypassing traditional channels like sports journalists and club contacts. Instead, he has held press conferences and appeared on news programs, including interviews with Yair Lapid and Miri Nabo, to announce his suitability for the role, drawing parallels to a political candidacy.
Berkovich's stated reasons for wanting to coach the national team, as opposed to a club, are also scrutinized. He described the national team role as "pure and simple enjoyment" and less demanding than club management, a sentiment the article argues demonstrates a misunderstanding of the position's responsibilities. The author contrasts this with Berkovich's harsh criticism of Andy Herzog's appointment in 2018, suggesting a double standard regarding coaching experience.
The article concludes that while Berkovich was a great player and is an entertaining personality, his persistent self-nomination and perceived lack of understanding of the national team coach's role make him unsuitable. It also touches on Berkovich's current prominent role as a political commentator, noting his strong, partisan stances, and suggests that public opinion in Israel tends to criticize coaches after games, not before they have even started.
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