Israeli Coaches in Cyprus: A Look at Past Successes and Failures
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Barak Yitzhaki has been appointed head coach of struggling Cypriot club Anorthosis, seeking to advance his international coaching career. An examination of past Israeli coaches in Cyprus, including Yossi Mizrahi, Eli Guttman, Nir Klinger, Roni Levy, and Ran Ben Shimon, reveals mixed results. While some, like Guttman and Ben Shimon, saw career boosts, others experienced neutral or limited career impact. The trend shows frequent coaching dismissals in Cyprus and many coaches using the league as a career reset, a different scenario for the currently successful Yitzhaki.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Barak Yitzhaki appointed coach of struggling Cypriot club Anorthosis.
- Past Israeli coaches in Cyprus show mixed career impacts.
- Eli Guttman's Cypriot stint preceded national team coaching.
- Ran Ben Shimon coached the Cypriot national team after success in Cyprus.
- Coaches in Cyprus often face job instability and quick dismissals.
- Yitzhaki moves to Cyprus from a position of recent success in Israel.
Former successful Israeli coach Barak Yitzhaki has taken on a new role as the head coach of Anorthosis, a team currently struggling at the bottom of the Cypriot league. This move marks Yitzhaki's departure from Israel, following his successful two-year tenure with Beitar Jerusalem, with the aim of advancing his career internationally.
The article examines the history of Israeli coaches in Cyprus to gauge Yitzhaki's prospects. Yossi Mizrahi coached Apollon Limassol in 2007, achieving a moderate record before returning to Israel to help MS Ashdod avoid relegation. His Cypriot stint is described as a neutral stop in his career.
Eli Guttman had a more impactful experience. After facing difficulties in Israel, he coached Paralimni and then AEK Limassol, eventually returning to Israel to coach Hapoel Tel Aviv, leading them to a league and cup double and Champions League qualification. Cyprus served as a significant career relaunch for Guttman, paving the way for his eventual coaching of the Israeli national team.
Nir Klinger spent four years in Cyprus between 2006 and 2010, coaching five different teams including Paralimni and AEK Larnaca. This period followed a career downturn after his dismissal from Maccabi Tel Aviv. Despite the extended stay, the article suggests his Cypriot experience did not significantly elevate his standing in Israeli football.
Roni Levy had two stints with Anorthosis, Yitzhaki's current club. While his first tenure saw him improve the team from the bottom to fourth place, and his second ended with the team in sixth and third place respectively, his career trajectory in Israel was not demonstrably affected by these roles.
Ran Ben Shimon's experience is highlighted as potentially the most successful. He coached AEK Larnaca to fourth place in 2012, later taking the helm of the Cypriot national team. He also had a recent spell with AEK Larnaca, finishing third, before returning to coach the Israeli national team. However, the article notes that his overall success in Cyprus and its impact on his standing in Israel are debatable.
Overall, the historical data suggests that Israeli coaches in Cyprus often face job instability, with many being dismissed quickly if they don't achieve immediate results. Many also move to Cyprus during career lulls. Yitzhaki, however, is entering this challenge from a position of success, making his gamble in Cyprus a significant career decision.
Mentioned
