Barak Itzhaki Takes Over as Anorthosis Famagusta Coach in Cyprus

Former Israeli player and coach Barak Itzhaki has been appointed as the new coach of Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta. Itzhaki, who previously coached Beitar Jerusalem, was approached by his agent Dudu Dahan while on vacation in Madrid with an offer from the Cypriot team. Anorthosis was impressed by his successful tenure at Beitar Jerusalem, where he led the team from the bottom of the league to a championship contention.

Itzhaki's move to Cyprus is seen as a significant step in his coaching career, with the club reportedly offering him a two-year contract worth 40,000 euros net per month, making him one of the highest-paid Israeli coaches. This salary surpasses that of Maccabi Tel Aviv's current coach, Kenny Miller. Itzhaki had previously served in a senior football management role at Maccabi Tel Aviv, a position considered a dream job, but the club preferred a foreign coach for the head coaching position.

The article also draws parallels to other Israeli coaches who have managed in Cyprus, with Itzhaki being the eighth Israeli to take on a coaching role there. His previous experience playing in Cyprus for Anorthosis Famagusta in 2012, where he scored 13 goals, is recalled fondly by fans. Itzhaki had prepared a work presentation for potential overseas coaching opportunities, with interest also noted from Bulgarian club Ludogorets.

His appointment is expected to bring relief to coaches of top Israeli teams, as Itzhaki will not be available to take over struggling Israeli clubs. The article suggests that Itzhaki's success in Cyprus could open many doors for him in both Israel and abroad, while acknowledging the challenges of managing a team in second-to-last place with transfer restrictions.