Israeli Liga Bet Club Bnei Eilat Negotiates With Albanian Coach Andy Ribaj

Bnei Eilat, a football club competing in Israel's Liga Bet (fourth tier), is in talks to appoint an Albanian coach, Andy Ribaj, marking a potential first foreign coach in the league's history. The club's legal advisor, Amir Cohen, traveled to Albania on behalf of the club's new professional manager, Kobi Refua, to negotiate Ribaj's signing. Ribaj is a former player in the Albanian top league and previously played in Israel's second division for Maccabi Kiryat Gat, scoring two goals in 29 matches.

Ribaj has also coached in Albania's first league, managing Flamurtari for nine matches, achieving three wins and three draws before the team was relegated. Despite the challenges of recruiting a foreign coach to a lower-tier Israeli league, Cohen expressed commitment to the effort, stating, "I am trying my best to bring Andy, but it is still very far from completion."

If negotiations fail, Bnei Eilat plans to appoint local coach Shabtai Tesel. There are currently unresolved issues with another candidate, Nimrod Kostika, making Ribaj the preferred option. The club aims to elevate its project under Refua's leadership by aiming high in coaching appointments, reflecting an ambitious vision for the team’s future.

This move could represent a significant milestone for Liga Bet, potentially introducing its first foreign coach and signaling a new level of professionalism and ambition within the league.