Barak Bakhar's Resignation: The Godfather of Israeli Football Departs
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Former Maccabi Haifa coach Barak Bakhar resigned tearfully after a heavy league loss, drawing parallels to Michael Corleone from "The Godfather." Bakhar achieved significant success, winning six championships in six years with Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Maccabi Haifa. His second tenure at Maccabi Haifa was less successful, culminating in his resignation after a series of poor results and a humiliating derby loss.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Barak Bakhar resigned as Maccabi Haifa coach after a significant defeat.
- Bakhar won six championships in six years with Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Maccabi Haifa.
- His career is compared to Michael Corleone's rise in "The Godfather."
- Bakhar's second stint at Maccabi Haifa was marked by struggles and underperformance.
- He admitted to being "pulled back in" to coaching despite wanting out.
Following a significant defeat against Maccabi Netanya in their last league match, former Maccabi Haifa coach Barak Bakhar tearfully announced his resignation from the club. The article draws a parallel between Bakhar's career and the character of Michael Corleone from "The Godfather," suggesting his journey from an initially reluctant assistant to a highly decorated coach mirrors Corleone's rise to power.
Bakhar's coaching career is described in three "acts." The first saw him transition from assisting Ran Ben Shimon to becoming a coach, a path few anticipated. His second act was marked by unprecedented success, winning six championships in six years: three with Hapoel Be'er Sheva after a 40-year drought and three with Maccabi Haifa after a decade of struggles. During this period, he achieved historic victories, including two wins against Inter Milan with Hapoel Be'er Sheva and a win against Juventus with Maccabi Haifa.
The third and "tragic" act focuses on his second tenure at Maccabi Haifa. After an unsuccessful stint at Red Star Belgrade, Bakhar returned to Maccabi Haifa, a club he had previously led to glory. However, unlike his earlier success, this period was plagued by player departures, underperforming replacements, and a general decline in the team's performance. Despite the hope that his return would restore the club's dominance, this illusion shattered after a humiliating 5-1 loss to rivals Hapoel Haifa, which led to his dismissal by owner Yaakov Shahar.
Despite the initial dismissal, Bakhar was called back to save the team when Diego Flores' experiment failed. The article suggests that past issues and the team's current professional state made it impossible for Bakhar's methods to succeed. The illusion of a new beginning was broken by harsh reality, leading the usually composed Bakhar to resign during a post-match interview, admitting he was "pulled back in" when he thought he was out, driven by a desire for the love and status he was accustomed to.
Despite the difficult final chapter, the article concludes that Bakhar remains one of the greatest coaches in Israeli football history, credited with changing approaches, discovering talent, and creating historical moments, earning him the title "The Godfather."
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