Israel Football Association Extends Coach Ben Shimon's Contract Despite Poor Performance

Despite one of the worst campaigns in the history of the Israeli national football team, which currently sits last in its Nations League group with only three points from a possible fifteen, the Israel Football Association announced on Friday that coach Ran Ben Shimon will continue in his role for the upcoming Euro 2028 qualifiers, set to begin in March. This decision comes despite internal criticism from members of the professional committee and senior management regarding Ben Shimon's failures and the need for a replacement. These critics argue the decision is controversial and out of touch with professional reality.

However, the two most influential figures in the association, Chairman Shino Zuarz and Deputy Chairman Moran Meiri, decided to honor Ben Shimon's contract and extend his tenure. They informed him of this decision in Kosovo, prior to the team's flight to Hungary for their upcoming match against Austria. The association explained their stance by stating, "We have a path and nothing will change it," emphasizing that the decision is independent of the upcoming game's outcome.

Ben Shimon's previous Nations League campaign also ended in failure, with four losses in six games and only a 22% success rate. While the quality of opponents like France and Belgium made those results more understandable, the current campaign, following World Cup qualifiers where Israel had one of Europe's weakest defenses, is viewed as a clear professional failure due to disappointing performance and weaker opposition.

Senior figures within the association expressed strong dissent, calling the decision "delusional" and "disconnected from reality," questioning the rationale behind retaining a coach after what they described as a "humiliating and failed campaign, the worst ever." They pointed to the lack of player development and the team's drop to the third tier for Euro 2028 qualifiers as evidence of professional decline.

The direct consequence of the campaign's poor performance is Israel's demotion to the third pot for the Euro 2028 qualifying draw, significantly hindering their chances of reaching the tournament as they are now likely to face at least two stronger opponents. The recent match against Kosovo, where Israel failed to secure a win even when playing against ten men and despite a weak performance from Kosovo's key players, highlighted the extent of the Nations League failure. Israel is one game away from completing a full campaign without a win for the first time in approximately sixty years.

Despite tactical adjustments, including a shift to three defenders and the introduction of offensive players after a red card, the team struggled to create clear chances, finishing the match with only three shots on target, similar to Kosovo. The criticism extends beyond the coach, with many Israeli players underperforming internationally. For the upcoming match against Austria, defender Raz Shlomo will be suspended, and efforts are being made to prepare Roy Revivo and Manor Solomon for the game. Regardless, Ben Shimon's future as coach for the Euro qualifiers has been decided by the association's leadership.