Yitzhak Shum Reflects on Israel’s 1970 World Cup, Career Choices and Club Ownership

Yitzhak Shum, one of Hapoel Kfar Saba’s greatest players and a key figure for Israel at Mexico 1970, was the guest on Sport1’s podcast "Halftime in the Neighborhood," hosted by Ron Amikam, for its 51st episode and the start of the World Cup. Shum, now also the owner of his boyhood club, spoke about the World Cup, coach Emanuel Schaffer, Israel’s match against Italy and Giacinto Facchetti, missed chances to move to Torino and Atalanta, and his years at Kfar Saba, including the club’s historic championship and the agreed 0-0 against Shimshon Tel Aviv. He also discussed his move from winger to midfielder, being chosen as a central defender over Liverpool’s Avi Cohen by Jack Mansell, a disallowed goal against South Korea, and an own goal in the 1974 Asian Games final in Tehran.

Shum said Israel’s 1970 squad, though amateur, had a professional coach who made them believe they could compete. He recalled Schaffer’s demanding message, "How many legs do the Germans have? Two, like you," and said Schaffer ordered three training sessions a day. Shum described the emotional arrival in Mexico, with music, press attention and police escorts, and said that after the World Cup he received offers from Torino and Atalanta. "I still do not forgive myself for not going," he said, explaining that he stayed because he was about to marry and his wife did not want to leave her parents. He also recalled missing a decisive late header against Italy, which might have sent Israel to the quarterfinals.

The former player and coach praised past and present teammates and contrasted generations, saying the older players were more beautiful to watch, while today’s game draws bigger crowds. He said he learned from Schaffer and David Schweitzer that success comes from hard work, preparation and accepting that every draw is difficult. On the 1974 Asian Games own goal against Iran, he rejected claims it was intentional, saying the team feared hostile crowds, and added that even the 22 players on the pitch were happy with the goal. He also recounted his transition to coach, his work with Beitar Tel Aviv, his role under Shlomo Sherf and Richard Nielsen, and the path that took him to Maccabi Haifa after initially being picked as national team coach.

Shum described the huge salary he was offered at Panathinaikos, saying it was ten times what he earned at Maccabi Haifa and that he felt "stars falling on me from the sky." He said the club told him they would have paid twice as much if he had asked. He also said he was dismissed after league and cup doubles at Panathinaikos and Beitar Jerusalem, because he needed a happy team and resisted outside pressure. Shum discussed buying Hapoel Kfar Saba for 250,000 shekels, 125,000 shekels each with Shlomo, later repaying his partner and ultimately spending more than 1 million shekels. He finished by praising the football of his era and saying the most important thing for him remains whether a team is happy.