Avi Ran facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Avi Ran | ||
| Date of birth | August 25, 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Haifa, Israel | ||
| Date of death | July 11, 1987 (aged 23) | ||
| Place of death | Tiberias, Israel | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1981–1987 | Maccabi Haifa | 165 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1986–1987 | Israel | 9 | (0) |
|
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Avi Ran (born August 25, 1963 – died July 11, 1987) was a talented goalkeeper for the Israeli football club Maccabi Haifa. Many people thought he was one of Israel's best football players ever. He had a very bright future ahead of him, but it was sadly cut short by a tragic accident.
Contents
Avi Ran's Amazing Football Journey
Starting His Career
Avi Ran began playing for Haifa's main team in the 1981/1982 season. He was only 17 years old. In his very first game against Maccabi Tel Aviv, he managed to keep the other team from scoring any goals. This is called a "clean sheet."
Avi played for most of that season. He worked hard to earn his spot on the team. Avi was known for being very determined and always training diligently. He was also a kind and friendly person off the field. This made him very popular with his teammates and fans.
Proving His Talent
In the 1983/1984 season, a new coach named Shlomo Scharf joined Maccabi Haifa. He wanted to replace Avi, who was only 20 at the time, with an older, more experienced goalkeeper. But many players, like Baruch Maman and Ronnie Rosenthal, protested this idea. They wanted Avi to stay because they believed in him.
Yohanan Volach, a key figure at the club, also stepped in. He had known Avi since he was a child and believed in his skills and potential. Thanks to Volach, Avi was able to stay with Maccabi Haifa.
Winning Championships
Avi Ran did not disappoint. He showed everyone what an amazing goalkeeper he was. He helped Haifa win their first-ever Israeli Premier League title. That season, he only let in 28 goals.
In his second season, Avi was a crucial player for Maccabi Haifa. He set a club record by letting in only 18 goals. Haifa won the championship for the second year in a row! They almost won two trophies that year, reaching the cup final. However, they lost to Beitar Jerusalem.
In 1986, Maccabi Haifa was close to winning again. They were at the top of the league for most of the season. But on the very last day, Hapoel Tel Aviv won the title by just two points. Even though his team didn't win the championship, Avi Ran was named "Player of the Season" that year.
Playing for Israel and Beyond
That same year, Haifa played games outside of Israel for the first time. There were rumors that big European clubs, like Liverpool, wanted to sign Avi. He played one of his best games ever during exhibition matches in Israel. Liverpool was very impressed with him.
Avi Ran also played nine games for the Israeli national team.
In 1987, Maccabi Haifa finished ninth in the league. Even though many other important players left the club, Avi remained a key player.
Here are some of Avi Ran's great achievements:
- He won two championships with Maccabi Haifa.
- He set a club record by letting in only 18 goals in the 1985-86 season. This is the lowest in Maccabi Haifa's history.
- He won the "footballer of the year" award from Maariv in 1986. This means he was the MVP of the season.
- He was the goalkeeper for the Israeli national team.
A Sad Farewell
On July 11, 1987, Avi Ran tragically passed away. He was on vacation with his team, Maccabi Haifa, at the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias. He was hit by a racing boat at "Guy" beach. About 14,000 people attended his funeral, showing how much he was loved and respected.
See also
In Spanish: Avi Ran para niños
