Yosef Merimovich facts for kids
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 24 July 1924 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Margo, Cyprus | |||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 5 May 2011 (aged 86) | |||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Israel | |||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Forward | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| Maccabi Tel Aviv | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||
| 1940–1958 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 74 | (67) | |||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||
| 1948–1956 | Israel | 14 | (4) | |||||||||||||
| Teams managed | ||||||||||||||||
| 1958–1960 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | |||||||||||||||
| 1964–1965 | Israel | |||||||||||||||
| 1966–1968 | Hapoel Tel Aviv | |||||||||||||||
| 1968–1969 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | |||||||||||||||
| 1977–1979 | Hapoel Tel Aviv | |||||||||||||||
| 1982–1986 | Israel | |||||||||||||||
| 1988–1989 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | |||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Yosef "Yosale" Merimovich (Hebrew: יוסף "יוס'לה" מרימוביץ'; born July 24, 1924 – died May 5, 2011) was a famous Israeli football player and coach. He played his entire career as a forward for Maccabi Tel Aviv. During his time there, he helped the team win many championships and cups. Yosef also played for the Israel national team. After he stopped playing, he became a successful coach for both Maccabi Tel Aviv and the national team.
Contents
Yosale's Football Journey
Yosef Merimovich was born in a place called Margo in Cyprus. When he was 16, he moved to Israel. He loved football and joined the Maccabi Tel Aviv team.
Playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv
Yosef spent his whole playing career with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He was a forward, which means he played at the front of the team to score goals. Between 1947 and 1958, he helped his team win six championships and six cups. This made him a true legend for the club.
Playing for Israel's National Team
Yosef also played for the Israel national team. He played 14 games for his country and scored 4 goals. Representing your country in sports is a huge honor!
Becoming a Coach
After he finished playing, Yosef decided to become a football coach. He started by coaching Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Coaching the National Team
In 1964, Yosef became the coach for the Israel national team. He led them to win the 1964 AFC Asian Cup, which was a very big achievement for Israeli football! He coached the national team again later, from 1982 to 1986.
Coaching Maccabi Tel Aviv Again
Yosef also returned to coach Maccabi Tel Aviv several times. He helped them win the 1966–68 Liga Leumit championship. He was a very important person in the history of the club.
Yosale's Lasting Impact
Yosef Merimovich had a special idea in 1942. He suggested that Maccabi Tel Aviv should add yellow to their team colors, which were already blue and white. He said this was "as a sign of identification with the Jews of Europe." This shows how much he cared about his community and history.
His Final Years
Yosef Merimovich passed away on May 5, 2011, when he was 86 years old. He is remembered as a great player and coach who contributed a lot to Israeli football.
Achievements and Awards
As a Player
Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Israeli Football Championship (6 times): 1946–47, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1957–58
- Israel State Cup (6 times): 1940–41, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1957–68
As a Manager
Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Liga Leumit (1 time): 1966–68
- Israel State Cup (1 time): 1958–59
- Asian Champion Club Tournament (2 times): 1967, 1969
Israel National Team
- AFC Asian Cup (1 time): 1964
