Nir Klinger
Encyclopedia
Nir Klinger is an Israel
i football manager
and a former player. He was manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv, before resigning under pressure on 5 December 2005. Klinger achieved with Maccabi the Israeli championship and two Israel state cups.
Klinger led Maccabi Tel-Aviv to UEFA Champions League Groups 2004-05 season. The manager and the team won HJK Helsinki and PAOK Thessaloniki in the qualifying rounds. Maccabi played against former European champions: Juventus, Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern Munchen. Maccabi managed to get one victory over Ajax Amsterdam 2-1 and held Juventus into a draw, 1-1.
youth team, he was a defensive player. He made his league debut for Maccabi on 3 November 1984 against Hakoah Ramat Gan, when he came on as a substitute in the 80th minute.
He spent six seasons with Maccabi Haifa before he moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv for eight seasons. He won two Israeli championships with Maccabi Haifa and three championships and another two Israeli cups
with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
He retired due to injury during the 1997-98 season.
on 18 February 1987 in a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland
. He scored his first goal against Wales
in a 3-3 draw on 8 February 1989. His last appearance was on 31 March 1997 in a 3-0 win over Luxembourg
.
In total, Klinger won 83 caps for the Israel national football team
between 1987 and 1997, and captained the team from August 1992 until March 1997.
, leading them to third place (their highest ever position).
In 2002 he left the club to return to Maccabi as manager. In his first season Maccabi won the title. They finished runners-up the following year, and won the State Cup in 2004-05. On 5 December 2005 he resigned as manager.
In 2006 he was appointed manager of Cypriot club Enosis Neon Paralimni
, but resigned in September 2007. Soon afterward he was appointed manager of AEK Larnaca
but was fired in October 2008 after poor start of the season. He finished with Paralimni and Aek in the 4-5 place in the Cypriot premier league.
In the 2008-09 season he was appointed manager of newly promoted AEP Paphos and under his management the team was able to avoid relegation.
On 24 May 2009 Klinger signed a three-year contract with AEL Limassol
.
While managing AEL Limassol, a crucial derby match against Anorthosis Famagusta
fell on the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur
. Klinger, who defines himself as a faithful Jew, advised the club's management of the importance of the holiday and that he would miss the match along with his assistant, Felix Naim, who was also Jewish. The club tried to have the match moved to accommodate them.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i football manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and a former player. He was manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv, before resigning under pressure on 5 December 2005. Klinger achieved with Maccabi the Israeli championship and two Israel state cups.
Klinger led Maccabi Tel-Aviv to UEFA Champions League Groups 2004-05 season. The manager and the team won HJK Helsinki and PAOK Thessaloniki in the qualifying rounds. Maccabi played against former European champions: Juventus, Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern Munchen. Maccabi managed to get one victory over Ajax Amsterdam 2-1 and held Juventus into a draw, 1-1.
Playing career
A product of the Maccabi HaifaMaccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
youth team, he was a defensive player. He made his league debut for Maccabi on 3 November 1984 against Hakoah Ramat Gan, when he came on as a substitute in the 80th minute.
He spent six seasons with Maccabi Haifa before he moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv for eight seasons. He won two Israeli championships with Maccabi Haifa and three championships and another two Israeli cups
Israel State Cup
The State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
He retired due to injury during the 1997-98 season.
International
Klinger made his debut for IsraelIsrael national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
on 18 February 1987 in a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. He scored his first goal against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in a 3-3 draw on 8 February 1989. His last appearance was on 31 March 1997 in a 3-0 win over Luxembourg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
.
In total, Klinger won 83 caps for the Israel national football team
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
between 1987 and 1997, and captained the team from August 1992 until March 1997.
Managerial career
In 1998 Klinger was appointed assistant to Avram Grant at Maccabi Tel Aviv. In 2000 he became manager of second division Beitar Be'er ShevaBeitar Avraham Be'er Sheva F.C.
Beitar Avraham Be'er Sheva was an Israeli football club based in Beersheba.-History:The club was promoted to Liga Artzit in 1998. In their first season at the second level they finished fourth...
, leading them to third place (their highest ever position).
In 2002 he left the club to return to Maccabi as manager. In his first season Maccabi won the title. They finished runners-up the following year, and won the State Cup in 2004-05. On 5 December 2005 he resigned as manager.
In 2006 he was appointed manager of Cypriot club Enosis Neon Paralimni
Enosis Neon Paralimni FC
Enosis Neon Paralimni is a Cypriot football team from Paralimni. Currently playing in the first division, it holds home games at the Paralimni Municipal Stadium "Tasos Marcou", which holds 5,800 people.-History:...
, but resigned in September 2007. Soon afterward he was appointed manager of AEK Larnaca
AEK Larnaca
AEK Larnaca FC |Kition]] Athletic Union") is a Cypriot Sports club, based in the port of Larnaca. The club was formed in 1994 after a merger of two Larnaca clubs: EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos. The club has football section, basketball sections for men AEK Larnaca B.C...
but was fired in October 2008 after poor start of the season. He finished with Paralimni and Aek in the 4-5 place in the Cypriot premier league.
In the 2008-09 season he was appointed manager of newly promoted AEP Paphos and under his management the team was able to avoid relegation.
On 24 May 2009 Klinger signed a three-year contract with AEL Limassol
AEL Limassol
Athlitiki Enosi Lemesou , commonly known as AEL Limassol , is a Greek Cypriot multisport club based in the city of Limassol, the port of Cyprus....
.
While managing AEL Limassol, a crucial derby match against Anorthosis Famagusta
Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Αnorthosis Famagusta FC is a Cypriot football and volleyball club which is originally based in Famagusta, but is now temporarily based in Larnaca, due to the Turkish invasion. Anorthosis is one of the most successful clubs in Cypriot football, having won 13 league titles, 10 Cypriot Cups and 6...
fell on the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
. Klinger, who defines himself as a faithful Jew, advised the club's management of the importance of the holiday and that he would miss the match along with his assistant, Felix Naim, who was also Jewish. The club tried to have the match moved to accommodate them.
As player
- Israeli Premier League (5):
- 1984-85, 1988-89, 1991-92, 1994-95, 1995-96
- Israel State CupIsrael State CupThe State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
(2):- 1993-94, 1995-96
- Toto CupToto CupThe Toto Cup is an association football tournament that exists separately in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Premier League and Liga Leumit....
(1):- 1992-93
- Member of the Israeli Football Hall of FameIsraeli Football Hall of FameThe Israeli Football Hall of Fame is Hall of Fame for the best football players in the history of the Israeli football, initiated by sports channel in cooperation with the Israeli Football Players Association in association football in Israel, founded in financing The Israeli Sports Betting Council...
(2009)
As manager
- Israeli Premier League (1):
- 2002-03
- Israel State CupIsrael State CupThe State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
(1):- 2004-05