Tal Banin
Encyclopedia
Tal Banin is a former Israel
i football player and currently the manager of Hapoel Haifa. Banin played as a defensive midfielder
. A captain for the Israeli National Team for many years, Banin was also the only Israeli player to ever play in the Italian Serie A
until 2011, when Palermo
signed Eran Zahavi
as a youngster. He trained in Hapoel Haifa's football academy and played in many of Hapoel's youth teams. He made his full debut for the side at 17. Between the years of 1987-89 Banin played a total of 44 games for Hapoel in the second division and scored seven goals.
When Banin was 19 he signed a contract with arch rivals Maccabi Haifa
in 1989, they continued his impressive development as a player. He left the club in 1992 after playing 94 games in ligat ha`hal and scoring seventeen goals.
When Banin was just 20 he became the second youngest Israeli to collect the "Player of the Year" accolade in 1991. During the same season he was an integral part in the Maccabi side that won the Israeli League and Cup "double".
Banin returned to Hapoel Haifa
where he played for a further season playing 29 games and scoring 8 goals in the top division.
In 1993 Banin moved to French side Cannes
.
He led the side to a sixth position in the Championnat de France de football Ligue 1
, the French top division. As a result Cannes qualified for Europe.
Whilst playing for Cannes, Banin picked up a knee injury. This problem proved to be serious. He began to suffer from a chronic knee problem that would plague him for the rest of his career.
Cannes offered to extend his contract, however after 23 games and two goals Banin declined and returned to Israel
to join Hapoel Haifa
. He proved to be to be their star player in what seemed to be a very average side. He remained at Haifa for three years playing a further 74 games for them and scoring 19 goals.
In 1997 Banin was on the move again this time to Brescia
in Italy. He played 26 games for them scoring one goal. During that year Banin aggravated his knee injury and was unable to prevent Brescia from slipping from Serie A
to Serie B
. The next year Banin sat out the season through injury but a year later he oversaw Brescia's triumphant return to the top division.
At the insistence of his wife Banin returned to Israel to sign for Maccabi Tel Aviv
. He became vital to side and was moulded into the spine of the team. Banin led Maccabi to victory in the State Cup in 2002.
The next season Banin helped Maccabi lift the league title for the first time since 1996.
In the next seasons UEFA Champions League
, Maccabi were knocked out in the first round. Head Coach Nir Klinger
blamed it on the fights between Banin and Maccabi legend Avi Nimni
. As a result on August 13, 2003, they were both kicked out of the side. Banin had been unable to find a team that will accept his high wage demands for the 2003-04 season. However, Banin moved to play for Bnei Yehuda
for the remainder of the season.
In January 2005, Beitar Jerusalem signed the midfielder for the remainder of the 2004-05 season. Beitar were desperate for some steel in the middle after a run of humiliating defeats and to try and help avoid relegation.
Banin finished his career in Maccabi Netanya
.
He captained the country from 1997 until 2003. Banin is considered as one of the best defensive midfielders in the history of Israeli football.
Banin is a highly respected player in Europe, but unfortunately has been unable to fulfill his potential due to his crippling knee injury. Banin played 80 times for Israel scoring 12 goals.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i football player and currently the manager of Hapoel Haifa. Banin played as a defensive midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. A captain for the Israeli National Team for many years, Banin was also the only Israeli player to ever play in the Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
until 2011, when Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
signed Eran Zahavi
Eran Zahavi
Eran Zahavi is an Israeli football midfielder. He currently plays for Serie A club Palermo and Israel national football team.- Hapoel Tel Aviv :...
Career
Banin joined Hapoel HaifaHapoel Haifa FC
Hapoel Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football club located in Haifa. The club won one championship and 3 Israeli cups . The Team is also known as "The Sharks"...
as a youngster. He trained in Hapoel Haifa's football academy and played in many of Hapoel's youth teams. He made his full debut for the side at 17. Between the years of 1987-89 Banin played a total of 44 games for Hapoel in the second division and scored seven goals.
When Banin was 19 he signed a contract with arch rivals Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi 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...
in 1989, they continued his impressive development as a player. He left the club in 1992 after playing 94 games in ligat ha`hal and scoring seventeen goals.
When Banin was just 20 he became the second youngest Israeli to collect the "Player of the Year" accolade in 1991. During the same season he was an integral part in the Maccabi side that won the Israeli League and Cup "double".
Banin returned to Hapoel Haifa
Hapoel Haifa FC
Hapoel Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football club located in Haifa. The club won one championship and 3 Israeli cups . The Team is also known as "The Sharks"...
where he played for a further season playing 29 games and scoring 8 goals in the top division.
In 1993 Banin moved to French side Cannes
AS Cannes
Association Sportive de Cannes Football is a French association football club based in Cannes. The club was formed 1902 as a sports club and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football. Cannes plays its home matches at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin...
.
He led the side to a sixth position in the Championnat de France de football Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, the French top division. As a result Cannes qualified for Europe.
Whilst playing for Cannes, Banin picked up a knee injury. This problem proved to be serious. He began to suffer from a chronic knee problem that would plague him for the rest of his career.
Cannes offered to extend his contract, however after 23 games and two goals Banin declined and returned to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
to join Hapoel Haifa
Hapoel Haifa FC
Hapoel Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football club located in Haifa. The club won one championship and 3 Israeli cups . The Team is also known as "The Sharks"...
. He proved to be to be their star player in what seemed to be a very average side. He remained at Haifa for three years playing a further 74 games for them and scoring 19 goals.
In 1997 Banin was on the move again this time to Brescia
Brescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio , known simply as Brescia, is the largest football club in the Lombard city of Brescia, where it was founded in 1911.In the 2009–10 season, in the return leg of the Serie B playoff final, they defeated Torino 2-1 at home , returning to Serie A after a 5-year absence...
in Italy. He played 26 games for them scoring one goal. During that year Banin aggravated his knee injury and was unable to prevent Brescia from slipping from Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
to Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
. The next year Banin sat out the season through injury but a year later he oversaw Brescia's triumphant return to the top division.
At the insistence of his wife Banin returned to Israel to sign for Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC
Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club is an Israeli football club and part of the Maccabi Tel Aviv sports club. It is one of the oldest clubs in Israeli football, and is the most successful club in Israeli football history with 18 championships, 22 national cups, 2 Asian Champions Cups and 3 Toto cups...
. He became vital to side and was moulded into the spine of the team. Banin led Maccabi to victory in the State Cup in 2002.
The next season Banin helped Maccabi lift the league title for the first time since 1996.
In the next seasons UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, Maccabi were knocked out in the first round. Head Coach Nir Klinger
Nir Klinger
Nir Klinger is an Israeli 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....
blamed it on the fights between Banin and Maccabi legend Avi Nimni
Avi Nimni
Avi Nimni is Maccabi Tel Aviv's highest ever scorer and is regarded as one of Maccabi Tel Aviv's greatest players ever. Until 2006, he served as the captain of the Israeli national football team...
. As a result on August 13, 2003, they were both kicked out of the side. Banin had been unable to find a team that will accept his high wage demands for the 2003-04 season. However, Banin moved to play for Bnei Yehuda
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. , commonly known as just Bnei Yehuda, is an Israeli football club from the Hatikva Quarter of Tel Aviv. The club is currently a member of the Israeli Premier League and plays its home matches at Bloomfield Stadium.-History:...
for the remainder of the season.
In January 2005, Beitar Jerusalem signed the midfielder for the remainder of the 2004-05 season. Beitar were desperate for some steel in the middle after a run of humiliating defeats and to try and help avoid relegation.
Banin finished his career in Maccabi Netanya
Maccabi Netanya
Maccabi Netanya F.C. is an Israeli football club based in Netanya. Established in 1934, the club were founding members of the Israeli League in 1949. After winning their first championship in 1970, the club's golden period lasted until the late 1980s, including four more league titles and a double...
.
International career
During his career Banin was called up to the Israeli national side due to his hard work in the middle of the field. Banin made his debut on May 16, 1990 against the USSR (or Russia as they are now known). He scored to lead Israel to a 3-2 win at the Ramat Gan Stadium.He captained the country from 1997 until 2003. Banin is considered as one of the best defensive midfielders in the history of Israeli football.
Banin is a highly respected player in Europe, but unfortunately has been unable to fulfill his potential due to his crippling knee injury. Banin played 80 times for Israel scoring 12 goals.
Honours
- Israeli football champions (3):
- 1988–89, 1990–91, 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...
(3):- 1991, 2001, 2002