The Israeli Minifootball Association has named legendary coach Itzhak Shum as their national team manager, ahead of the upcoming miniEURO 2013 tournament in Greece.
Shum (a.k.a “Shummi”) is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in Israeli football, and has also enjoyed success abroad – especially in Greece where he led Panathinaikos F.C. to a historic double title in 2004.
Earlier in his career he made history by leading Maccabi Haifa to become the first Israeli side to qualify for the group phase of the UEFA Champions League, where they beat strong favorites Olympiacos and Manchester United.
Shum also won the Israeli double with Beitar Jerusalem F.C. in 2008 and coached the Israel U-21 squad while serving as assistant to Shlomo Scharf who managed the senior team.
As a player, Shum scored 10 goals and was capped 78 times and for Israel, including action at the 1970 FIFA World Cup and the 1968 and 1976 Olympic Games.
“I am proud and happy to be part of this project, which comes from a true love of football, without big money and politics” said Shum. “I am particularly pleased to return to visit Greece where I’m always warmly received since the good old days at Panathinaikos”.
Shum was appointed after a long search by Israeli minifootball officials and several notable nominations. He will coach Israel in the group stage matches against Moldova, Montenegro and the Republic of Ireland and hope to advance to the knock-out stages of the miniEURO 2013 which will take place October 10th 14th in Rethymno, Crete (Greece).
Sources in Greek minifootball are reporting excitement among local fans. Shum’s appointment is expected to raise the profile of minifootball in Israel where the group-stage matches will be televised live.