Menashe Shimonov (born April 3, 1963) is considered to be one of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s greatest players during the 1980’s. Shimonov, who played for the majority of his career as a central defender, grew up through the ranks of the Yellow & Blue Youth Department and made his debut in the Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv in February of 1982. Menashe is known as one half of the “Shimonov Brothers” as his twin Efraim also played for Maccabi.

Shimonov scored his first goal in his third match with the first team in a 1:1 draw against Maccabi Haifa and played 33 matches in his second season with the club scoring 5 goals along the way to becoming a defensive stalwart for Maccabi.

In 1986/87 the 24 year old central defender took home his first title when the Yellow & Blue captured the State Cup in a penalty shootout against Maccabi Haifa. The following season, Maccabi won the State Cup yet again, this time by defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv 2:1 as Shimonov received the Cup from the President and lifted it as captain of the club. Shimonov was also part of the 1991/92 squad that won the league championship for the first time in 13 years. The veteran played in 17 matches that season while featuring in the clincher against Bnei Yehuda in a 3:2 victory that saw Maccabi pop open the champagne bottles which also marked his last match with the club.

After a decade with the Yellow & Blue, the central defender headed to Hapoel Ashdod. He made his Israel National Team debut against Scotland at Ramat Gan Stadium and played in 19 matches for the Blue & White while also playing in the 1988 Olympic Games.

Awards & Honors
League Title: 1991/92
State Cups: 1986/87, 1987/88
Appearances: 346
Goals: 17

Top Moment
During the 1982/83 season, Shimonov, took part in one of the greatest State Cup games in the history of Israeli football. Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa faced off against one another in the State Cup Semifinal. After 120 minutes the scoreboard showed a score of 4:4, but it would be the Yellow & Blue who would come out on top in the penalty shootout. Shimonov scored Maccabi’s third goal in that match and you can see it below:

Maccabi Tel Aviv held a friendly today at Kiryat Shalom against Maccabi Netanya as they prepare to get back into action next week after a 3 week break. Both squads made many substitutions during the contest to make sure they are ready to go against Slavia Prague on November 23rd in Europa League Matchday 5 play.

First Half
Both sides looked to control the ball during the opening minutes as Maccabi had two chances with the first coming in the 7’, when Micha sent a ball to Schoenfeld who went into the box, but his effort went off of one of the defending players. 3 minutes later Itzhaki took an attempt from long distance but Dani Amos made the stop. But it would be Netanya who would take a 1:0 lead in the 22’ as Diaa Sabia was able to feed Didier Kougbenya from the right, who then found the back of the goal.

Maccabi had two quick chances to draw even right after the Netanya strike, but Amos was able to block Schoenfeld’s header and save Battocchio’s opportunity as the Yellow & Blue couldn’t beat the diamond city keeper. Just a minute later however, Netanya doubled their advantage when Alhassane Keita’s low shot from the top of the box beat Lifshitz, good for a 2:0 lead. Maccabi was able to pull back a goal in the 31’ when Itzhaki sent Shpungin the ball on the right who in turn crossed it into the box to Micha who beautifully headed it into the goal, 2:1 Netanya.

But the visitors came right back one minute later as Sabia sent a through ball to Keita who again found the back of the goal for his second of the match, 3:1 for Netanya. Just before the break, Itzhaki made his way into the box and took a tough angled shot that missed the target and went out.

Second Half
Maccabi had a number of good chances to open up the half, but Netanya keeper Golan Elkaslasi was able to stop both Davidzada and Itzhaki. In the 58’ Sabia scored Netanya’s fourth goal off a fast break that ended in a low shot into the corner of the goal for a 4:1 lead. Both squads made a number of substitutions as the pace of match slowed down considerably. Battocchio’s 90’ attempt threatened the Netanya goal but Elkaslasi again made the stop as the match ended in a 4:1 win to the visitors.

Starting XI: Daniel Lifshitz, Yuval Shpungin, Tal Ben Haim, Egor Filipenka, Matan Baltaxa, Dor Peretz, Tino Susic, Cristian Battocchio, Dor Micha, Barak Itzhaki, Aaron Schoenfeld. Second Half Substitutes: Daniel Tenenbaum, Ofir Davidzada, Avi Rikan. Also played: Or Dasa, Sheran Yeini, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Eitan Tibi, Eden Kartzev, Eliran Atar, Nick Blackman

Maccabi Netanya: Dani Amos, Viki Kahlon, Tim Heubach, Brando Vrgoc, Ben Tzahiry, Didier Kougbenya, Aviv Avraham, Diaa Sabia, Eran Levi, Alhassane Keita, Niko Olsek

Head Coach Jordi Cruyff: “The purpose of this match was to give players who have returned from injury some playing time
“I made the decision that the purpose of this match was to give players who have returned from injury and players who haven’t played enough minutes recently some playing time. Netanya played well and punished us for our mistakes. This match was never to be based on the result.”

The Iceland National Team will take part in the 2018 World Cup this summer in Russia and this evening Maccabi striker Vidar Kjartansson took center stage. The Icelander who is looking to secure a spot in the final squad grabbed the opportunity to start for his country with both hands as he scored a 26th minute goal in a 1:1 draw at Qatar.

Iceland Head Coach Heimer Hallgrimsson wholesale changes at the half and subbed out Kjartansson in favor of Kjartan Finnbogasan as Qatar drew even deep into second half injury time (91) thanks to a Mohammed Muntari goal.

Predrag Rajikovic was in the Serbia squad but didn’t play against South Korea in a 1:1 draw, while this past Friday he kept a clean sheet for the final 45 minutes in a 2:0 win over China.