Eitan Tibi

Eitan Tibi
	Tibi playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Eitan Tibi
Date of birth	16 November 1987 (age 36)
Place of birth	Jerusalem, Israel
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Number	18
Youth career
	Beitar Haifa
	Maccabi Netanya
Senior career*
Years	Team
2006–2010	Beitar Jerusalem
2007–2008	→ Hapoel Ra'anana (loan)
2008–2009	→ Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan (loan)
2010–2011	Charleroi
2011–2012	Ironi Kiryat Shmona
2012–2021	Maccabi Tel Aviv
2021–	Hapoel Be'er Sheva
International career‡
2012–2021	Israel
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 April 2024; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 January 2022

Eitan Tibi (or Eytan,^[1] Hebrew: איתן טיבי; born 16 November 1987) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Be'er Sheva and the Israel national team.

Early life edit

Tibi was born in Jerusalem, Israel, to a Sephardic Jewish family.^[2]

Club career edit

Tibi started his career in the youth teams of Beitar Haifa and Maccabi Netanya. In 2006–07 he signed for Beitar Jerusalem for four years at the age of 19. On his senior year with the club he could not break into the first team and in 2007–08 he was loaned to Hapoel Ra'anana. In 2008–09 he was loaned again to HaKoach Ramat Gan.

In 2009–10 Tibi returned to Beitar Jerusalem and played 21 league games with the club, before signing a two-years contract with the Belgian side Charleroi.^[3] After just 9 games with the club and his inability to find a place in the starting lineup, he decided to return to Israel.

In January 2011 Tibi signed a 3+1⁄2-year contract with Ironi Kiryat Shmona.^[4] In 2011–12 he was a key part in the historic championship title win of Ironi Kiryat Shmona, together with the Toto Cup Al win. At the end of that season he made his debut for the Israel national team against Czech Republic.

Maccabi Tel Aviv edit

On 29 August 2012, Tibi signed a three-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv,^[5] after long negotiations with Ironi Kiryat Shmona owner Izi Sheratzky about the release-clause in his contract. With arbitration advice, it appeared the €300,000 release-clause was valid and Tibi was allowed to join Maccabi. He made his debut for the club on 3 September 2012, in the first gameweek of the season, against Maccabi Netanya. His remarkable form in 2012–13 made Tibi a vital part in the middle of defense for Maccabi, together with Carlos García, and he was lined-up 34 times in the league.^[6] He scored his first goal for Maccabi on 2 March 2013 in an away match against Bnei Sakhnin. In that season he won his second consecutive championship title and his first one with Maccabi Tel Aviv. On 17 July 2013, he made his first appearance in a European match, in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against Győri ETO FC.^[7] Maccabi eventually qualified to the Europa League.

Tibi started 2013–14 season extremely well, leading the club to a new Israeli Premier League record, after Maccabi Tel Aviv conceded its first goal of the season only in the 45th minute of the 7th gameweek. The previous record was held by Hapoel Haifa F.C. in 1998–99. He won the 2013–14 season's championship with Maccabi. In 2014–15, he won with Maccabi the third consecutive championship, this season he also won the State Cup and Toto Cup.

In 2015–16, he qualified with Maccabi to the UEFA Champions League group stage. In the 2015–16 season in the Israeli Premier League, Tibi lost with Maccabi the championship to Hapoel Be'er Sheva He signed a contract extension with Maccabi for three years in the end of the season.

Hapoel Be'er Sheva edit

On 28 June 2021, Tibi signed for 2 years at Hapoel Be'er Sheva.^[8]

International career edit

In 2012 Tibi made his debut for the national team in a friendly match against Czech Republic. His form at his club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, has made him a first-team regular, playing steadily for the national team under the lead of Eli Guttman and maintaining good performances.

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of 1 June 2022.

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2006–07	Beitar Jerusalem	Ligat Ha'Al	2	0	0	0	8	0	0	0	10	0
Total			2	0	0	0	8	0	0	0	10	0
2007–08	Hapoel Ra'anana	Liga Leumit	33	2	1	0	8	0	0	0	42	2
Total			33	2	1	0	8	0	0	0	42	2
2008–09	Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan	Ligat Ha'Al	28	4	4	0	2	0	0	0	34	4
Total			28	4	4	0	2	0	0	0	34	4
2009–10	Beitar Jerusalem	Ligat Ha'Al	21	0	1	0	8	0	0	0	30	0
Total			21	0	1	0	8	0	0	0	30	0
2010–11	Charleroi	1st Division	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
Total			9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
2010–11	Ironi Kiryat Shmona	Ligat ha'Al	8	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	11	0
2011–12	Ironi Kiryat Shmona	Ligat ha'Al	23	0	2	0	6	0	0	0	31	0
Total			31	0	2	0	9	0	0	0	42	0
2012–13	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Ligat ha'Al	34	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	38	1
2013–14			31	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	43	0
2014–15			34	0	0	0	4	1	6	0	44	1
2015–16			31	0	1	0	1	0	9	0	42	0
2016–17			26	0	5	0	5	0	13	0	49	0
2017–18			25	0	1	0	3	0	12	0	41	0
2018–19			8	0	2	0	2	0	8	0	20	0
2019–20			29	3	0	0	2	0	0	0	31	3
2020–21			26	1	5	0	0	0	13	0	44	1
Total			244	5	16	0	19	1	73	0	352	6
2021–22	Hapoel Be'er Sheva	Ligat ha'Al	22	1	4	0	1	0	6	0	33	1
Total			22	1	4	0	1	0	6	0	33	1
Career total			411	13	32	0	56	1	85	0	564	14