Yosef "Yosale" Merimovich (Hebrew: יוסף "יוס'לה" מרימוביץ'; 24 July 1924 – 5 May 2011) was a football player and manager. A one-club man, he played as a forward for Maccabi Tel Aviv between 1947 and 1958, winning six championships and six cups. Born in Cyprus, he represented the Israel national team at international level. He went on to coach both Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Israel national team on multiple occasions.

Yosef Merimovich
Personal information
Date of birth (1924-07-24)24 July 1924
Place of birth Margo, Cyprus[1]
Date of death 5 May 2011(2011-05-05) (aged 86)
Place of death Israel
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1940–1958 Maccabi Tel Aviv 74 (67)
International career
1948–1956 Israel 14 (4)
Managerial career
1958–1960 Maccabi Tel Aviv
1964–1965 Israel
1966–1968 Hapoel Tel Aviv
1968–1969 Maccabi Tel Aviv
1977–1979 Hapoel Tel Aviv
1982–1986 Israel
1988–1989 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Israel (as manager)
AFC Asian Cup
Winner 1964
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Born in Margo, Cyprus, Merimovich immigrated to Israel at the age of 16.[2] He spent his entire playing career with Maccabi Tel Aviv, winning six championships and six cups between 1947 and 1958.[2] At international level, he made 14 appearances for the Israel national team scoring 4 goals.

After his retirement from playing, Merimovich became a coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv.[2] He was appointed coach of Israel in 1964 and helped it win the 1964 AFC Asian Cup.[2] He returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv winning the 1966–68 Liga Leumit.[2] In 1982, he became Israel national team coach for a second time, leaving after the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.[2] He went on to coach Maccabi Tel Aviv for a third time.[2]

Legacy

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It was upon Merimovich's suggestion in 1942 that yellow was added to Maccabi Tel Aviv's existing club colours of blue and white, "as a sign of identification with the Jews of Europe".[2]

Death

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Merimovich died on 5 May 2011, at the age of 86.[2]

Honours

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Player

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Maccabi Tel Aviv

Manager

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Maccabi Tel Aviv

Israel

References

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  1. ^ "Yosef Merimovich". National Football Teams.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Timur, Lior (5 May 2011). "מאמן הנבחרת בעבר, יוסל'ה מירמוביץ', הלך לעולמו" [Former Israel national football team manager, Yosale Merimovich has passed away]. One (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 March 2023.
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