Scholarships Awarded in Memory of Moshe Meiri Z”L
Emotional Ceremony Honors Legendary Coach
An inspiring ceremony celebrating the legacy of the late Moshe Meiri, a legendary football coach, was held today at the Cinematheque in Tel Aviv. The event was dedicated to awarding excellence scholarships in football coaching to recognize young coaches embodying values of excellence, perseverance, and leadership.
Moshe Meiri, who passed away in December 2024, was a beloved figure in the city of Petah Tikva and the Maccabi football association. Throughout his career, he coached over nine different teams, including Maccabi Petah Tikva and the Israel youth national team.
Distinguished Attendees and Scholarships
The ceremony attracted prominent figures in the Israeli football community, including Shino Zwaartz, president of the Israel Football Association; Moran Meiri, Moshe’s son; and various former professional players and coaches such as Abraham Grant, Aharon Ramati, and Biram Kayal.
The scholarship recipients, who are young youth coaches, will embark on a week-long training course at the German football club Borussia Dortmund. Five finalists were selected from a pool of 25 young coaches, each presenting a seven-minute presentation that showcased their innovative player development plans to a distinguished panel of judges that included Zwaartz, Meiri, Ben Shimon, Kayal, and others.
The winners of the scholarships are Ilai Ben Shabat and Dor Atzion.
Tribute and Reflections
During the ceremony, Shino Zwaartz shared heartfelt memories of Meiri, emphasizing his profound knowledge of football and his impactful contributions. “start of the best ways to preserve his memory is through scholarships for young coaches, as he advocated for excellence,” Zwaartz noted. He also recounted a conversation with Borussia Dortmund’s president shortly after Meiri’s passing, noting the significant respect Meiri had garnered internationally.
Moran Meiri reflected on how to honor his father’s legacy, stating that the idea of the scholarship came to him during a sleepless night. “This event will empower young coaches in the training program to strive for excellence, much like my father did in his lifetime,” he said. He expressed hope that this initiative would add value to Israeli football.
Acknowledgments from Borussia Dortmund
Daniel Lauchert, vstart president of Borussia Dortmund, expressed his delight in participating in the event. “Moshe was not only a unique professional but also a dear friend. He helped me understand Israel more deeply through football. We want to learn from your football as we welcome the scholarship winners,” Lauchert stated, thanking the Meiri family and the association for preserving Moshe Meiri’s legacy.
As the event came to a close, it served as a poignant reminder of Meiri’s lasting impact on the world of football and the importance of nurturing the next generation of coaches.