The Most Successful Foreign Coaches in Israeli Football History

Israeli football has seen a multitude of foreign coaches over the years, with varying degrees of success. As the Israeli league continues to evolve, we take a retrospective look at the achievements of these foreign coaches, examining their impact based on points per game and titles won. Recent developments, such as the appointment of Diego Flores as the new head coach of Maccabi Haifa, the fifth foreign coach in the club’s history, urge us to analyze this topic more closely.

Measuring Success: Points and Titles

Success for these coaches is primarily measured through their average points per game, with a victory accounting for three points. However, it’s essential to note that many coaches, especially those at Maccabi Tel Aviv, may see their statistics affected by European campaigns, which can skew performance averages.

This analysis excludes coaches who managed fewer than five games, focusing instead on those who significantly impacted their teams.

Coaches with the Lowest Performance Records

The following coaches hold the lowest average points per game in the history of foreign coaching in the Israeli league:

1. Borja Llama (Hapoel Tel Aviv) – 0.86 points per game over 14 games, 0 titles.
2. Blagojja Milevski (M.S. Ashdod) – 0.90 points per game over 10 games, 0 titles.
3. Erwin Koeman (Beitar Jerusalem) – 1.09 points per game over 11 games, 0 titles.
4. Rene Meulensteen (Maccabi Haifa) – 1.21 points per game over 24 games, 0 titles.
5. Alexander Stanojevic (Maccabi Haifa) – 1.27 points per game over 15 games, 0 titles.

Coaches with Average Performance

Here’s a look at the coaches with an average points per game performance:

1. Ossie Ardiles (Beitar Jerusalem) – 1.57 points per game over 7 games, 0 titles.
2. Michael Valkanis (Hapoel Tel Aviv) – 1.60 points per game over 5 games, 0 titles.
3. Georgios Donis (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 1.62 points per game over 21 games, 1 Toto Cup.
4. Lothar Matthäus (Maccabi Netanya) – 1.64 points per game over 33 games, 0 titles.
5. Dušan Lajović (Maccabi Haifa) – 1.79 points per game over 34 games, 0 titles.

Coaches with Good Performance

The following coaches have maintained a good average points per game:

1. Shota Arveladze (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 1.86 points per game over 29 games, 0 titles.
2. Aitor Karanka (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 1.87 points per game over 23 games, 0 titles.
3. Zarko Lazetic (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 1.96 points per game over 52 games, 3 titles including a championship.
4. Lito Vidigal (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 2.00 points per game over 17 games, 0 titles.
5. Jordi Cruyff (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 2.01 points per game over 57 games, 1 Toto Cup.

The Elite Tier of Coaches

Finally, we have the top-performing foreign coaches in the league:

1. Paco Ayestarán (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 2.12 points per game over 43 games, 3 titles including a treble.
2. Oscar Garcia (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 2.16 points per game over 42 games, 1 championship.
3. Vladimir Ivic (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 2.25 points per game over 114 games, 4 titles including 2 championships.
4. Peter Bosz (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 2.32 points per game over 25 games, 0 titles.
5. Robbie Keane (Maccabi Tel Aviv) – 2.32 points per game over 53 games, 2 titles including 1 league championship.

Conclusion

The examination of foreign coach performances in Israeli football reveals both the challenges and successes that come with these roles. While titles are a clear indicator of success, points per game provide a nuanced view that highlights coaching effectiveness in fluctuating team environments.

As teams seek to innovate and improve their chances for success, understanding the historical context of coaching effectiveness is vital for future strategies.

---