Eliezer Spiegel (; 20 June 1922 – 26 November 2017) was a footballer and manager, who played for Maccabi Petah Tikva, Beitar Tel Aviv and for the Israel national football team in the 1940s and 1950s.
Playing career Spiegel started playing football as in Maccabi Petah Tikva, playing against CAM Timișoara when the Romanian team visited Palestine in winter 1939. Spiegel appeared with Maccabi Petah Tikva in the 1939 Palestine Cup final, losing to Hapoel Tel Aviv 1–2.
In 1940, Spiegel moved to Beitar Tel Aviv and reached the 1942 Palestine Cup final, scoring 8 goals in the match, in which Beitar won 12–1 against Maccabi Haifa.69 Years Ago Today: Eliezer Spiegel and the Palestine Circus Arie Livnat, 6 July 2011, Haaret In 1944, Spiegel was arrested as a suspected member of the Irgun and was sent to internment in Sembel camp, Eritrea, where he stayed until June 1946.23 Of Eritrea Detainees Are About to Be Released HaTzofe, 31 May 1946, Historical Jewish Press Upon his release, Spiegel returned to Maccabi Petah Tikva, with whom he stayed until his retirement in 1957, winning the State Cup with the team in 1952Maccabi P.T. Won the Cup Al HaMishmar, 8 June 1952, Historical Jewish Press and winning top goal scorer in 1953–54.A Signal from Petah Tikva Uzi Dan, 21 March 2004, Haaretz
Spiegel played three official matches for the national team between 1948 and 1956. Spiegel was part of the squad in Israel's inaugural match, against the U.S.A., assisting Israel's lone goal of the match in a 1–3 defeat. and later played for the national team against Cyprus in 1949Israel Had Beaten Cyprus 3:1 (2:1) Al HaMishar, 31 July 1949, Historical Jewish Press and made his final appearance for the national team 7 years late, in Israel's final match in the Asian Cup, against South Vietnam. I addition, Spiegel played two unofficial matches for the national team, scoring one goal in an informal meeting between the national teams of Israel and Cyprus, which was billed as a match between Tel Aviv and NicosiaNicosia – Tel Aviv 2:2 in the Rematch Y. Ram, 31 July 1949, Sport Israel, p. 1, via archive.football.org.il
Managerial career Spiegel started his coaching career in Maccabi Petah Tikva in 1955, acting as player-manager. In 1956, Spiegel was appointed as an interim manager of the national team, when the IFA briefly sacked coach Jackie Gibbons ahead of the 1956 AFC Asian Cup.Spiegel Appointed Coach of the Football National Team Herut, 19 August 1956, Historical Jewish Press As Gibbons was reinstated as coach the national team for the competition itself, Spiegel acted as his assistant.Israel National Team Left for the Asian Cup Finals Herut 24 August 1956, Historical Jewish Press In 1957 Spiegel was forced to leave Maccabi Petah TikvaA Players Revolt Deposed Spiegel from Maccabi P.T. Herut, 19 May 1957, Historical Jewish Press and moved on to coach Maccabi Hadera which Spiegel led to promotion from Liga Bet (third division).Spiegel Brought Maccabi Safely Back to Liga Alef Herut, 16 July 1957, Historical Jewish Press Spiegel then had spells in Hapoel Petah Tikva,1957/58 Season – The Story of the Season hpt.co.il Hapoel Kfar Saba,Statistics – the 40s and the 50s Hapoel Kfar Saba Official Website Maccabi Hadera,Hakoah T.A. Declared as Champion of the First Round in Liga Alef, But the Struggle for the Top Will Begin Only in the Second Round Herut, 3 January 1960, Historical Jewish Press Maccabi Petah TikvaThe Players Stayed – The Coaches Changed Ma'ariv, 4 November 1960, Historical Jewish Press and Shimshon Tel AvivSpiegel – to Shimshon T.A. Yesha'ayahu Porat, 5 June 1961, Ma'ariv, Historical Jewish Press before coaching Beitar Netanya for three years.Spiegel: Discipline and Practice Are a Good Guarantee for Success Ma'ariv, 23 November 1964, Historical Jewish Press
In 1965 Spiegel moved to coach Maccabi Tel Aviv, where his son, Giora, was playing at the time.The Problem of Maccabi Tel Aviv – a Surplus of Players in Training Ma'ariv, 6 September 1965, Historical Jewish Press In September 1966, Spiegel was fired from Maccabi Tel Aviv, as the team's players demanded that he would be replacedCoach Spiegel Released from His Post Ma'ariv, 13 September 1966, Historical Jewish Press and Spiegel returned to coach Beitar Netanya.Hapoel Kiryat Haim – Beitar Netanya 2:0 (1:0) Yehuda Goren, Ma'ariv, 30 October 1966, Historical Jewish Press In summer 1967 Spiegel began to coach Maccabi Sha'arayimThe Main Thing – Physical Shape A. Avi-Ro'ee, Ma'ariv, 23 August 1967, Historical Jewish Press and managed to save the team from relegation from the top division. Spiegel stayed with the club until February 1969, when he resigned.E. Spiegel Asked to Be Released from Coaching Maccabi Sha'arayim Ma'ariv, 4 February 1969, Historical Jewish Press On 24 April 1969, Spiegel, together with Edmond Schmilovich, managed the national team's match against Austria, drawing 1–1, as Emmanuel Scheffer was coaching the U-19 national team at the 1969 AFC Youth Championship.The Draw Satisfied Both Sides Yesha'ayahu Porat, 24 April 1969, Ma'ariv, Historical Jewish Press In Summer 1969 Spiegel joined Hakoah Ramat Gan,Hakoah T.A.: The Aim: Mid-table Dan Dudiuk, 9 September 1969, Ma'ariv, Historical Jewish Press where he stayed for the next five seasons, winning with the club the State Cup in 1971Only Eliezer Spiegel Didn't Get a Medal at the Cup Final Davar, 27 June 1971, Historical Jewish Press and the league championship in 1972–73.Bad conditions were not obstacles in the way of Hakoah to the Championship Shai Kfir, 6 May 1973, Davar, Historical Jewish Press
After leaving Hakoah Ramat Gan, Spiegel coached Maccabi Netanya, with which he finished as runner-up in the league, Maccabi Petah Tikva, which he assisted to gain promotion to the top division, Maccabi Herzliya, Hapoel Jerusalem, with which he won the second division and promoted to Liga Leumit, Hapoel Ramat Gan, which he also promoted to Liga Leumit and Maccabi Jaffa. In 1984 Spiegel was appointed as coach for the U-21 national team and assistant manager for the national team,Shirazi Is Wounded – But Was Summoned to the U-21 Team Meir Rifman, 2 October 1984, Ma'ariv, Historical Jewish Press which he coached in the 1985 Maccabiah Games, winning the gold medal.Yaron Returned the Goldy Medal to Israel Meir Rifman, 25 July 1985, Ma'ariv, Historical Jewish Press Spiegel left the u-21 team when his contract endedThe U-21 Disbanded Until September A. Tabak, 28 January 1986, Ma'ariv, Historical Jewish Press and signed on with Hapoel Marmorek,Eliezer Spiegel – to Marmorek Yehiel Hofi, 25 February 1986, Ma'ariv, Historical Jewish Press which was his final coaching position before retirement.
Personal life Spiegel's son Giora is a former footballer and manager. His son-in-law, Danny Begbleiter, and grandson Eyal Begbleiter were also footballers.
Honours Player Beitar Tel Aviv State Cup: 1942
Maccabi Petah Tikva State Cup: 1951–52 Maccabiah Games: 1950
Israel AFC Asian Cup: Runner-up, 1956
Individual Top Goalscorer: 1953–54 (16 goals)
Manager league championship (1): 1972–73 Second tier (1): 1979–80 State Cup (1): 1970–71 Maccabiah Games (1): 1985
References