Willy Berger

Willy Ze'ev Berger (Hebrew: וילי ברגר‎) was an Israeli footballer, who played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hakoah Tel Aviv and for Eretz Israel football team

Willy Berger
Personal information
Full name Willy Ze'ev Berger
Date of birth (1906-01-17)17 January 1906
Place of birth Hungary
Date of death 1 July 1986(1986-07-01) (aged 80)
Place of death Israel
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1922–23 33 FC
1923–25 MTK Hungaria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1925–1926 VAC
1927 Maccabi Tiberias
1927–1928 Hapoel Tel Aviv
1928–1930 Maccabi Tel Aviv
1930–1937 Hapoel Tel Aviv
1937–1946 Maccabi Petah Tikva
1946–1950 Hakoah Tel Aviv
National team
1934 Eretz Israel 2 (0)
Teams managed
1927 Maccabi Tiberias
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

League football

Berger was born in Hungary and played football as youth, appearing for the national schoolboys team, where he was first played as goalkeeper, filling in for an injured teammate. Berger played as youth with 33 FC and MTK Hungaria and joined the first team of VAC. In 1927 Berger was contacted to play with Maccabi HaGibor Haifa on its tour if the USA, but eventually Berger was dropped from the tour and settled in Tiberias, where he played and coached the local Maccabi team.[1] After several months, Berger was asked to join the newly reformed Hapoel Tel Aviv, to which he agreed. With Hapoel Tel Aviv he won the first Palestine Cup competition. Berger returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv the following season, and once again won the cup, scoring a goal in the final.[2]

In 1930, Berger returned to Hapoel Tel Aviv and stayed with the club until 1937, winning two league championships and two cups. After 1937, Berger played with Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hakoah Tel Aviv, before retiring in 1950.

National team

Berger was picked as goalkeeper for the first national team, playing against Egypt in the 1934 World Cup qualification.[3] The national team lost in Egypt 1–7, but Berger's performance was Praised.[4]

Honours

References
  1. From the Banks of the Danube to the Shores of the Kinneret and to Hapoel T.A. Ya'akov Aploig, 12 February 1959, Hadshot HaSport, p. 3(in Hebrew)
  2. Tel Aviv at the Head of the E.I. Sport Do'ar HaYom, 2 April 1929, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  3. From the Defeat in Cairo to the Glory in Mexico Ma'ariv, 9 June 1974, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  4. The Ring King Farouk Gave Berger – Stolen Ma'ariv, 17 August 1979, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
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