A day after the search committee chose him by a majority vote to continue as the coach of the Israeli national team, Willy Rotensteiner is satisfied. The national coach refused to be interviewed at this stage but in closed conversations said: “I wanted to be the coach. I believe in my ability to lead Israel to the World Cup.”
Rotensteiner agreed to reduce his salary slightly, and in a contract to be signed between the parties he will receive special bonuses for ending the campaign in second place and of course in case of an increase. According to sources involved in the negotiations, Rotensteiner will receive about a quarter of a million euros in the event of illegal immigration. And although he will be one of those who will recommend the coaches to the young teams, contractually, the selection committee is not obligated to accept.
In contrast to the lobby that made Austrian players on the team after the last campaign, when Shaaran Zehavi, Beavers Natcho and Manor Solomon called to continue with him on the lines, yesterday none of them commented on his stay. Rotensteiner’s entourage said no player had sent him a message either, but it may be done after the official approval on Thursday after the association’s board meeting.
Rotensteiner, who is aware of the criticisms of his continuation, does not understand why. For him the stay of the team in level B and the style he brought to the team should not have caused a question mark about him. “I do not understand the criticism of me,” the coach said in those closed conversations, “the team under me is progressing.”
