(Photo: Yossi Shekel)
Yossi Benyon has kept a lot in his stomach lately. After a well-publicized departure from Betar Jerusalem and contacts for the position of technical director of the Israeli national team that have fallen, Benyon is already beginning to think about the next step in his career. Not in the Israeli team, on the next step in his career, the status of the coach and also the corner in the heart that remains for Maccabi Haifa. Yossi Benyon, fascinating as usual.
“We did an excellent job at Betar Jerusalem”
Yossi Benyon did not wait long after retiring and a season later was appointed professional manager of Betar Jerusalem. In his only full season, Betar Jerusalem won the Toto Cup and finished in third place, but in the summer, after being relegated from Europe against Tauta, Benyon left.
“Within budget constraints I think we did a great job and built a good team,” he expressed satisfaction, “It is very difficult to keep quiet, there is a lot of pressure and I think the year I was, was the quietest year of Betar Jerusalem in recent years, there were no problems in the locker room “That is more important to me than professional success.”
In the end, what broke the camel’s back was the subject of Roni Levy
“One of the reasons, but that’s the main reason. There were a few other things that happened, in the last few weeks I felt like I was wasting my energy on things I shouldn’t be spending. My job was to concentrate only on the professional and I had to get into arguments about other matters.”
Everyone knows how much I love and appreciate Roni Levy, “Benin continued,” for me he is one of the best Israeli coaches in the country, but if we failed, I would put him in the conversation, and tell him ‘Roni, with how much I love you, we need to move on and I need to “I don’t think he’s failed.”
“People do not pay attention, we finished in 3rd place with a smaller budget than many teams and this is the first season, after a revolution and construction. Even when we were close to the top, people pampered that it was a failure.”
How does Celebrate Choose to give up on you and Roni Levy?
“I must be real, celebrating gave me all the support. It may have been difficult for him, but he did not interfere with me professionally in anything. We talked about football and he always flowed with my ideas and decisions. Most owners intervene and think they understand more than anyone, but he “He did not do it at all. In the second year when some things started, so I preferred to move aside, so as not to be dragged to bad places.”
“Betar Jerusalem gave me a lot, the owner said goodbye to me in an amazing way. I really like the audience and I wanted to end well and beautifully, “Benin continued,” I said in the conversation that it was not for me, that I did not want the relationship to be harmed, and I feel I must go with my truth and move aside. “
When you look at Betar from the side – does it surprise you or not?
“I really like the club and want them to succeed, they also brought in coaches that I really like, I know them and want them to succeed. Whether I am surprised or not? You can not say I am surprised. I saw things that could happen, but I did not think it could be so. “They still have time to change and can still make this season. I wish that would be what happens.”
Why didn’t you sign Noble Omar in Betar Jerusalem?
“Every decision I make is a decision that I agree with one million percent, Noble’s name came up right when it was fresh and still was not the decision of the prosecution and did not know a million and one things. Yes, I was against and I am not ashamed of it. I thought it was the right decision for Betar Jerusalem. A lot of people like to tell stories and run away from responsibility, I can assure you I’m not the only one who was against, but they were comfortable that it would be just me. In any case, I am not afraid to go with my truth. “
“For me to build a good dressing room the less problems the quieter,” he explained, “Betar is a club that produces a lot of noise and I was sure it would produce more noise production. At that point in time I did not see fit to bring Omar. Today things have changed, and I really do not criticize Yankele Shachar. For him, he made the right decision. “
Is your door to Betar Jerusalem still open?
“The relationship is good. I believe such a thing can happen. At the moment I do not see myself going back there, it is neither true for me nor for them.”
Roni Levy will succeed in the BS. Is football happy to attack and finish in 10th place? “
Yossi Benyon remains the number 1 fan of Israeli football. He watches the games, is familiar with what is happening in each team, and he also has an opinion on what is happening everywhere: from Maccabi Haifa through the status of coach to Hapoel B’Shlosha.
“I have no doubt that Roni will succeed in the WC, I see the staff and the changes they want to make, and it looks good,” Benyon analyzed, “Roni of many years ago is not of today. He was much harder and he made the change and understood what needed to be done to move forward and get better. His training at the highest level, and he learned to get along with all the players like Joshua and more “problematic” on paper. He knows how to get along with everyone very well. “
But Alona Barkat wanted happy football
“Happy football? Betar Jerusalem also says that. What is happy football? Attack and be in tenth place? I want to see an owner who says ‘we’ll score three and I don’t care if we get 4’. What happens in such a situation? Lose 4: 3 and then put you in the call and say fire the coach. In the end, we want results. “
Are you angry with Hapoel B’Shlosha?
“No, I had anger in the period before Alona, from her time I have no anger. I really like the people and BS, my family in the south, I am originally from Dimona. The fact that they cursed me stems from disappointment, that they wanted me to return to them. “
Like Aliniv Barda for example
“Aliniv is one of the best friends and chose to return to BS, but I always go with my heart, I decided to go back to a place that was home to me and it is Maccabi Haifa and I should not apologize for that. If I had to repeat it another million times, I would return to Maccabi Haifa, so it’s okay that they are angry with me. “
Even at Maccabi Haifa, the crowd is angry with you
“Life is rolling. Everywhere there are a handful and that, I know a lot of the Maccabi Haifa crowd loves me. A lot of fans from Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel B’Shlosha love me. So can be angry about things like this that didn’t seem right, I went with the truth and my way “.
“There was a situation where I had to leave Maccabi Haifa,” he explained, “their right to be angry about what I left, I think I had to do it. If not, then I would not live in peace with myself. I would rather look in the mirror and be whole and not burning inside.”
You came from Mabash, but you went through a lot of teams in Israel. Where is Yossi Benyon’s heart today?
“My home is football, the profession is football. And if you already want to associate me with something, it is to the fact that I am Israeli, to the Israeli team.”
“Of course I was connected to every place I played, there is no doubt that in Israel I played 6 years at Maccabi Haifa, so I am more identified with Maccabi Haifa. If you ask people on the street mainly remember the good years at Maccabi Haifa, then it makes sense.”
Benyon’s explanation: Why did he refuse the Israeli team?
In recent weeks, Yossi Benyon’s name has made headlines again due to his candidacy for the Israeli team for the position of technical director. After lengthy negotiations, Benyon chose to give up the job, and now he is recounting the chain of events.
You had the opportunity to work for the Israeli team and you refused
“Easy to say there were calls and you refused. There was experience and desire on both sides at least at first and it seemed like everything was fine and things had changed. I will not chase after one role or another and give up my principles, the Israeli team is always a special thing and was the most exciting place to play. “Maybe one day I will be on the team in the future and even if I am not, then nothing happened.”
Nir Levin left the young teams Is this something that could have suited you?
“It’s very complicated. There were a lot of conversations. Everything was almost agreed upon, we talked about certain things, and then things changed and did not close. Today I do not see myself as the technical director of the young women. “
Because you are not allowed to be involved in the senior team?
“No, it’s not exactly like that. If I’m sitting with someone and we’re talking about 1,2,3 and it’s okay and suddenly it’s become 1,3,5, then in my character it’s less suitable for me.”
“I will go into a place that I know can be influenced from the bottom up,” he explained, “if I fail, the failure will be on me but if there is success, then it will be on me as well, and that is where I want to be.”
What is going to happen to you in the coming year?
“My wife is studying and busy and I am with the kids. Spending time and being good to me. If it stays that way I will be happy, but if there is a role I think I can change and influence and bring of myself, then I will be happy too.”
“I feel that professional management is the job that interests me, so I will wait patiently to see if there will be an option to develop in that direction. If not, then either I will not return or I will change direction to something else.”
Are you interested abroad?
“is very”.
To train there?
“For everything, to a professional manager or an artist. That was my goal the day I retired and became a professional manager. “In the long run I was aiming there and I am still aiming, the plan was a bit stopped, if I had stayed in Betar for two or three years, I have no doubt I would have gotten there.
Association game with Yossi Benyon
Moshe is celebrating
“The only one who knew how to say goodbye to me in an amazing way, did a lot for me and I wish him success in everything. “
Will Roni Levy succeed in the BS?
“He will succeed and in a big way. “
Where will the Israeli team go?
“Need to be realistic. I do not think we are close to going up for one tournament or another, but these are not the important things. What is needed is to build a way from the bottom up. In the end, we will be there. “