"He was supposed to be one of the greatest in Israeli football"
Eyal Berkowitz thinks he was "one of the greats I played with," but his career was riddled with injuries and disappointments and melted away.
Guy Yitzhak retired from football at the age of 30 ("The day after you have nothing") and recalled in an interview how he led Maccabi Petah Tikva to one of the greatest revolutions in history
Asher Goldberg
21/07/2022
Thursday, 21 July 2022, 17:16
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At the time you said Sagi Yitzhak is similar to you and reminds you of a football player.
"Guy Yitzhak was a huge player and an amazing football talent. Guy was one of the greatest players I played with and against them in the youth teams, and in the seniors in the league in Israel."
Why did he not reach the heights you reached in Israel?
"Guy played throughout his career at a club that is considered small, Maccabi Petah Tikva, and in addition from the beginning he suffered long injuries, along with a lot of bad luck. In my opinion, he was supposed to be one of the greatest players in Israeli football."
A career that could have been much bigger.
Guy Yitzhak (Photo: Maariv, Adi Avishai)
It would have been possible to wave these things off, if the speaker had not been one of Israel's greatest actors, Eyal Berkowitz.
"This is the greatest Israeli footballer ever, without underestimating other big names," Yitzhak returns. "I collaborated with Berkowitz on the Maccabi Israel team, the youth teams and the Olympic team.
Guy Yitzhak was born on September 2, 1972, married with three daughters.
The youngest of them plays football in the girls' team of Maccabi Petah Tikva.
He lives in the village of Sirkin and works for Avis as the vehicle fleet manager.
"Momo Lutsky (former basketball manager of the Israel national team - AG) who was my sports teacher referred me in the seventh grade to the youth department of Maccabi Petah Tikva, to former player Zvika Oppenheim. From there I was promoted to the legendary Yitzhak Kojidlo, a dear man "A lot of players from the youth to the seniors," he says of his beginnings and mentions the players who inspired him,
As Berkowitz said, the injuries stopped him.
"It was difficult to break through Maccabi Petah Tikva from the youth to the seniors because the club leaders preferred to bring in abundant Israeli purchasing players. "I suffered a tear in my knee ligament and went through half a year of recovery at home. About a year later another cross injury and another 8 months out. It was not easy, I had thoughts of retirement in my head."
Nothing prepared him for retirement.
Guy Yitzhak today (Photo: courtesy of the photographer)
A big professional disappointment is a stream in the 1993/94 season in the State Cup.
"In the league we finished in eighth place, we coveted the title, we believed in the cup. It started in the eighth with a victory over Betar Jerusalem in a penalty shootout (3: 5) after 120 minutes of 0: 0.
In the quarterfinals we recorded a huge victory in the derby against Hapoel Petah Tikva 0: 2 and then in the semifinals we finished 1: 1 against Hapoel Tel Aviv after 120 minutes, we were eliminated on penalties after a 3: 1 loss.
" Until I won the Toto Cup. "I returned to being the player before the injury.
Maccabi Petah Tikva had a team with a good staff, which included, among others, Golan Malul, Magmadov, Sharon Tzufin, Tal Banya, Ran Ben Shimon, Fitoussi, Noam Casey, the purchase from Azerbaijan Samir Alkaprov and others.
In the Toto Cup final, we defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 1: 2 with a goal by me and Ran Ben Shimon.
Nir Sevilla only shrank with the whistle. "
Guy Isaac was supposed to end up with a career like his.
Berkowitz (Photo: GettyImages, Ross Kinnaird / Allsport)
The greatest game of his career, and also one of the greatest in the history of the Cup Games, was recorded in the summer of 2001, in the semi-finals of the Cup against the champion Maccabi Haifa.
"In February 2000, we defeated Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup final 1: 4, but we finished in the lower playoffs. The direction was the trophy. In the quarterfinals we passed Kiryat Ata, in the semifinals Maccabi Haifa was waiting for us. They led 0: 2 until the 86th minute, then We scored two goals in three minutes and dragged the game to extra time. In the 115th minute I scored a goal for Nir Davidovich that shook the Ramat Gan stadium. In the final, Maccabi Tel Aviv won, beating Hapoel Tel Aviv 0: 2. "
You were shocked in the final, Ramat Gan Stadium was yellow.
"There were over 40,000 fans in the stadium, 5,000 of whom were recruited by Maccabi Petah Tikva. Before the game we had talks that you can beat them like in the final of 1952 and bring the trophy. Brakeman Murad Magmadov was not in the squad due to injury. "The whole stadium was painted yellow. We lost 3-0 in the second half to Rodrigo Goldberg, Eli Bitton and Avi Nemani."
Talented and fast.
Guy Yitzhak in a typical tragedy (Photo: Maariv, Danny Maron)
Has football promoted you financially?
"I was very frugal, I didn't go wild and I didn't do nonsense. You could say that I bought an apartment in the Em Hamoshavot neighborhood from football."
Against which brakes did you have the hardest time?
"Amir Shelach was very strong and tough. Bendo was also an excellent brake."
They're not the ones who made you retire at age 30.
"I had cartilage erosion, meniscus and the effects of surgery on the cruciate ligaments. On the advice of doctors I was advised not to go back to playing football. I retired from my favorite thing. When you'm used to being in a bubble and surrounded by love and then, the day after, you have nothing - no team, no training and no game on Saturday. With us it does not exist.
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