Not many are awarded the title of "most decorated", and it doesn't matter what field, up at the top there is usually room for one. And in Israeli football, this one who has won every possible title and stands alone at the top is Dror Kashtan. The coach, who passed away on Monday at the age of 79, left behind an illustrious legacy that includes no less than six championships, six state cups, three Toto Cups and three titles as champion of champions.
As a player, Kashtan played for Hapoel Petah Tikva and Hapoel Kfas and made three appearances for the Israeli national team. He began his coaching career in 1977 at Hapoel Kfar Saba, but in his first season he was relegated, then moved to Hapoel Lod and Hapoel Kiryat Ono in 1980 where he won his first championship in the 81/82 season. He later took the 1983/84 State Cup with Hapoel Lod and led Beitar Jerusalem to three championships in 1986/87, 1992/1993 and 1997/98 and two cups in 1985/86 and 1988/89.
In his trophy cabinet you can also find a championship and cup at Maccabi Tel Aviv (1995/96) and a championship (1999/20) and two cups (1999/20, 2005/06) at Hapoel Tel Aviv, which he also led in the successful European campaign in 2002 that ended only in the quarter-finals. In his coaching career he also coached Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Ramat Gan, Hapoel Petah Tikva and Bnei Yehuda.
In 2005 he was appointed coach of the Israeli national team, replacing Avraham Grant. Under his guidance, Israel rose to the all-time high ranking, 15th place in the FIFA world rankings. However, at the end of 2009, after a campaign full of disappointments, culminating in a home defeat against Latvia, Kashtan's team dropped to 27th place in the world rankings.
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Kashtan in his days at Maccabi Haifa,
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