Barak Itzhaki is introduced as the new coach of Beitar Jerusalem with Barak Abramov, Almog Cohen/photo: Shlomi Gabai. Video editing: Nir Chen
The three consecutive league losses led Beitar Jerusalem to recalculate a course. The club announced today (Monday) the appointment of Barak Itzhaki as the new head coach for two and a half seasons, with the aim of keeping the team that was entangled in the struggles at the bottom of the league. Itzhaki completes a completely new professional avenue, when Moshe Ohion will serve as his assistant instead of Gal Cohen who left the team earlier and the senior professional authority will be Almog Cohen, who left Maccabi Netanya and will be the professional director at Beitar Jerusalem.
Yellow and black again.
Itzhaki/Shlomi Gabbai
Barak Abramov: "First of all, I want to say a big thank you to Gal Cohen, who was an administrator during the club's most difficult times, always cared only for the club and the team, and for everyone, the best he could do. He always worked hard, even in financial uncertainty. Unfortunately, the stage he received , after waiting a long time for the position, he didn't succeed because of bad luck. He did things right, and unfortunately football is also about results and he didn't succeed. But I'm sure he will succeed. Beitar is a club of strengths, which needs to be much more than a football coach."
On Itzhaki: "I knew I wanted to bring in a professional manager and change the club's system.
I knew I wanted Almog Cohen, for many seasons, I loved him as an actor and as a professional.
He nurtured players, and even when he was released he managed to get replacements for them.
He brought achievements to Netanya, and I am happy that he came to work with me.
We had a click, a very good understanding, and when I want someone and he wants to come to me, the financial aspect is not the problem.
"He signed for three and a half years, the test of results is important, but the path is no less important. When we talked about a coach, he said Barak Yitzhaki, and I'm glad he said that. We turned to Yitzhak. Although things were done for next season, but what happened last week happened, we understood that we need to do it sooner.
"There were Labak Lebats, he wanted to build the team from scratch for next season, but he believes in the team and believes in everyone, and I believe we will embark on a new path."
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Professional intervention?
Abramov: "When I have a first-class coach and a professional manager, I have nothing to interfere. But if I have something to say, I will say it"/Shlomi Gabai
Barak Itzhaki: "After the conversation with Barak, I realized that this is the right place to go. Everyone knows my love and my identity with Beitar, even in my days as a player.
I am happy to stand today in the professional team and to be the coach of the team.
Of course coaches are ultimately measured by results and victories, but the path is important.
And we know that we have a difficult road ahead of us.
We are close to a place that leads to relegation.
But I believe in the players, I believe in the team that is with me.
The players should understand that they are in one of the biggest clubs in Israel, if not the biggest.
They need to understand what situation the team is in.
With hard work and the right way, the results will also come, and we can deal with it in the long term as well.
We'll try to change some small things, we're not magicians, we can't change everything in a day or two, that's a way.
But I believe in people.
I got an opportunity here, and I would like to prove that the decision they made is correct."
Abramov on the claims of professional interference on his part: "Everyone talks about it, but Barak Abramov does not interfere, but says what he thinks after a game.
When I have a first class coach and a professional manager, I have nothing to interfere.
But if I have something to say, I will say it."
Why hasn't he brought a manager until now: "With Yossi a professional manager it's difficult.
It is a collaborative work, and I knew that it would be difficult to bring in a professional manager.
When he left, I brought in a professional manager."
"There was a click with Barak, and I am sure that Yitzhak is the right man"/Shlomi Gabai
Itzhaki: "Coaching Beitar is not easy.
We know the club.
We are football people.
We came from the field.
I also experienced as a coach.
I worked with coaches.
I was always happy to hear about training and work plans.
In the end, I will have to bring from my experience as a football player, of course with the help of Almog - who is a professional manager different from others.
He is on the grass in every practice.
Together we would like to return Beitar to the place it deserves to be.
"I have seen almost all of Beitar's games this season. But in the last game something stood out to me. 93rd minute, in Sakhnin, 1:1, on a hard court - and eight Sakhnin players in the field of Beitar, and only five Beitar players on the field. These are things that cannot happen. The commitment of the players must increase. Every player must show that he deserves to stay in Beitar."
Almog Cohen: "A professional manager should bring solutions to the coach.
I brought good players to Netanya, but that's beyond.
This is the way of the club.
There was a click with Barak, and I am sure that Yitzhak is the right man.
I'm not one who likes to go out with statements.
But Beitar needs to establish itself at the top year after year after year. It's a huge club, and must return to being there."
Barak Itzhaki is introduced as the new coach of Beitar Jerusalem/Shlomi Gabai
Abramov on the inexperienced Itzhaki: "The journalists also killed Masai Dago, and look what he is doing to the league."
On the financial situation: "The club has a lot of debts. I don't promise that we will buy players for big money. In January, whoever I wanted to come, didn't want to come. Whatever was on the market, we brought. I didn't dream of this situation, but that's football. I didn't think that Yossi Abouxis wouldn't finish the season . Money is what plays. If we are fourth in player budget, we expected to be in this area.
"Like the audience, I want to see happy football.
In my view, I want Almog and Barak with me for the long term.
Beitar's best season in the last decade was with a professional manager, Yossi Benyon.
Itzhaki: "I believe in hard work, maybe it wouldn't have looked like that when I was an actor, but I believe in it. If everyone works hard, we can move forward."
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Barak Itzhaki
Beitar Jerusalem