Polemonium Reptans

Willy Ze'ev Berger (Hebrew: וילי ברגר; 17 January 1906 – 1 July 1986) was an Israeli footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hakoah Tel Aviv and for Eretz Israel football team

Club career

Berger was born in Hungary and played football as youth, appearing for the national schoolboys team, where he was first played as goalkeeper, filling in for an injured teammate. Berger played as youth with 33 FC and MTK Hungaria and joined the first team of VAC. In 1927 Berger was contacted to play with Maccabi HaGibor Haifa on its tour if the USA, but eventually Berger was dropped from the tour and settled in Tiberias, where he played and coached the local Maccabi team.^[1] After several months, Berger was asked to join the newly reformed Hapoel Tel Aviv, to which he agreed. With Hapoel Tel Aviv he won the first Palestine Cup competition. Berger returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv the following season, and once again won the cup, scoring a goal in the final.^[2]

In 1930, Berger returned to Hapoel Tel Aviv and stayed with the club until 1937, winning two league championships and two cups. After 1937, Berger played with Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hakoah Tel Aviv, before retiring in 1950.

International career

Berger was picked as goalkeeper for the first national team, playing against Egypt in the 1934 World Cup qualification.^[3] The national team lost to Egypt 7–1, but Berger's performance was praised.^[4]

Honours

Hapoel Tel Aviv

Palestine League: 1933–34, 1934–35
Israel State Cup: 1928, 1934, 1937

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Israel State Cup: 1929
Magen Shimshon: 1925, 1926

External links

Willy Berger – Israel Football Association national team player details
Willy Berger Hapoel Wiki (in Hebrew)

References

^ From the Banks of the Danube to the Shores of the Kinneret and to Hapoel T.A. Ya'akov Aploig, 12 February 1959, Hadshot HaSport, p. 3(in Hebrew)^{[dead link]}
^ Tel Aviv at the Head of the E.I. Sport Do'ar HaYom, 2 April 1929, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)^{[dead link]}
^ From the Defeat in Cairo to the Glory in Mexico Ma'ariv, 9 June 1974, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)^{[dead link]}
^ The Ring King Farouk Gave Berger – Stolen Ma'ariv, 17 August 1979, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)^{[dead link]}

[1] From the Banks of the Danube to the Shores of the Kinneret and to Hapoel T.A. Ya'akov Aploig, 12 February 1959, Hadshot HaSport, p. 3(in Hebrew)^{[dead link]}

[2] Tel Aviv at the Head of the E.I. Sport Do'ar HaYom, 2 April 1929, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)^{[dead link]}

[3] From the Defeat in Cairo to the Glory in Mexico Ma'ariv, 9 June 1974, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)^{[dead link]}

[4] The Ring King Farouk Gave Berger – Stolen Ma'ariv, 17 August 1979, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)^{[dead link]}

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