Ya'akov Grundman

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Ya'akov "Yankela" Grundman
יעקב "יענקל'ה" גרונדמן
Personal information
Full name Ya'akov "Yankeleh" Grundman
יעקב גרונדמן
Date of birth (1939-07-20)20 July 1939
Place of birth Proszowice, Poland
Date of death 24 May 2004(2004-05-24) (aged 64)
Place of death Tel Aviv, Israel
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
-1954 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1954–1968 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv 174 (20)
International career
1961–1964 Israel 8 (0)
Managerial career
1964–1965 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv (player-coach)
1966–1968 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv (player-coach)
1970–1971 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
1971–1973 Maccabi Petah Tikva
1973–1975 Hapoel Haifa
1976–1977 Maccabi Tel Aviv
1978–1979 Beitar Tel Aviv
1979–1981 Maccabi Netanya
1981–1982 Maccabi Tel Aviv
1982–1983 Hapoel Lod
1983–1984 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
1986–1988 Shimshon Tel Aviv
1988–1992 Israel (co-manager)
1992 Hapoel Tel Aviv
1995–1997 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
1997–1998 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ya'akov "Yankela" Grundman (Hebrew: יעקב "יענקל'ה" גרונדמן; 20, Polish: Jakub Grundman, alternatively Jakob Grundman[1] or Ja’akow Grundman; July 1939, Proszowice – 24 May 2004, Tel Aviv) was a Polish-born Ashkenazi Jewish[1] Israeli professional football player and manager.[2]

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Grundman was born in Proszowice, Poland before the outbreak of World War II.[1][3] After the German invasion of Poland, Grundman’s family went into hiding with a Polish farmer near the town of Proszowice.[3] Grundman spent three years hiding in the town,[1] many times going weeks at a time before getting something to eat.[3]

At the end of the war, Grundman's father returned to work in the flour business and owned a small bakery.[3] The Grundman's shared profits with the Polish farmer and before making aliyah to Israel, they gave him their business and two houses.[3] Upon arrival to Israel, the family settled in the Hatikva Quarter of Tel Aviv.[4]

Playing career[edit]

Growing up in Hatikva Quarter, Grundman joined the local side, Bnei Yehuda.[4][1] Being the only Ashkenazi Jew in the squad, Grundman was nicknamed "The Pole."[4][1] Grundman was part of the squad as they achieved promotion for the first time to the Liga Leumit in 1959.[4]

Managerial career[edit]

After retiring as a player, Grundman began a career as a manager, winning the double with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1977, as well the Israeli league in 1980 with Maccabi Netanya and the State Cup with Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv in 1968, and with Hapoel Haifa in 1974. The peak of his managerial career was when ha, alongside Itzhak Schneor had jointly coached Israel between 1988 and 1992, and were one goal short of qualifying for the 1990 world cup.[1]

Later life and death[edit]

Grundman spent years in the hospital fighting cancer. In 2004, IFA chairman, Itche Menahem presented him with the FIFA Order of Merit.[4] Grundman passed the next day.[4] Before the funeral, his coffin was brought to Ramat Gan Stadium so that the public could pay their respects.[4] On 27 March 2004, three days after Grundman's death, the Israel national team held a moment of silence for Yankeleh before their friendly match against Georgia in Tbilisi.[5]

Honours[edit]

Playing honours[edit]

Club[edit]

Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv

Managerial honours[edit]

Club[edit]

Hapoel Haifa
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Netanya
Shimshon Tel Aviv

Individual[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Dariusz Dobek (20 July 2020), Trzy lata pod powierzchnią ziemi. Nieznana historia trenera urodzonego w Polsce (in Polish), onet.pl
  2. ^ Bartel, Liran (25 May 2004). יעקב גרונדמן הובא היום למנוחות [Ya'akov Grundman Buried Today]. Ma'ariv (in Hebrew). NRG.co.il. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e שלוש שנים בבור: ילדותו של יענקל'ה גרונדמן בפולין [Three Years In A Ditch: The Childhood Of Yankel'eh Grundman In Poland] (in Hebrew). One.co.il. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Former Israel coach Grundman dies, 65". Ha'aretz. 25 May 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Gamecast: Georgia v Israel". ESPN. Reuters. 27 May 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2011.