Pini Balili (Hebrew: פִּינִי בַּלִילִי; born 18 June 1979) is an Israeli former football manager and former player. He was born in Jerusalem and is Jewish, of Turkish descent.[1][2][3]

Pini Balili
פִּינִי בַּלִילִי
Personal information
Full name Pinhas Felix Balili
פִּנחַס פֱלִיקס בַּלִילִי
Date of birth (1979-06-18) 18 June 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth Bat Yam, Israel
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1990–1996 Hapoel Tel Aviv
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1997 Shimshon Tel Aviv 9 (1)
1997–2003 Hapoel Tel Aviv 115 (35)
2003–2004 İstanbulspor 29 (13)
2004–2005 Kayserispor 28 (10)
2005–2009 Sivasspor 95 (21)
2009–2010 Antalyaspor 15 (0)
2010–2012 Bnei Yehuda 62 (7)
2012–2014 Maccabi Ironi Bat Yam 34 (12)
International career
1997 Israel U18 3 (0)
2000 Israel U21 4 (1)
2000–2007 Israel 29 (7)
Managerial career
2012–2013 Maccabi Ironi Bat Yam (caretaker player-manager)
2013–2014 Maccabi Ironi Bat Yam (assistant manager)
2014–2015 Maccabi Holon (women)
2015 F.C. Shikun HaMizrah (general manager)
2015–2016 Agudat Sport Ashdod
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Move back to Hapoel

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As a youngster, Balili grew up supporting Hapoel Tel Aviv and was part of the youth system there before moving to Shimshon Tel Aviv in his teens. It wasn't long before he caught the eye of Hapoel scouts who saw Balili as a missed opportunity so the club purchased his contract after just one professional season. His breakout did not come until the Dror Kashtan era at Hapoel Tel Aviv.[4] Instrumental in the club's success in the UEFA Cup, Balili found himself featuring for the national team as well. After the 2002–03 season, Hapoel decided to cut wages and Pini left for Turkish club Istanbulspor.[5]

Time in Turkey

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Balili's Turkish league debut was sensational; on 10 August 2003, he scored a beautiful chip as his team surprised city rivals Fenerbache 3–0. troubles at Istanbulspor led to Balili being let go after just one season. Though he immediately signed with newly promoted Kayserispor. In 2006, Sivasspor applied for Turkish citizenship for Balili stating that he is a model citizen in Turkey and has full grasp of the Turkish language.[6]

A somewhat religious man, rumors were started that a league match between Sivasspor and Ankaraspor, was postponed during the 2006–07 on account of it coinciding with Yom Kippur. The Turkish Football Federation denied these claims.[7] The story garnered some press coverage, namely because Israeli goalkeeper, Dudu Aouate claimed that he was willing to play on the Jewish day of atonement.

On 12 August 2007, Balili was viciously tackled by Trabzonspor's Egyptian defensive midfielder, Ayman Abdelaziz.[8] Allegedly, Ayman swore at Balili in Arabic before the tackle and it caused the Sivasspor players to fight with the Trabzonspor players. A spectator then jumped onto the pitch and threw punches.[9] Sivasspor players responded which led to a big fight on the field. Trabzonspor got punished for this incident.

Return to Israel

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On 16 June 2010, Balili signed a two-year contract with Bnei Yehuda reuniting with his former coach Dror Kashtan.

On 17 October 2012, he moved to play for Maccabi Ironi Bat Yam in Liga Alef, there he played for two seasons until he retired from playing at the end of the 2013–14 season.

Managerial career

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On 10 December 2012, Balili took over as the caretaker manager of Maccabi Ironi Bat Yam while still playing for them.[10] The next season Balili worked as the assistant manager of Bat Yam until the club folded at the end of the 2013–14 season.

In the 2014–15 season, Balili worked as the manager of Maccabi Holon in the Ligat Nashim.

On 30 July 2015, Balili was appointed as the general manager of F.C. Shikun HaMizrah.

Honours

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Soccer: Riot breaks out as Balili fouled by Egyptian player". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
  2. ^ Bali, Rifat (13 April 2012). Model Citizens of the State: The Jews of Turkey during the Multi-Party Period. Lexington Books. ISBN 9781611475371 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Pini Balili". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org.
  4. ^ Pini Balili. JewsinSports.org. (Retrieved on 28 October 2006)
  5. ^ Pini Balili. Jewish Virtual Library. (Retrieved on 28 October 2006)
  6. ^ (in Hebrew) Balili: "I guess they are counting on me for the long haul". One.co.il (2006 – 8–20). (Retrieved on 28 October 2006)
  7. ^ TFF rejects Balili rumors Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Turkish Daily News (27 September 2006). (Retrieved on 28 October 2006)
  8. ^ Shihrour, Yael (12 August 2007). שחקן מצרי פגע בבלילי, הקהל פרץ למגרש ופוצץ את המשחק (in Hebrew). Sport5.co.il. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2007.
  9. ^ Bassey, Okan Udo (8 August 2008). "'Brave Men' set to weather Trabzon Storm this evening". Today's Zaman. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  10. ^ "פיני בלילי יאמן את בת ים | ספורט 1".