Michael "Lufa" Kadosh, former coach and player who kept goal for Maccabi Tel Aviv from 1971 to 1976, has passed away after a protracted illness
Today the Israeli footballing world was plunged into deep mourning upon the announcement of the passing of former coach and player Michael "Lufa" Kadosh at the age of 74.
Born in Egypt in 1940, "Lufa" came to Israel at the age of nine and began his career in football as a goalkeeper. His maiden opportunity to play for a senior team came in 1957 with Maccabi Jaffa but his first long club stint was with Hakoach Ramat Gan, where he played from 1958 until 1970 and won his first Israeli Premier League championship in the 1964/65 season. After spending one season with Maccabi Netanya, where he won his second league title, Kadosh joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1971, winning his third Israeli Premier League championship in his very first season. Kadosh spent five years as the team's first choice goalkeeper until ending his playing career in 1976. Two years after retiring from active play, Kadosh embarked on a long and diverse coaching career that ended only last year with second divison (HaLe'umit) side Hapoel Ashkelon.
"Lufa" was a beloved and respected member of the Israeli football community and will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to have been associated with him.
