Menashe Shimonov (born April 3, 1963) is considered to be one of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s greatest players during the 1980’s. Shimonov, who played for the majority of his career as a central defender, grew up through the ranks of the Yellow & Blue Youth Department and made his debut in the Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv in February of 1982. Menashe is known as one half of the “Shimonov Brothers” as his twin Efraim also played for Maccabi.
Shimonov scored his first goal in his third match with the first team in a 1:1 draw against Maccabi Haifa and played 33 matches in his second season with the club scoring 5 goals along the way to becoming a defensive stalwart for Maccabi.
In 1986/87 the 24 year old central defender took home his first title when the Yellow & Blue captured the State Cup in a penalty shootout against Maccabi Haifa. The following season, Maccabi won the State Cup yet again, this time by defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv 2:1 as Shimonov received the Cup from the President and lifted it as captain of the club. Shimonov was also part of the 1991/92 squad that won the league championship for the first time in 13 years. The veteran played in 17 matches that season while featuring in the clincher against Bnei Yehuda in a 3:2 victory that saw Maccabi pop open the champagne bottles which also marked his last match with the club.
After a decade with the Yellow & Blue, the central defender headed to Hapoel Ashdod. He made his Israel National Team debut against Scotland at Ramat Gan Stadium and played in 19 matches for the Blue & White while also playing in the 1988 Olympic Games.
Awards & Honors
League Title: 1991/92
State Cups: 1986/87, 1987/88
Appearances: 346
Goals: 17
Top Moment
During the 1982/83 season, Shimonov, took part in one of the greatest State Cup games in the history of Israeli football. Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa faced off against one another in the State Cup Semifinal. After 120 minutes the scoreboard showed a score of 4:4, but it would be the Yellow & Blue who would come out on top in the penalty shootout. Shimonov scored Maccabi’s third goal in that match and you can see it below:
