Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club bows its head on the passing of Avraham Bendori. The legendary keeper passed away today, Tuesday at the age of 90 and is considered to be one of the greatest all-time keepers in Israeli football and in particular for Maccabi. The funeral will be held today at 17:00 at the Yarkon Cemetery.
בנדורי ב-2015 (משמאל) ()
Avraham Bendori is considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers not only in the history of Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, but in the history of Israeli football as a whole. He began his career as a senior player at Maccabi aged 18 in 1946 and in his very first season won his first title, the Israel Football Association (IFA) Cup, after a replay victory over Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion. He repeated the feat the following season in a final against Beitar Tel Aviv, remembered in particular for his role in the early conclusion of the match. Beitar supporters poured out onto the pitch in protest at a spot kick they alleged had been deflected by Bendori after it had crossed the line, and as a result the match was suspended five minutes before time.
Having arrived at the club before the establishment of the State of Israel, Bendori was forced to part company with his teammates to join the army during the War for Independence in 1948. He suffered only minor injuries and was thus able to quickly rejoin the club, even making his maiden appearance in goal for the national team in 1948, a match against the U.S.A. that was played in New York. Bendori conceded three goals in a 3-1 loss, but even a defeat could not damage the pride of players of the first national side to play an international after Israel’s achieving independent statehood. In all, Bendori was capped seven times for his country, including matches against Iran and Singapore in the qualifying rounds for the Asia Cup in 1958.
Bendori played thirteen years, from 1946 to 1959, in a Maccabi jersey, and as the unchallenged occupant of the Maccabi Tel Aviv goal in those years he was also an indispensable part of the “Golden Age” squad of the 1950’s. His list of titles as Maccabi goalkeeper is particularly impressive: Five national championships (’47, ’50, ’52, ’54, ’56, ’58) and six IFA State Cups (’46, ’47, ’54, ’55, ’58). After retiring from active play Bendori enjoyed a second career in the coaching field and as manager of the Israeli national team.
