Willy Ze'ev Berger (; 17 January 1906 – 1 July 1986) was an Israeli footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hakoah Tel Aviv and for Eretz Israel football team

Club career

Berger was born in Hungary and played football as youth, appearing for the national schoolboys team, where he was first played as goalkeeper, filling in for an injured teammate. Berger played as youth with 33 FC and MTK Hungaria and joined the first team of VAC. In 1927 Berger was contacted to play with Maccabi HaGibor Haifa on its tour if the USA, but eventually Berger was dropped from the tour and settled in Tiberias, where he played and coached the local Maccabi team. After several months, Berger was asked to join the newly reformed Hapoel Tel Aviv, to which he agreed. With Hapoel Tel Aviv he won the first Palestine Cup competition. Berger returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv the following season, and once again won the cup, scoring a goal in the final.

Willy Berger

In 1930, Berger returned to Hapoel Tel Aviv and stayed with the club until 1937, winning two league championships and two cups. After 1937, Berger played with Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hakoah Tel Aviv, before retiring in 1950.

Willy Berger

International career

Berger was picked as goalkeeper for the first national team, playing against Egypt in the 1934 World Cup qualification. The national team lost to Egypt 7–1, but Berger's performance was praised.

Willy Berger

Honours

Hapoel Tel Aviv

Palestine League: 1933–34, 1934–35

Israel State Cup: 1928, 1934, 1937

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Israel State Cup: 1929

Magen Shimshon: 1925, 1926

External links

Willy Berger Hapoel Wiki

References

1906 births

1986 deaths

Hungarian Jews

20th-century Israeli Jews

Jewish men's footballers

Israeli men's footballers

Mandatory Palestine men's footballers

Mandatory Palestine men's international footballers

Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. players

Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. players

Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C. players

Hakoah Tel Aviv F.C. players

Hungarian emigrants to Mandatory Palestine

Place of birth missing

Men's association football goalkeepers