Ya'akov Grundman
Encyclopedia
Ya'akov "Yankeleh" Grundman was a Polish
-born Israel
i professional football player and manager.
. After the Nazi
invasion of Poland, Grundman's family went into hiding. They were taken in by a Polish farmer in Proszowice
who let them stay in a two metre by two metre ditch. Grundman spent three years hiding in the ditch. Many times going weeks at a time before getting something to eat.
At the end of the war, Grundman's father returned to work in the flour business and owned a small bakery. The Grundman's shared profits with the Polish farmer and before making aliyah
to Israel, they gave him their business and two houses. Upon arrival to Israel, the family settled in the Hatikva Quarter
of Tel Aviv
.
in the squad, Grundman was nicknamed "The Pole." Grundman was part of the squad as they achieved promotion for the first time to the Liga Leumit
in 1959.
with Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv in 1968, and with Hapoel Haifa in 1974. The peak of his managerial career was when ha, alongside Itzhak Schneor
had jointly coached Israel
between 1988 and 1992, and were one goal short of qualifying for the 1990 world cup
.
. In 2004, IFA
chairman, Itche Menahem presented him with the FIFA Order of Merit
. Grundman passed the next day. Before the funeral, his coffin was brought to Ramat Gan Stadium so that the public could pay their respects. On 27 March 2004, three days after Grundman's death, the Israeli national team held a moment of silence for Yankeleh before their friendly match against Georgia
in Tbilisi
.
Maccabi Tel Aviv:
Maccabi Netanya:
Shimshon Tel Aviv:
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
-born Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i professional football player and manager.
Early life
Grundman was born in Poland before the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the Nazi
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
invasion of Poland, Grundman's family went into hiding. They were taken in by a Polish farmer in Proszowice
Proszowice
Proszowice is a town in southern Poland, situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Kraków Voivodeship . Its population numbers 6,206 inhabitants . It is the capital of Proszowice County....
who let them stay in a two metre by two metre ditch. Grundman spent three years hiding in the ditch. Many times going weeks at a time before getting something to eat.
At the end of the war, Grundman's father returned to work in the flour business and owned a small bakery. The Grundman's shared profits with the Polish farmer and before making aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Israel, they gave him their business and two houses. Upon arrival to Israel, the family settled in the Hatikva Quarter
Hatikva Quarter
The Hatikva Quarter is a neighbourhood in south-eastern Tel Aviv, Israel, long known as a working class area. It was founded in 1930 and was merged into Tel Aviv following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War....
of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
Playing career
Growing up in Hatikva Quarter, Grundman joined the local side, Bnei Yehuda. Being the only Ashkenazi JewAshkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
in the squad, Grundman was nicknamed "The Pole." Grundman was part of the squad as they achieved promotion for the first time to the Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
in 1959.
As manager
After retiring as a player, Grundman began a career as a manager, winning the double with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1977, as well the israeli league in 1980 with Maccabi Netanya and the State CupIsrael State Cup
The State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
with Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv in 1968, and with Hapoel Haifa in 1974. The peak of his managerial career was when ha, alongside Itzhak Schneor
Itzhak Schneor
Itzhak Schneor was a successful Israeli footballer and manager. The peak of his managerial career was when he, alongside Ya'akov Grundman had jointly coached Israel from 1988 to 1992, and were one goal short of qualifying for the 1990 World Cup.-As a Player:...
had jointly coached Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
between 1988 and 1992, and were one goal short of qualifying for the 1990 world cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
.
Later life and death
Grundman spent years in the hospital fighting cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. In 2004, IFA
Israel Football Association
The Israel Football Association , also known as IFA, is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes the football leagues, Israeli Premier League, Israeli State Cup, Toto Cup and the Israeli national football team. The association is based in Ramat Gan...
chairman, Itche Menahem presented him with the FIFA Order of Merit
FIFA Order of Merit
The FIFA Order of Merit is the highest honour awarded by FIFA. The award is presented at the annual FIFA congress. It is normally awarded to people who are considered to have made a significant contribution to :association football....
. Grundman passed the next day. Before the funeral, his coffin was brought to Ramat Gan Stadium so that the public could pay their respects. On 27 March 2004, three days after Grundman's death, the Israeli national team held a moment of silence for Yankeleh before their friendly match against Georgia
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
.
Club
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv:- State CupIsrael State CupThe State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
: 1968
Club
Hapoel Haifa:- State CupIsrael State CupThe State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
: 1973–74
Maccabi Tel Aviv:
- Liga LeumitLiga LeumitLiga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
: 1976–77 - State CupIsrael State CupThe State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
: 1976–77
Maccabi Netanya:
- Liga LeumitLiga LeumitLiga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
: 1979–80
Shimshon Tel Aviv:
- Toto CupToto CupThe Toto Cup is an association football tournament that exists separately in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Premier League and Liga Leumit....
(2): 1986–87, 1987–88