Shlomo Scharf

Shlomo Scharf (Hebrew: שלמה שרף; born 1 January 1943) is an Israeli former football player and manager who works as a commentator on Israeli Sport 5 TV channel. Scharf managed Maccabi Haifa to three championships,[4] and was Israel national football team manager from 1992 to 1999.[5]

Shlomo Scharf
Personal information
Date of birth (1943-01-01) 1 January 1943
Place of birth Biysk, Altai Krai, USSR
Youth career
Hapoel Kfar Saba
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1961–1973[1][2] Hapoel Kfar Saba
Managerial career
1974–1976 Hapoel Kfar Saba
1976–1978 Hapoel Yehud[3]
1978–1980 Hapoel Kfar Saba
1980–1983 Bnei Yehuda
1983–1987 Maccabi Haifa
1990–1992 Maccabi Haifa
1992–1999 Israel
2000 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2000 Hapoel Be'er Sheva
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Managerial career

Scharf managed the Israel national team from 1992 to 1999 during which time Israel beat France 3–2 in an away game, and his contract was repeatedly extended due to his improvements. Further international victories were achieved against Poland and Bulgaria whilst qualifying for the European Championships and World Cup (France) respectively. Israel's most notable victory under his reign is regarded to be his 5–0 win against Austria.

Major losses were during two home games against Cyprus, and losing to Denmark in the Euro 2000 playoffs which ended his tenure as manager.

After briefly coaching the teams Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be'er Sheva, he retired.

Punditry
See also: Racism in Israel

Since his retirement from managing Scharf works as a pundit on Israeli football for local media and national television. In November 2020, he was suspended by Sports Channel for saying the black Panamian footballer Abdiel Arroyo "should go home and eat bananas" after missing a shot.[6]

This comment was notably criticized by Culture and Sports Minister Chili Tropper, who said "racism must be directly addressed. Shlomo Sharaf’s statement is inappropriate and has no place in Israeli sports or society in general."

Scharf in turn denied his comment was racist, saying "This isn’t racism. I said he should go home to eat bananas. If I sent you home to eat cholent, is that racism?"[6]

Scharf returned to the channel in early 2021.

Honours

As a Player

As a Manager

References
  1. "הפועל כפר סבא".
  2. http://dribblist.com/israel/teams/hapoel_kfar_saba/1970–1971
  3. http://boom.co.il/newsite/page.php?main=view_article&type=0&article_id=33472
  4. "Shlomo Scharf, Sports Commentator". Israel Hayom. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  5. Cazal, Jean-Michel; Bleicher, Yaniv (19 February 2010). "Israel Official Games 1990–1999". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  6. "Soccer commentator suspended for saying Black player 'should go eat bananas'". The Times of Israel. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2023.


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