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Eliezer Spiegel

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01In brief

Eliezer Spiegel (1922–2017) was an Israeli footballer, coach, and Irgun underground operative who became a prominent player for Maccabi Petah Tikva. Known by the nickname "Laser," he scored eight goals in a single cup final during the British Mandate era and led the Israeli league scoring charts in 1954 with 16 goals. He later coached the Israel Defense Forces football team while working as an Egged bus driver, sometimes transporting his players himself.

02Early Life and Playing Career

Eliezer Spiegel was born in 1922 in Petah Tikva, the city with which most of his football career would be identified.[1] He began his senior career, however, with Beitar Tel Aviv. In the 1942 cup final, contested during the British Mandate period, Beitar Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 12–1, with Spiegel scoring eight goals.[3]

Before and during his playing career, Spiegel was a member and commander of the Irgun underground, including in the organization's activity in Eritrea. After returning, he resumed playing football, appeared for the Israel national team, and later moved into coaching.[2]

Spiegel spent many years as a center forward for Maccabi Petah Tikva. He captained the side, helped the senior team reach the first division, and was part of the squad that won the State Cup in 1952.[1] In 1954, he finished as the league's leading scorer with 16 goals.[1] A retrospective on the Petah Tikva derby also identifies him as Maccabi Petah Tikva's joint leading scorer in city derby fixtures, with seven goals.[5]

03Coaching Career

After his playing career, Spiegel moved into coaching. He coached Hapoel Petah Tikva during a prominent period for the club, replacing English coach Jack Gibbons. During the club's Far East tour, he added Maccabi Tel Aviv defender Noah Resnik to the squad as a reinforcement.[6]

A retrospective described Spiegel balancing football coaching with his work as an Egged bus driver. He drove an early route to Be'er Ya'akov, finished around midday, and then continued to training or administrative work at Egged's Tel Aviv offices.[7] He also coached the Israel Defense Forces football team. In 1957, the IDF side defeated the French military team 3–1 under his direction before approximately 38,000 spectators.[4] Spiegel sometimes transported the team's players to training and matches himself in a truck.[4]

In 1959, Spiegel was among the coaches and technical experts who prepared Israel's national team for its match against Standard Liège before national coach Gyula Mándi joined the preparations.[8] A January 1988 Hebrew-language report also connects him with leadership elections in the Israeli coaches' association, although the digitized text is partially degraded and does not permit a fully reliable reconstruction of every detail.[9]

04Legacy and Recognition

In 2010, Spiegel was among 36 Israeli athletes and sports figures who received a lifetime-achievement honor at the Knesset.[10] He was also selected as one of eleven former Maccabi Petah Tikva players honored in the club's planned "Walk of Fame" at the Petah Tikva stadium.[1]

Spiegel was the father of Giora Spiegel, a former Israeli football player and coach.[11] Eliezer Spiegel died in 2017 at the age of 95.[11]

Sources

  1. 1ONE, Honor: All 11 names that will appear in the Maccabi Petah Tikva avenue, accessed on September 24, 2026.
  2. 2ONE, Every vote counts: choosing the greatest Maccabi Petah Tikva players, accessed on September 24, 2026.
  3. 3Maariv, The most prolific cup final, accessed on September 24, 2026.
  4. 4Ynet, The IDF team is proud to present | making history, accessed on September 24, 2026.
  5. 5Walla! Sport, The heated Petah Tikva derby: the complete glossary, accessed on September 24, 2026.
  6. 6Maariv, Their finest hour: on Hapoel Petah Tikva's journey in the Far East, accessed on September 24, 2026.
  7. 7Walla! Sport, Once players behaved differently, accessed on September 24, 2026.
  8. 8Maariv, History: when Standard Liège played against the Israel national team, accessed on September 24, 2026.
  9. 9Internet Archive, Full text of "Hshakel Sheler Supplement , 1988, Israel, Hebrew", accessed on September 24, 2026.
  10. 10Ynet, 36 Israeli athletes received a lifetime achievement award, accessed on September 24, 2026.
  11. 11Maariv, "Abuksis is an excellent coach; not ruling out Berkowitz for the national team", accessed on September 24, 2026.

IsraelPedia Question & Answers

  • Who was Eliezer Spiegel?

    Eliezer Spiegel (1922–2017) was an Israeli footballer, coach, and Irgun underground operative who became a prominent player for Maccabi Petah Tikva. Known by the nickname "Laser," he scored eight goals in a single cup final during the British Mandate era and led the Israeli league scoring charts in 1954 with 16 goals. He later coached the Israel Defense Forces football team while working as an Egged bus driver, sometimes transporting his players himself.

  • How many goals did Eliezer Spiegel score in the 1942 cup final?

    Eliezer Spiegel scored eight goals in the 1942 cup final, in which his club Beitar Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 12–1. The match was contested during the British Mandate period.

  • What was Eliezer Spiegel's role in the Irgun?

    Eliezer Spiegel was a member and commander of the Irgun underground, including in the organization's activity in Eritrea. After returning, he resumed his football career and later appeared for the Israel national team.

  • What did Eliezer Spiegel achieve with Maccabi Petah Tikva?

    Eliezer Spiegel spent many years as a center forward for Maccabi Petah Tikva, captaining the side and helping the senior team reach the first division. He was part of the squad that won the State Cup in 1952, finished as the league's leading scorer with 16 goals in 1954, and is identified as Maccabi Petah Tikva's joint leading scorer in city derby fixtures, with seven goals.

  • What was the result when the IDF football team played the French military team under Spiegel's coaching?

    In 1957, the Israel Defense Forces football team defeated the French military team 3–1 under Eliezer Spiegel's direction, before approximately 38,000 spectators.

  • What honor did Eliezer Spiegel receive at the Knesset in 2010?

    In 2010, Eliezer Spiegel was among 36 Israeli athletes and sports figures who received a lifetime-achievement honor at the Knesset. He was also selected as one of eleven former Maccabi Petah Tikva players to be honored in the club's planned "Walk of Fame" at the Petah Tikva stadium.