Klemi Saban

Saban began his senior playing career at Maccabi Netanya before moving to Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2001.[1] After three years at Hapoel Tel Aviv, he joined Hapoel Petah Tikva, where he appeared in 32 matches during the 2004/05 season.[2] A successful campaign there earned him a move to Maccabi Haifa, where he remained for one season.[1]

During his season at Maccabi Haifa, he had a scoring chance against Maccabi Tel Aviv: after Shlomi Arbitman ran forward and played the ball to him, Saban's shot went straight at goalkeeper Liran Strauber in what ended as a 1–0 Maccabi Tel Aviv victory at Bloomfield Stadium.[5] He then joined Steaua Bucharest, where he participated in the UEFA Champions League.[1] After his stint in Romania, he returned to Israel with Maccabi Netanya, where he spent three further years and performed quietly and effectively, improving to the point where he was described as a player who "makes no mistakes."[6]

His consistent displays at Netanya attracted the attention of national team coach Dror Kashtan, who recalled him to the squad.[6] A Jerusalem Post column from that period assessed that Saban had played well not only for Netanya but also in Israel's previous three qualifiers, placing him in competition with Yoav Ziv for the right-back berth.[7] He subsequently moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he was named in the starting lineup for a December 2011 Premier League match — a 1–2 loss to M.S. Ashdod.[8] Before retiring, he also had spells at Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Hapoel Acre.[1]

Saban earned 25 appearances and scored one goal for Israel's senior national team.[2] His debut came on September 4, 2004, when Israel opened its 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 0–0 away draw against France at the Parc des Princes.[3] The call-up itself was unplanned: Shimon Gershon was injured during Israel's final training session before the trip, Avi Strool fell ill, and Saban's performances in training earned him the opportunity from coach Avraham Grant and his assistant Moshe Sinai.[4]

Assigned to mark Thierry Henry, Saban succeeded in frustrating and neutralizing the French striker throughout the match.[3] Recalling the occasion years later, he said: "Nobody gave us half a chance in that game. We played well, beyond the draw. If we had been a little more clinical, we would have caused a sensation."[4] The draw earned Israel a valuable point at the start of a qualifying campaign in which it went unbeaten, though the match was not broadcast on local television in Israel.[3]

By September 2006, Saban was playing for Steaua Bucharest and was among the overseas-based players not included in a provisional squad of locally based players preparing for Israel's away Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia.[9] He returned to the national setup following his move back to Netanya and continued to feature during the 2009 World Cup qualifying cycle.[7][6] In September 2025, he was invited alongside former international Abbas Suan to join Israel's delegation around matches against Moldova and Italy, an occasion he described as moving after many years away from the national team environment.[4]

After retiring as a player, Saban transitioned into coaching. In March 2021, after serving as assistant to Haim Shabo, he was appointed Hapoel Petah Tikva head coach through the end of the season. He took charge of a club that sat last in the National League table with 20 points after 25 rounds and had won only four matches, making him its third coach of the campaign.[1][2] He was unable to prevent the club's relegation from the National League.[10] The following season, he served as assistant to Eliezer Ben Aharon at Hapoel Petah Tikva and again became head coach after Ben Aharon's dismissal.[10]

Saban subsequently joined Beitar Tel Aviv/Bat Yam, first as assistant and then as head coach, before moving to Bnei Sakhnin as assistant to Kobi Refua in December 2022.[11] He later served as assistant to Eli Levi at M.S. Ashdod.[10] When Levi was dismissed, Saban took over the team; Levi later recalled that Saban's first instinct had been to leave alongside him, but that Levi persuaded him to stay and seize the opportunity.[10] Refua described Saban as hardworking and knowledgeable about football, while Levi characterized him as loyal, professional, attentive and devoted.[10]

While still serving as Ashdod's assistant coach, Saban spoke candidly after a 3–2 loss to Beitar Jerusalem in December 2024: "The loss is very painful; we deserved a victory. We played a good game, and the crowd enjoyed it too, but we didn't deserve to lose. We lacked a bit of luck, but now we're looking ahead."[12] After moving into the head-coaching role, he commented on a February 2025 draw with Maccabi Petah Tikva, in which Ashdod led 2–0 at halftime before a red card to Mohammed Knaan altered the contest: "We scored to give us a 2-0 lead in what was an excellent first half with terrific football and good quality play from everyone. But the red card was unfortunate, and in the second half, we went backward."[13] His tenure ended shortly afterward, when Haim Silvas was appointed in February 2025 following a State Cup quarterfinal defeat to Bnei Reineh. In five league matches under Saban, Ashdod had taken two points and lost three.[14]

Saban was described in 2021 as one of Israel's prominent full-backs of the 2000s, and his playing career included spells at major Israeli clubs and participation in the UEFA Champions League with Steaua Bucharest.[1] His best-remembered international performance was his first: the scoreless 2004 draw in France, when he was assigned to Thierry Henry and later recalled the match as a dream fulfilled.[3][4] After his playing career, he remained in Israeli football through assistant and head-coaching roles at Hapoel Petah Tikva, Beitar Tel Aviv/Bat Yam, Bnei Sakhnin and M.S. Ashdod.[11][10]

During his time as a Maccabi Tel Aviv player, Saban participated in the club's "ZuZu – Get the Body Moving" project, visiting schools in Holon to encourage physical activity among teenagers.[15] The players spoke with students and played football with them. Saban used the visit to address the team's difficult spell on the pitch, saying: "The remedy is to start winning again."[15]