InfoPersons, originating from Poland
Ya'akov Grundman
Born July 20, 1939 somewhere in the Kielce region, Poland
Died May 24, 2004 in Tel Aviv, Israel
In Israel he was professional football player and manager. He managed the national Israeli team from 1988 to 1992.
After the Nazi invasion of Poland, the jewish Grundman family had to hide. A Polish farmer in Proszowice let them stay in a 2 x metre ditch. Grundman spent three years hiding in the ditch. After the war, the family emigrated to Tel Aviv in Israel. Growing up in Hatikva Quarter, Grundman joined the local side, Bnei Yehuda. Being the only Ashkenazi Jew in the squad, Grundman was nicknamed "Ya'akov" (The Pole). He was part of the squad as they achieved promotion for the first time to the Liga Leumit in 1959.
The Grundman stadium in Tel Aviv, named after Ya'akov Grundman.
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 Cup with Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv in 1968, and with Hapoel Haifa in 1974.
The peak of his managerial career was when he, alongside Itzhak Schneor jointly coached Israel between 1988 and 1992,
and were one goal short of qualifying for the 1990 world cup.Grundman spent years in the hospital fighting cancer. In 2004, IFA chairman, Itche Menahem presented him with the
FIFA Order of Merit. Grundman passed away the next day.
More information
Polonica stamps:
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Israel 2011, 06 XII |
