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Lonia Dvorin

Ari "Lonia" Dvorin (Hebrew: לוניה דבורין; Ukrainian: Льоня Дворін; Russian: Лёня Дворин; 23 October 1917 – 17 March 2000) was an Israeli football player and coach. As a player, he played as a full-back for Beitar Tel Aviv and the Mandatory Palestine national team.

Early life

Dvorin was born on 23 October 1917 in Odesa, Ukraine, to Hannah and Pinchas.[1] When he was two years old, he and his family emigrated to Palestine on a ship, called Ruslan.[1]

Club career

Dvorin began his youth career as a teenager, joining Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth sector.[1] He left the club in 1934, aged 17, and was one of the founders of Beitar Tel Aviv.[1] He won the 1940 Palestine Cup after beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 3–1 in the final.[1] In 1942 he won the cup once more, beating Maccabi Haifa 12–1 in the final; he scored the last goal of the game.[1] Dvorin played his last season in 1947–48, when Beitar Tel Aviv where top of the league; however, the 1947–1949 Palestine war interrupted the season, which was never finished.[1]

International career

Dvorin took part in Mandatory Palestine's last international match against Lebanon in 1940, coming on as a substitute in the second half;[2][3] it was his only international cap.[4]

Managerial career

In 1952 Dvorin began his managerial career at Beitar Tel Aviv.[1] Towards the end of the 1953–54 Liga Bet, the second division, Dvorin joined Beitar Jerusalem, helping them gain promotion to the first division for the first time in their history.[1] In his career, Dvorin coached many teams, including Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Maccabi Sha'arayim, Hapoel Kfar Saba, and Maccabi Jaffa.[1]

Personal life

At the age of 26, Dvorin married Shulamit Goldstein and lived with her in Tel Aviv.[1] Upon the establishment of Israel, he joined Herut, a right-wing militant paramilitary group.[1]

Dvorin's son, Danny, is a broadcaster and sports commentator in Israel.[1] His brother, Haim, was a judge in the Tel Aviv District Court.[1]

Honours

Player

Beitar Tel Aviv

Manager

Beitar Jerusalem

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n לוניה והמנורה - לזכרו של אריה לוניה דבורין ז"ל [Lonia and the Lamp]. 2010.
  2. ^ "Lebanon outclassed by Palestine selected". The Palestine Post. 30 April 1940. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  3. ^ Cazal, Jean-Michel; Bleicher, Yaniv. "British Mandate of Palestine Official Games 1934–1948". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. ^ Cazal, Jean-Michel; Bleicher, Yaniv. "Israel National Team - Appearances and Goalscoring". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 August 2020.