Photo: גינזבורג — Public domainSource
Yosef Merimovich
association football player · association football coach
- July 24, 1924
- May 5, 2011
- 86 years
About Yosef Merimovich
Yosef Merimovich, 86, Israeli football player and manager.
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Full Biography
|Yosef "Yosale" Merimovich (Hebrew: יוסף "יוס'לה" מרימוביץ'; 24 July 1924 – 5 May 2011) was a football player and manager. A one-club man, he played as a forward for Maccabi Tel Aviv between 1947 and 1958, winning six championships and six cups. Born in Cyprus, he represented the Israel national team at international level. He went on to coach both Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Israel national team on multiple occasions.
Career
Merimovich was born in Margo, a colony for Jewish refugees in Cyprus, and immigrated to Mandatory Palestine with his family in 1927. His older brother Menachem was also a football player. During World War II, Menachem, who had gone to Australia as part of his football career, served in the Australian Army and was killed in action in Papua New Guinea. Yosef worked as an engraver at the time.
Merimovich became a football player and spent his entire playing career with Maccabi Tel Aviv, winning six championships and six cups between 1947 and 1958. At international level, he made 14 appearances for the Israel national team scoring 4 goals.
After his retirement from playing, Merimovich became a coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv. He was appointed coach of Israel in 1964 and helped it win the 1964 AFC Asian Cup. He returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv winning the 1966–68 Liga Leumit. In 1982, he became Israel national team coach for a second time, leaving after the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. He went on to coach Maccabi Tel Aviv for a third time.
Legacy
It was upon Merimovich's suggestion in 1942 that yellow was added to Maccabi Tel Aviv's existing club colours of blue and white, "as a sign of identification with the Jews of Europe".
Death
Merimovich died on 5 May 2011, at the age of 86.
Honours
Player
Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Israeli football championship: 1946–47, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1957–58
- Israel State Cup : 1940–41, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1957–68
Israel
- AFC Asian Cup: Runner-up, 1956
Manager
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Israel
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosef_Merimovich
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Yosef Merimovich's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what year did Yosef Merimovich begin his second stint as the Israel national team coach?
- A.1966
- B.1978
- C.1982correct
- D.1986
Yosef Merimovich became the Israel national team coach for the second time in 1982.
Source: Career section
2.What league title did Yosef Merimovich win while coaching Maccabi Tel Aviv between 1966 and 1968?
- A.State Cup
- B.Liga Leumitcorrect
- C.AFC Champions League
- D.European Cup
Yosef Merimovich won the 1966–68 Liga Leumit as coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Source: Career section
3.At what age did Yosef Merimovich pass away?
- A.90
- B.86correct
- C.78
- D.82
Yosef Merimovich died on 5 May 2011, at the age of 86.
Source: Death section
4.During which years did Yosef Merimovich play for Maccabi Tel Aviv?
- A.1945–1955
- B.1947–1958correct
- C.1950–1960
- D.1940–1952
Yosef Merimovich played for Maccabi Tel Aviv between 1947 and 1958.
Source: Biography introduction
5.What international honour did Yosef Merimovich achieve as a player for Israel in 1956?
- A.Winner of AFC Asian Cup
- B.Winner of FIFA World Cup
- C.Runner-up of AFC Asian Cupcorrect
- D.Third place in AFC Asian Cup
As a player, Yosef Merimovich was a runner-up in the 1956 AFC Asian Cup with Israel.
Source: Honours section
6.Which tournament did Yosef Merimovich win as a manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1967 and 1969?
- A.Asian Champion Club Tournamentcorrect
- B.Liga Leumit
- C.AFC Asian Cup
- D.Israel State Cup
Yosef Merimovich won the Asian Champion Club Tournament in 1967 and 1969 as a coach.
Source: Honours section
7.What was the date of birth for Yosef Merimovich?
- A.24 July 1927
- B.24 July 1924correct
- C.5 May 2011
- D.15 August 1924
Yosef Merimovich was born on 24 July 1924.
Source: Biography introduction
8.In what location was Yosef Merimovich born?
- A.Tel Aviv
- B.Haifa
- C.Jerusalem
- D.Margocorrect
Yosef Merimovich was born in Margo, a colony for Jewish refugees in Cyprus.
Source: Career section
9.When did Yosef Merimovich and his family immigrate to Mandatory Palestine?
- A.1942
- B.1947
- C.1927correct
- D.1958
Yosef Merimovich immigrated to Mandatory Palestine with his family in 1927.
Source: Career section
10.What was the name of Yosef Merimovich's older brother who served in the Australian Army?
- A.David
- B.Avi
- C.Menachemcorrect
- D.Yosale
Yosef Merimovich's older brother was named Menachem.
Source: Career section
11.What profession did Yosef Merimovich hold during World War II?
- A.Engravercorrect
- B.Professional footballer
- C.Football coach
- D.Australian Army soldier
Yosef Merimovich worked as an engraver during World War II.
Source: Career section
12.How many total appearances did Yosef Merimovich make for the Israel national team as a player?
- A.22
- B.14correct
- C.6
- D.10
Yosef Merimovich made 14 appearances for the Israel national team as a player.
Source: Career section
13.How many goals did Yosef Merimovich score for the Israel national team?
- A.12
- B.6
- C.14
- D.4correct
Yosef Merimovich scored 4 goals for the Israel national team.
Source: Career section
14.What colour did Yosef Merimovich suggest adding to Maccabi Tel Aviv's uniform in 1942?
- A.Red
- B.Yellowcorrect
- C.Black
- D.Green
Yosef Merimovich suggested in 1942 that yellow be added to the club colours.
Source: Legacy section
15.What year was Yosef Merimovich appointed as the coach of the Israel national team for the first time?
- A.1968
- B.1958
- C.1982
- D.1964correct
Yosef Merimovich was appointed coach of the Israel national team in 1964.
Source: Career section
16.Which tournament did Yosef Merimovich help the Israel national team win in 1964?
- A.Olympic Games
- B.Liga Leumit
- C.AFC Asian Cupcorrect
- D.FIFA World Cup
Yosef Merimovich helped Israel win the 1964 AFC Asian Cup as coach.
Source: Career section
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