Beitar sacks Ben-Shimon, Luzon top replacement choice

Ben-Shimon leaves Beitar with the team sitting in fifth place in the Premier League standings, tied on points with Ironi Kiryat Shmona in fourth.

By ALLON SINAI
Ran Ben-Shimon was fired as coach of Beitar Jerusalem yesterday following a roller-coaster eight months at the helm. (photo credit: DANNY MARON)
Ran Ben-Shimon was fired as coach of Beitar Jerusalem yesterday following a roller-coaster eight months at the helm.
(photo credit: DANNY MARON)
Ran Ben-Shimon’s tumultuous tenure at Beitar Jerusalem came to an abrupt yet unsurprising ending on Sunday.
Club owner Eli Tabib called Ben-Shimon on Sunday morning to notify him that he was fired after Beitar yet again failed to win on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with lowly Bnei Yehuda.
Ben-Shimon leaves Beitar with the team sitting in fifth place in the Premier League standings, tied on points with Ironi Kiryat Shmona in fourth.
However, after an impressive run in the Europa League qualifiers to start the season, Beitar’s campaign never quite took off, with the team winning only two of its first eight league matches and seven of 21 league games in all.
Jerusalem only finally claimed two consecutive league victories for the first time this season last month, but followed it up with two straight draws against Ashdod SC and Bnei Yehuda and Tabib decided it was time to move on.
“I’m not angry, disappointed or frustrated with anyone at the club,” Ben-Shimon told the players. “I connected with this club and will be crossing my fingers that it will succeed. The decision to part ways was made as Eli and I didn’t see eye to eye anymore.
“Despite the pressure and the fact that everything didn’t go smoothly all the time, I enjoyed every moment here,” added Ben-Shimon.
Beitar will be in action in the State Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday when it hosts Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the first leg at Teddy Stadium and Tabib is hoping to already have a new coach in place by then.
Guy Luzon, who left Hapoel Tel Aviv last month, is Tabib’s top candidate, with former Hapoel Kfar Saba coach Sharon Mimer the favorite to receive the job should Luzon refuse.
On Sunday, Hapoel Ra’anana beat Ashdod 1-0 thanks to a Shimon Abuhazira penalty in the 90th minute, while Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Kfar Saba drew 0-0.