Local Soccer: Caanen named Netanya coach

Dutchman Ton Caanen was appointed coach of Maccabi Netanya on Sunday and will work alongside Eyal Berkovic, the player he coached at Maccabi Tel Aviv last season.

By JEREMY LAST
ton caanen 88 aj (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
ton caanen 88 aj
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Dutchman Ton Caanen was appointed coach of Maccabi Netanya on Sunday and will work alongside Eyal Berkovic, the player he coached at Maccabi Tel Aviv last season. The announcement was the latest from the club since German Daniel Yammer bought it a month ago. Netanya finished in seventh position last season on its return to the Premier League. It was also confirmed that Marko Balbul, who coached Hapoel Beersheba last season, will work alongside Caanen as a second coach. Although Berkovic holds the title of general manager, he will not be directly involved in the coaching of the team and he insisted he was not Caanen's "boss." "Daniel chose us to come together and build a team," Berkovic told reporters. "All the decisions will be made between the four of us together. I am not going to be standing on the touchlines. My job will be to help Daniel and the rest of the staff." This will be Caanen's third coaching position in Israel in less than a year. He was brought to the country by Betar Jerusalem owner Arkadi Gaydamak at the start of last season and worked as coach for two months before being ousted in favor of Frenchman Luis Fernandez. He then took over at Maccabi Tel Aviv but was unable to inspire the so-called Galacticos and he left the club at the end of the season. Yammer said that although there were two coaches, Caanen would have the main responsibility. Explaining his decision to appoint Caanen, who had previously been linked with the coaching position at relegated Bnei Sakhnin, Yammer said: "I wanted to have a European coach with me. I have been looking at Ton for the last couple of months... and I think he is the right choice for the team." Caanen said he thinks the squad "looks good" although he acknowledged that new players would be bought and that he would be working together with Berkovic to decide on acquisitions.