Full name Refael Cohen Years Team 1976–1980 Beitar Jerusalem | Playing position Place of birth Jerusalem, Israel Name Rafi Cohen | |
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Date of birth (1965-03-02) March 2, 1965 (age 50) | ||
Rafi Cohen is an Israeli football manager and retired footballer who currently serves as the assistant manager for the Israel national football team.
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Career
Born in Jerusalem, Cohen joined Beitar Jerusalem at the age of 11. As a senior, Cohen moved to Hapoel Jerusalem, where he played until he returned to Beitar, in 1982. In 1984 Cohen moved to Petah Tikva, where he played for Maccabi and Hapoel until his retirement in 1994. Cohen was part of the Israeli team in the 1981 Maccabiah Games and made two appearances with the senior squad in 1990.
Following retirement from active football, Cohen stayed at Hapoel Petah Tikva as youth coach and assistant coach until 2000. In 2001 Cohen was appointed as head manager for Beitar Shimshon Tel Aviv and led the team for 3rd place in Liga Artzit, just 3 points shy of promotion. The following season, Cohen was appointed as head manager of Hakoah Ramat Gan and led the club to promotion to second tier Liga Leumit. In 2004–05, Cohen once again won promotion from Liga Artzit, this time with Hapoel Ashkelon, while leading the club to the semi-finals of the State Cup and winning the 2004–05 Toto Cup Artzit.
Following his successes in third tier Liga Artzit, Cohen was appointed to coach Hapoel Petah Tikva in the Israeli Premier League, but was sacked after 8 matches. In 2009, Cohen once again won promotion from Liga Artzit with Sektzia Nes Tziona, and kept managing the team until 2012. At the beginning of the 2013–14 season, Cohen was appointed to coach Ironi Nir Ramat HaSharon, but was sacked early after a few matches.