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{{Short description|Israeli footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Yochanan Vollach
| name = Yochanan Vollach
| image = MHFC-Yochanan-Wallach.jpg
| image = Yochanan Vollach 1970.jpg
| fullname =יוחנן וולך
| fullname =יוחנן וולך
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1945|05|14}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1945|05|14}}
Line 9: Line 10:
| youthyears1 = 1958–1962
| youthyears1 = 1958–1962
| youthclubs1 = [[Maccabi Kiryat Bialik]]
| youthclubs1 = [[Maccabi Kiryat Bialik]]
| years1 = 1962–1965
| years1 = 1962–1965
| years2 = 1965–1977
| years2 = 1965–1977
| years3 = 1977–1979
| years3 = 1977–1979
| years4 = 1985–1990
| years4 = 1985–1990
| clubs1 = Maccabi Kiryat Bialik
| clubs1 = Maccabi Kiryat Bialik
| clubs2 = [[Hapoel Haifa]]
| clubs2 = [[Hapoel Haifa F.C.|Hapoel Haifa]]
| clubs3 = [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]]
| clubs3 = [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]]
| clubs4 = [[Hong Kong FC|HKFC]]
| clubs4 = [[Hong Kong FC|HKFC]]
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Israel 1970.jpg|thumb |280px|Standing (l-r): [[Yitzchak Vissoker]], [[Yisha'ayahu Schvager]], [[David Primo]], Yochanan Vollach, [[Zvi Rosen]], [[Shmuel Rosenthal]].
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Israel 1970.jpg|thumb |280px|Standing (l-r): [[Yitzchak Vissoker]], [[Yisha'ayahu Schvager]], [[David Primo]], Yochanan Vollach, [[Zvi Rosen]], [[Shmuel Rosenthal]].
Sitting (l-r): [[Itzhak Shum]], [[Giora Spiegel]], [[Mordechai Spiegler]] (C), [[Yehoshua Faygenbaum]], [[Shraga Bar]]. [[Israel national football team]], 1970.]] -->
Sitting (l-r): [[Itzhak Shum]], [[Giora Spiegel]], [[Mordechai Spiegler]] (C), [[Yehoshua Faygenbaum]], [[Shraga Bar]]. [[Israel national football team]], 1970.]] -->
'''Yochanan Vollach''' ({{lang-he|'''יוחנן וולך'''}}, also '''Jochanan Wallach''' or '''Yohanan Wallach''', born May 14, 1945) is an [[Israel]]i former [[association football|footballer]]. He was a member of the [[Israel national football team|Israeli national team]] that competed at the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]]. He is a member of the [[Israeli Football Hall of Fame]].
'''Yochanan Vollach''' ({{lang-he|יוחנן וולך}}, also '''Jochanan Wallach''' or '''Yohanan Wallach''', born May 14, 1945) is an Israeli former [[association football|footballer]]. He was a member of the [[Israel national football team|Israel national team]] that competed at the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]]. He is a member of the [[Israeli Football Hall of Fame]].


Vollach is President of the [[Maccabi Haifa]] sports organization, and [[CEO]] of the Israeli Chamber of Shipping.
Vollach is President of the [[Maccabi Haifa]] sports organization, and [[CEO]] of the Israeli Chamber of Shipping.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Born in [[Kiryat Bialik]], Vollach began his sports career with his local club, Maccabi Kiryat Bialik. In 1963, he was drafted to the [[Israel Defense Forces]]' (IDF) [[Nahal]] as an infantry soldier. One of only a handful of professional footballers to serve in active combat in the [[Nahal]], Vollach missed an entire season of football. During his service, he won the IDF football championship in 1965.
Born in [[Kiryat Bialik]], Vollach began his sports career with his local club, Maccabi Kiryat Bialik. In 1963, he was drafted to the [[Israel Defense Forces]]' (IDF) [[Nahal]] as an infantry soldier. One of only a handful of professional footballers to serve in active combat in the [[Nahal]], Vollach missed an entire season of football. During his service, he won the IDF football championship in 1965.


In 1965, at age 19, his rights were sold for 5,000 [[Israeli lira]] to [[Hapoel Haifa F.C.|Hapoel Haifa]]. Vollach earned a [[Bachelor's degree]] in [[History]] & [[Political Science]] from the [[University of Haifa]], and a [[Master's degree]] in [[Business Administration]] from the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]]. He is a retired [[Major]] in the IDF.
In 1965, at age 19, his rights were sold for [[Israeli pound|IL]]5,000 to [[Hapoel Haifa F.C.|Hapoel Haifa]]. Vollach earned a [[Bachelor's degree]] in [[History]] & [[Political Science]] from the [[University of Haifa]], and a [[Master's degree]] in [[Business Administration]] from the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]]. He is a retired [[Major (rank)|Major]] in the IDF.


==Sports career==
==Sports career==
Originally a striker, because of his height advantage and large build, he was dubbed "The Tank". He was unable to reach his full potential so he was moved to the defender position where he excelled and played til the end of his career.
Originally a striker, because of his height advantage and large build, he was dubbed "The Tank". He was unable to reach his full potential so he was moved to the defender position where he excelled and played til the end of his career.


He won the Israeli [[Israel State Cup]] competition twice, in 1966 and 1974, and was close several times to winning [[Liga Leumit]] (then the top division). His major achievement was helping the [[Israel national football team]] qualify for their first [[1970 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] in Mexico in 1970. At the 1970 World Cup, Vollach played against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ibqbuTkY8w0C&pg=PA872&lpg=PA872&dq=Yochanan+Vollach+%22maccabi+tel+aviv%22&source=bl&ots=9MbfrXQXYd&sig=UfZqX3f5y7Fc4-HOQSuKrYeWsQ8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiL8r_H54fcAhXS7mEKHRC4CsQQ6AEINDAC#v=onepage&q=Yochanan%20Vollach%20%22maccabi%20tel%20aviv%22&f=false ''FIFA World Cup''<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> At the following match, Vollach broke his leg in the second half in a brutal match against the [[Sweden national football team|Swedish]] (1–1) side, and so the dream of man marking [[Luigi Riva|Gigi Riva]] and [[Gianni Rivera]], in the last match against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] was over. Vollach was twice loaned out to other Israeli clubs to strengthen their rosters for in [[Intertoto Cup|UI Cup]] games. The first time was in 1976 with [[Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.|Hapoel Be'er Sheva]], and the second in 1977 with [[Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]], both Israeli title holders.
He won the Israeli [[Israel State Cup]] competition twice, in 1966 and 1974, and was close several times to winning [[Liga Leumit]] (then the top division). His major achievement was helping the [[Israel national football team]] qualify for their first [[1970 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] in Mexico in 1970. At the 1970 World Cup, Vollach played against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]].{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} At the following match, Vollach broke his leg in the second half in a brutal match against the [[Sweden national football team|Swedish]] (1–1) side, and so the dream of man marking [[Luigi Riva|Gigi Riva]] and [[Gianni Rivera]], in the last match against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] was over. Vollach was twice loaned out to other Israeli clubs to strengthen their rosters for in [[Intertoto Cup|UI Cup]] games. The first time was in 1976 with [[Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.|Hapoel Be'er Sheva]], and the second in 1977 with [[Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]], both Israeli title holders.


In the summer of 1976, Vollach was strengthening the rosters for the sole purpose of [[Intertoto Cup]] games with title holders [[Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.|Hapoel Be'er Sheva]]. Before the game against [[Standard Liège]] in Belgium, the players were staying at the hotel room. Shalom Avitan, Be'er Sheva's player, fooled around with the [[.22 Short]] [[caliber]] that was in a box on the table and that belonged to the [[Shin Bet|Shabak]] agent who was guarding the team (after the [[Munich Massacre]], Israel took no chances). Avitan thought the gun was unloaded and pointed it towards Vollach. His hand was moved in the last second and the bullet passed an inch away from Vollach's head.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |script-title=he:שלום אביטן יורה ביוחנן וולך |url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/archive/ART/474/584.html |work= |publisher=[[Maariv|Ma'ariv]] |id= |pages= |page= |date=May 9, 2003 |accessdate=May 29, 2007 |language=Hebrew |quote= }}</ref>
In the summer of 1976, Vollach was strengthening the rosters for the sole purpose of [[Intertoto Cup]] games with title holders [[Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.|Hapoel Be'er Sheva]]. Before the game against [[Standard Liège]] in Belgium, the players were staying at the hotel room. Shalom Avitan, Be'er Sheva's player, fooled around with the [[.22 Short]] [[caliber]] that was in a box on the table and that belonged to the [[Shin Bet|Shabak]] agent who was guarding the team (after the [[Munich Massacre]], Israel took no chances). Avitan thought the gun was unloaded and pointed it towards Vollach. His hand was moved in the last second and the bullet passed an inch away from Vollach's head.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=he:שלום אביטן יורה ביוחנן וולך |url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/archive/ART/474/584.html |publisher=[[Maariv|Ma'ariv]] |date=May 9, 2003 |access-date=May 29, 2007 |language=he }}</ref>


In 1977, Vollach transferred from [[Hapoel Haifa F.C.|Hapoel Haifa]], along with former international player and club captain Yitzhak Englander, to local city rivals [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]].
In 1977, Vollach transferred from [[Hapoel Haifa F.C.|Hapoel Haifa]], along with former international player and club captain Yitzhak Englander, to local city rivals [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]].


Vollach is a member of the Education and Publicity Committee of the [[Israel Football Association]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.org.il/Association/AboutAssociation/Pages/CommitteeEducationAndPublicity.aspx |title=The Israel Football Association |publisher=Football.org.il |date= |accessdate=January 27, 2011}}</ref> and a management member of [[Maccabi World Union]].
Vollach is a member of the Education and Publicity Committee of the [[Israel Football Association]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://football.org.il/Association/AboutAssociation/Pages/CommitteeEducationAndPublicity.aspx |title=The Israel Football Association |publisher=Football.org.il |access-date=January 27, 2011 |archive-date=February 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218205938/http://football.org.il/Association/AboutAssociation/Pages/CommitteeEducationAndPublicity.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a management member of [[Maccabi World Union]].


===Maccabi Haifa===
===Maccabi Haifa===
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===Hong Kong F.C.===
===Hong Kong F.C.===
In 1985, Vollach was promoted in his job at [[Zim Integrated Shipping Services]], and was sent oversees to become the branch manager and representative of the company's operations in Hong Kong. It was then that he made a return to football, starring at [[Hong Kong FC]].<ref>[http://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/player/details/57159-yochanan-vollach Yochanan Vollach - Maccabi Haïfa<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In 1985, Vollach was promoted in his job at [[Zim Integrated Shipping Services]], and was sent oversees to become the branch manager and representative of the company's operations in Hong Kong. It was then that he made a return to football, starring at [[Hong Kong FC]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/player/details/57159-yochanan-vollach|title=Yochanan Vollach - Maccabi Haïfa - Stats - titles won|website=www.footballdatabase.eu}}</ref>


==Managerial career==
==Managerial career==
After five years in Hong Kong, in 1990, Vollach returned to Israel, where former teammate and club captain, Yitzhak Englander was president of [[Hapoel Haifa F.C.|Hapoel Haifa]]. Englander offered him the position of President of Hapoel, but city rivals, Maccabi, were not eager to see Vollach go, so they appointed him as [[CFO]] and chief executive of the team. Over the span of three years (1990–93), the club won the "double" (league and cup) during the 1990/91 season and the [[Israel State Cup]] at 1993 . Between 1990–94, he volunteered in the management division of the [[Israel Football Association]] as well as acting as Maccabi Haifa's representative at the [[Israel Football Association]].
After five years in Hong Kong, in 1990, Vollach returned to Israel, where former teammate and club captain, Yitzhak Englander was president of [[Hapoel Haifa F.C.|Hapoel Haifa]]. Englander offered him the position of President of Hapoel, but city rivals, Maccabi, were not eager to see Vollach go, so they appointed him as [[CFO]] and chief executive of the team. Over the span of three years (1990–93), the club won the "double" (league and cup) during the 1990/91 season and the [[Israel State Cup]] at 1993 . Between 1990 and 1994, he volunteered in the management division of the [[Israel Football Association]] as well as acting as Maccabi Haifa's representative at the [[Israel Football Association]].
After the football department was privatized, Vollach joined the [[Maccabi Haifa]] union's management, filling major positions such as [[CFO]] and second to the chairman of board. In 1999, he was voted in unanimously as chairman of the board of the Maccabi Haifa union as well as president of the [[Maccabi Haifa B.C.|basketball division]] of Maccabi Haifa and as a member of the management of the [[Israel Basketball Association]].
After the football department was privatized, Vollach joined the [[Maccabi Haifa]] union's management, filling major positions such as [[CFO]] and second to the chairman of board. In 1999, he was voted in unanimously as chairman of the board of the Maccabi Haifa union as well as president of the [[Maccabi Haifa B.C.|basketball division]] of Maccabi Haifa and as a member of the management of the [[Israel Basketball Association]].


==Journalism and media career==
==Journalism and media career==
Aside from his administrative and work roles, Vollach participated for many years as a sports commentator on the popular Israeli sports radio show, ''Shirim uSha'arim'' and was a local journalist.
Aside from his administrative and work roles, Vollach participated for many years as a sports commentator on the popular Israeli sports radio show, ''Shirim uSha'arim'' and was a local journalist.


==Business career==
==Business career==
Line 68: Line 69:


==Awards and recognition==
==Awards and recognition==
* Best XI in Israel (3 times, determined by ''Hadashot haSport'' and ''[[Yedioth Ahronoth]]'')
* Best XI in Israel (3 times, determined by {{transl|he|Hadashot haSport}} and ''[[Yedioth Ahronoth]]'')
* Fair play award in Israel (3 times)
* Fair play award in Israel (3 times)
* [[Hapoel Haifa F.C.|Hapoel Haifa]] Best XI Alltime
* [[Hapoel Haifa F.C.|Hapoel Haifa]] Best XI Alltime
* Elected by official website poll as Hapoel Haifa's greatest player all time<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hhaifa.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&op=results&pollID=183 |title=הר הגעש באדום – אתר האוהדים הרשמי של הפועל חיפה :: The Official Website Of Hapoel Haifa Fans – משאלים |publisher=Hhaifa.com |date= |accessdate=January 27, 2011}}</ref>
* Elected by official website poll as Hapoel Haifa's greatest player all time<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hhaifa.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&op=results&pollID=183 |title=הר הגעש באדום – אתר האוהדים הרשמי של הפועל חיפה :: The Official Website Of Hapoel Haifa Fans – משאלים |publisher=Hhaifa.com |access-date=January 27, 2011 |archive-date=January 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119021629/http://www.hhaifa.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&op=results&pollID=183 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Israel [[Golden Jubilee]] Awards: [[Haifa]] Best XI
* Israel [[Golden Jubilee]] Awards: [[Haifa]] Best XI
* Israel [[Golden Jubilee]] Awards: Haifa Best Defender (All Time)
* Israel [[Golden Jubilee]] Awards: Haifa Best Defender (All Time)
* Honorary citizen of the [[Haifa|City of Haifa]] (1993)
* Honorary citizen of the [[Haifa|City of Haifa]] (1993)
* Lifetime contributions special award for the [[Israel national football team|Israeli]] national team in the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 world cup]], determined by ''Yedioth Ahronoth'' and the Israeli football player association (2007)<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20090425140930/http://www.ifpa.org.il/viewArticleItem.asp?ID=67&GalleryID=23&itemID=297</ref>
* Lifetime contributions special award for the [[Israel national football team|Israeli]] national team in the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 world cup]], determined by ''Yedioth Ahronoth'' and the Israeli football player association (2007)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpa.org.il/viewArticleItem.asp?ID=67&GalleryID=23&itemID=297 |title=Archived copy |website=www.ifpa.org.il |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425140930/http://www.ifpa.org.il/viewArticleItem.asp?ID=67&GalleryID=23&itemID=297 |archive-date=25 April 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Member of the [[Israeli Football Hall of Fame]] (2009)
* Member of the [[Israeli Football Hall of Fame]] (2009)


In recognition of his extensive volunteering to the sporting community as well as business success, he was bestowed with honorary citizenship by the city of Haifa, in 1993.
In recognition of his extensive volunteering to the sporting community as well as business success, he was bestowed with honorary citizenship by the city of Haifa, in 1993.


== Football Trophies ==
== Football trophies ==
Maccabi Haifa & Hapoel Haifa:
Maccabi Haifa & Hapoel Haifa:
*4 x Israeli cup (1966, 1974, 1991, 1993), (1985 runners up)
*4 x Israeli cup (1966, 1974, 1991, 1993), (1985 runners up)
Line 107: Line 108:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{in lang|he}} [http://maccabi-haifafc.walla.co.il/ts.cgi?tsscript=player&id=2164 Profile and short biography of Yochanan Vollach on Maccabi Haifa's official website]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{in lang|he}} [http://www.hapoelhaifa.com/site/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=3 Hall of fame]
* {{in lang|he}} [http://www.hapoelhaifa.com/site/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=3 Hall of fame]
* [http://cards.littleoak.com.au/197071_fks_mexico/israel.htm World cup football cards with Vollach's youth picture from 1970]
* [http://cards.littleoak.com.au/197071_fks_mexico/israel.htm World cup football cards with Vollach's youth picture from 1970]
* [http://www.port2port.com/Index.asp?CategoryID=43&ArticleID=482&SearchParam=wallach Vollach is appointed President & CEO of Newlog company]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190528/http://www.port2port.com/Index.asp?CategoryID=52&ArticleID=744 Negotiations for the merger of Transclal and Newlog]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190528/http://www.port2port.com/Index.asp?CategoryID=52&ArticleID=744 Negotiations for the merger of Transclal and [[Newlog]]]
* [http://www.port2port.co.il/?CategoryID=327&ArticleID=72799 Vollach is appointed CEO of The Chamber of Shipping of Israel]
* [http://www.port2port.co.il/?CategoryID=327&ArticleID=72799 Vollach is appointed CEO of The Chamber of Shipping of Israel]


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[[Category:Israeli Jews]]
[[Category:Israeli Jews]]
[[Category:Israeli people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Israeli people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Jewish footballers]]
[[Category:Israeli men's footballers]]
[[Category:Israeli footballers]]
[[Category:Israel men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Israel international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:Association football central defenders]]
[[Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Liga Leumit players]]
[[Category:Liga Leumit players]]
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[[Category:Hapoel Haifa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hapoel Haifa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hong Kong First Division League players]]
[[Category:Hong Kong First Division League players]]
[[Category:Hong Kong FC players]]
[[Category:Hong Kong FC (football) players]]
⚫
[[Category:Israeli expatriate footballers]]
[[Category:Israeli football chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Israeli football chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Israeli sports executives and administrators]]
[[Category:Israeli sports executives and administrators]]
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[[Category:Israeli chief executives]]
[[Category:Israeli chief executives]]
[[Category:University of Haifa alumni]]
[[Category:University of Haifa alumni]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Israeli expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Hebrew University of Jerusalem alumni]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Football players from Kiryat Bialik]]
[[Category:Jerusalem School of Business Administration alumni]]
[[Category:Footballers from Kiryat Bialik]]
⚫
[[Category:Israeli Football Hall of Fame inductees]]

Latest revision as of 20:38, 10 November 2023

Yochanan Vollach
Personal information
Full name יוחנן וולך
Date of birth (1945-05-14) May 14, 1945 (age 79)
Place of birth Kiryat Bialik, Mandatory Palestine
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1958–1962 Maccabi Kiryat Bialik
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962–1965 Maccabi Kiryat Bialik
1965–1977 Hapoel Haifa
1977–1979 Maccabi Haifa 30 (1)
1985–1990 HKFC
International career
1968–1971 Israel 12 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Yochanan Vollach (Hebrew: יוחנן וולך, also Jochanan Wallach or Yohanan Wallach, born May 14, 1945) is an Israeli former footballer. He was a member of the Israel national team that competed at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. He is a member of the Israeli Football Hall of Fame.

Vollach is President of the Maccabi Haifa sports organization, and CEO of the Israeli Chamber of Shipping.

Biography

[edit]

Born in Kiryat Bialik, Vollach began his sports career with his local club, Maccabi Kiryat Bialik. In 1963, he was drafted to the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) Nahal as an infantry soldier. One of only a handful of professional footballers to serve in active combat in the Nahal, Vollach missed an entire season of football. During his service, he won the IDF football championship in 1965.

In 1965, at age 19, his rights were sold for IL5,000 to Hapoel Haifa. Vollach earned a Bachelor's degree in History & Political Science from the University of Haifa, and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a retired Major in the IDF.

Sports career

[edit]

Originally a striker, because of his height advantage and large build, he was dubbed "The Tank". He was unable to reach his full potential so he was moved to the defender position where he excelled and played til the end of his career.

He won the Israeli Israel State Cup competition twice, in 1966 and 1974, and was close several times to winning Liga Leumit (then the top division). His major achievement was helping the Israel national football team qualify for their first World Cup in Mexico in 1970. At the 1970 World Cup, Vollach played against Uruguay.[citation needed] At the following match, Vollach broke his leg in the second half in a brutal match against the Swedish (1–1) side, and so the dream of man marking Gigi Riva and Gianni Rivera, in the last match against Italy was over. Vollach was twice loaned out to other Israeli clubs to strengthen their rosters for in UI Cup games. The first time was in 1976 with Hapoel Be'er Sheva, and the second in 1977 with Maccabi Tel Aviv, both Israeli title holders.

In the summer of 1976, Vollach was strengthening the rosters for the sole purpose of Intertoto Cup games with title holders Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Before the game against Standard Liège in Belgium, the players were staying at the hotel room. Shalom Avitan, Be'er Sheva's player, fooled around with the .22 Short caliber that was in a box on the table and that belonged to the Shabak agent who was guarding the team (after the Munich Massacre, Israel took no chances). Avitan thought the gun was unloaded and pointed it towards Vollach. His hand was moved in the last second and the bullet passed an inch away from Vollach's head.[1]

In 1977, Vollach transferred from Hapoel Haifa, along with former international player and club captain Yitzhak Englander, to local city rivals Maccabi Haifa.

Vollach is a member of the Education and Publicity Committee of the Israel Football Association[2] and a management member of Maccabi World Union.

Maccabi Haifa

[edit]

Vollach served as a role model for young and inexperienced players at Maccabi Haifa. He was looked up to for having been a part of the national side that took part in the World Cup finals. His time at Maccabi was short, playing only two seasons and, in 1979, he retired from professional football and began, fully voluntarily, to act as general manager of Maccabi Haifa. Under Vollach's management Maccabi went from being a mediocre football club to a successful top ranking team, winning their first championship in 1984 and retaining it in 1985, which Maccabi Haifa also finished at the head of the house in the Intertoto home stage. During this time, he began to be known as "the brains of Maccabi Haifa".

Hong Kong F.C.

[edit]

In 1985, Vollach was promoted in his job at Zim Integrated Shipping Services, and was sent oversees to become the branch manager and representative of the company's operations in Hong Kong. It was then that he made a return to football, starring at Hong Kong FC.[3]

Managerial career

[edit]

After five years in Hong Kong, in 1990, Vollach returned to Israel, where former teammate and club captain, Yitzhak Englander was president of Hapoel Haifa. Englander offered him the position of President of Hapoel, but city rivals, Maccabi, were not eager to see Vollach go, so they appointed him as CFO and chief executive of the team. Over the span of three years (1990–93), the club won the "double" (league and cup) during the 1990/91 season and the Israel State Cup at 1993 . Between 1990 and 1994, he volunteered in the management division of the Israel Football Association as well as acting as Maccabi Haifa's representative at the Israel Football Association.

After the football department was privatized, Vollach joined the Maccabi Haifa union's management, filling major positions such as CFO and second to the chairman of board. In 1999, he was voted in unanimously as chairman of the board of the Maccabi Haifa union as well as president of the basketball division of Maccabi Haifa and as a member of the management of the Israel Basketball Association.

Journalism and media career

[edit]

Aside from his administrative and work roles, Vollach participated for many years as a sports commentator on the popular Israeli sports radio show, Shirim uSha'arim and was a local journalist.

Business career

[edit]

He began working at Zim in 1970 after returning from the 1970 FIFA World Cup. At his first week he was assigned to go over employees' attendance tickets. Vollach was global services manager of Zim, chairman of the directorate of Zim's ownership companies, and vice president of Zim, and Zim's M.Dizengoff President & CEO. Since 2005, he has been the President & CEO of Newlog, which is a subsidiary of the Zim group, and handles logistic service relating to marine and overland transportation.

Awards and recognition

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In recognition of his extensive volunteering to the sporting community as well as business success, he was bestowed with honorary citizenship by the city of Haifa, in 1993.

Football trophies

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Maccabi Haifa & Hapoel Haifa:

  • 4 x Israeli cup (1966, 1974, 1991, 1993), (1985 runners up)
  • 3 x Israeli title (1984, 1985, 1991), (1975 runners up)
  • 1 x Israeli Championship of the Champions Cup (1985)
  • 1 x Lilian Cup (1984)
  • 1 x IDF title (1965)

Maccabi Haifa youth team:

  • 4 x Israeli youth title (1979, 1983, 1984, 1991)
  • 3 x Israeli youth cup (1980, 1991, 1993), (1981 runners up)
  • 1 x Israeli Championship of the Champions Cup (1984)

Maccabi Haifa basketball team:

  • 2 x Israeli Final Four
  • 1 x Israeli Cup final (2008–2009)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ שלום אביטן יורה ביוחנן וולך (in Hebrew). Ma'ariv. May 9, 2003. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
  2. ^ "The Israel Football Association". Football.org.il. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  3. ^ "Yochanan Vollach - Maccabi Haïfa - Stats - titles won". www.footballdatabase.eu.
  4. ^ "הר הגעש באדום – אתר האוהדים הרשמי של הפועל חיפה :: The Official Website Of Hapoel Haifa Fans – משאלים". Hhaifa.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". www.ifpa.org.il. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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