Soccer / Island life makes return to motherland less appealing
By Moshe Boker
A big salary, the comfortable island lifestyle and a dearth of challenging coaching opportunities in Israel mean Nir Klinger is unlikely to return to the motherland next season, the Israeli coach of the Cypriot club Larnaca told Haaretz yesterday.
Klinger, who used to coach Maccabi Tel Aviv, was signed by AEK Larnaca earlier this season when the team had only 4 points after six rounds, and took it to fourth place with 50 points at season's end - a mere two points less than the champions.
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He earns 250,000 euros a year for which he pays only 10 percent in taxes. He has a luxurious house, a sports car and his children are enrolled in one of the island's best schools.
Understandably, Klinger says he would not return to Israel for any position but admits that he was hoping to be offered a coaching position at Maccabi Haifa. "I wasn't hurt," he says. "It'll happen someday, there's no rush."
Regarding Haifa's pick as its coach for next season, Elisha Levy, Klinger has only good things to say. "An excellent coach, an excellent choice," Klinger complemented.
Meanwhile, Klinger says he received offers to coach other teams in Cyprus next year but that he plans on staying at Larnaca. "Between returning to Israel and staying in Cyprus I preferred staying in Cyprus," he explains.
"Besides the contract, the club's standards and management are unlike those in Israel. So, after the Haifa option faded, there is no reason for me to come back right now."
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
