Pini Balili

Pini Balili — Biography

Pini Balili is a former centre-forward who earned 29 caps and scored seven goals for Israel, played for four clubs in Turkey and then moved into management. A two-footed attacker who could fill several roles up front, he also holds Turkish citizenship.

As a boy he joined the Hapoel Tel Aviv youth system and in his teens moved to Shimshon Tel Aviv; Hapoel bought back his contract after one professional season. His breakout came under Dror Kashtan, and the club's UEFA Cup run opened the national-team door. When Hapoel cut wages after 2002-03 he left for İstanbulspor. His Süper Lig debut on 10 August 2003 is remembered: he scored a chip against Fenerbahçe in a 3-0 win. With the club in trouble he was let go after a season and signed with newly promoted Kayserispor, then Sivasspor. Sivasspor applied for Turkish citizenship for him in 2006 and he became a Turkish citizen. In 2009 he signed a two-year contract with Antalyaspor.

Seven years later he returned to Israel and rejoined his former coach Kashtan at Bnei Yehuda; in 2012 he moved to Maccabi Ironi Bat Yam and retired as a player at the end of 2013-14. At Bat Yam he was caretaker manager and then assistant coach, in 2014-15 he managed Maccabi Holon's women's side, and in 2015 he became general manager of Shikun HaMizrah. In 2023 he voted in Turkey's presidential election.