Sean Goldberg (or Shon, he, שון גולדברג; born 13 June 1995) is an Israeli
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...
who plays as a
center-back
In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield position whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring.
Centre-backs are usually positioned in pairs, with one full-back on either s ...
or as a
left-back for
Israeli Premier League club
Maccabi Haifa and the
Israel national team.
Early life
Goldberg was born in
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...
,
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
, to a family of
Ashkenazi Jewish
Ashkenazi Jews ( ; he, יְהוּדֵי אַשְׁכְּנַז, translit=Yehudei Ashkenaz, ; yi, אַשכּנזישע ייִדן, Ashkenazishe Yidn), also known as Ashkenazic Jews or ''Ashkenazim'',, Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation: , singu ...
and of
Italian-Jewish
The history of the Jews in Italy spans more than two thousand years to the present. The Jewish presence in Italy dates to the pre-Christian Roman period and has continued, despite periods of extreme persecution and expulsions, until the present ...
descent.
He also holds an Italian passport, on account of his Italian-Jewish ancestry, which eases the move to certain European football leagues.
He has graduated from the
Reichman University (formerly the
IDC Herzliya
Reichman University ( he, אוניברסיטת רייכמן) is Israel's only private university, located in Herzliya, Tel Aviv District. It was founded in 1994 as the IDC Herzliya private college, before being rebranded in 2021.
It receives no ...
college) in
Herzliya
Herzliya ( ; he, הֶרְצְלִיָּה ; ar, هرتسليا, Hirtsiliyā) is an affluent city in the central coast of Israel, at the northern part of the Tel Aviv District, known for its robust start-up and entrepreneurial culture. In it h ...
, Israel, in May 2022, majoring in
business administration
Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...
.
Club career

Born in 1995, Goldberg started his football career with Israeli side
Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team. On 1 July 2014, he was called up for
Maccabi Tel Aviv football team. On 26 October 2014, Goldberg made his senior
Israeli Premier League debut against
Hapoel Acre
Hapoel Acre Football Club ( he, מועדון כדורגל הפועל עכו, ''Moadon Kaduregel Hapoel Akko'') is an Israeli football club based in Acre, Israel. The club currently plays in Liga Leumit.
History
Founded in 1946, the club dwelt i ...
, coming on as a substitute for
Sheran Yeini
Sheran Yeini (sometimes Sherran or Shiran, he, שרן ייני; born 8 December 1986) is an Israeli professional footballer who captains the Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Tel Aviv, and a retired player and captain of the Israel national t ...
at the 75th minute. Goldberg won the
2014–15 Toto Cup Al
The 2014–15 Toto Cup Al was the 30th season of the third-important football tournament in Israel since its introduction and the 10th tournament involving Israeli Premier League clubs only. The tournament resumed after the planned competition for ...
with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
On February 3, 2015, Goldberg was loaned together with
Ben Reichert
Ben Reichert ( he, בן רייכרט; born 4 March 1994) is an Israeli footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, Ameri ...
to
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv ( he, הפועל תל אביב) is a sports club in Israel, founded in the 1920s, and part of the Hapoel association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, suc ...
, as part of a deal in which
Gili Vermouth was signed by Maccabi. On February 14, 2015, Goldberg made his debut for the club, coming in as a substitute in a 0–1 loss to
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Football Club ( he, מועדון הכדורגל הפועל באר שבע, ''Moadon HaKaduregel Hapoel Be'er Sheva'') is an Israeli football club from the city of Be'er Sheva, that competes in the Israeli Premier League. The cl ...
. He made nine appearances for the club in that season.
On September 1, 2015, Goldberg moved to
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv on loan until the end of
2016-17 season. In May 2017 he won the
Israel State Cup
The Israel State Cup ( he, גביע המדינה, ''Gvia HaMedina''), is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israel Football Association (IFA).
The State Cup was first held in 1928 as the People's Cup. Because it involve ...
with Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, after beating Maccabi Tel Aviv in
the final
Final, Finals or The Final may refer to:
*Final (competition), the last or championship round of a sporting competition, match, game, or other contest which decides a winner for an event
** Another term for playoffs, describing a sequence of cont ...
.
On September 4, 2017, he joined
Beitar Jerusalem
Beitar Jerusalem Football Club ( he, מועדון כדורגל בית"ר ירושלים, Moadon Kaduregel Beitar Yerushalayim), commonly known as Beitar Jerusalem () or simply as Beitar (), is an Israeli football club based in the city of Jeru ...
on loan for one season. A week later he made his debut for the club after coming in as a substitute in 2–1 victory over
Maccabi Petah Tikva. Goldberg and Beitar finished the 2017–2018 season as the
Israel State Cup
The Israel State Cup ( he, גביע המדינה, ''Gvia HaMedina''), is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israel Football Association (IFA).
The State Cup was first held in 1928 as the People's Cup. Because it involve ...
runners-up after losing 1–3 to
Hapoel Haifa in
the final
Final, Finals or The Final may refer to:
*Final (competition), the last or championship round of a sporting competition, match, game, or other contest which decides a winner for an event
** Another term for playoffs, describing a sequence of cont ...
.
In the start of the 2018–19 season, Goldberg made a single appearance for
Maccabi Tel Aviv in the
2014–15 Toto Cup Al
The 2014–15 Toto Cup Al was the 30th season of the third-important football tournament in Israel since its introduction and the 10th tournament involving Israeli Premier League clubs only. The tournament resumed after the planned competition for ...
. On August 14, 2019, he was released from Maccabi Tel Aviv and signed with Hapoel Haifa for one season.
On June 11, 2019, Goldberg signed with
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Football Club ( he, מועדון הכדורגל הפועל באר שבע, ''Moadon HaKaduregel Hapoel Be'er Sheva'') is an Israeli football club from the city of Be'er Sheva, that competes in the Israeli Premier League. The cl ...
. He made his debut for the club in the starting roster in a 1–1 draw against
KF Laçi
Klubi i Futbollit Laçi is an Albanian professional football club based in Laç that competes in the Kategoria Superiore, the top flight of Albanian football. Founded in 1960 as Industriali Laç, it became KS Laçi in 1991 and KF Laçi in 1997. ...
in the
2019–20 Europa League qualifiers, and assisted the goal which his team scored.
In 2020 Goldberg extended his contract with the club for another season. On September 18 made the assist for his team's winning goal in a 2–1 victory against KF Laçi in the
2020–21 Europa League qualifiers, helping his team qualify to the next round.
On June 10, 2021, Goldberg signed with
Maccabi Haifa for 2 seasons. He made his debut for the club in a 0–2 loss to
FC Kairat in the
2021–22 UEFA Champions League qualifiers. On August 29 he made his league debut for the club in a 0–0 draw against
Hapoel Hadera. At the end of the 2021–22 season he won the league championship and finished as runners-up in the
Israel State Cup
The Israel State Cup ( he, גביע המדינה, ''Gvia HaMedina''), is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israel Football Association (IFA).
The State Cup was first held in 1928 as the People's Cup. Because it involve ...
with Maccabi Haifa after losing to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the final.
International career
Goldberg was internationally capped for his native
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
at all the various youth teams:
under-16,
under-17,
under-18,
under-19, and the
under-21.
On 17 March 2022, Goldberg was first called up to the
Israel senior team, ahead of the friendly matches against
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
and
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
. On March 26, he made his senior debut for the Israel, opening in the 0–2 friendly away loss against
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
.
Career statistics
Club
Honours
Maccabi Tel Aviv
*
Israeli Premier League:
2014–15
*
Israel Toto Cup
The Israel Toto Cup ( he, גביע הטוטו, ''Gvia Ha'Toto'') is an association football tournament that features clubs in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Israeli Premier League ( Ligat Ha'Al), and the second division Liga Leumit.
Fro ...
(
Ligat Ha'Al
The Israeli Premier League ( he, ליגת העל, ''Ligat Ha`Al'', ), is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Israeli Football League – the state's league of Israel. The league is contested b ...
):
2014–15
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
*
Israel State Cup
The Israel State Cup ( he, גביע המדינה, ''Gvia HaMedina''), is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israel Football Association (IFA).
The State Cup was first held in 1928 as the People's Cup. Because it involve ...
:
2016–17
Maccabi Haifa
*
Israeli Premier League:
2021–22,
2022-23
*
Israel Toto Cup
The Israel Toto Cup ( he, גביע הטוטו, ''Gvia Ha'Toto'') is an association football tournament that features clubs in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Israeli Premier League ( Ligat Ha'Al), and the second division Liga Leumit.
Fro ...
(
Ligat Ha'Al
The Israeli Premier League ( he, ליגת העל, ''Ligat Ha`Al'', ), is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Israeli Football League – the state's league of Israel. The league is contested b ...
):
2021–22
*
Israel Super Cup
The Israel Super Cup, also known as the Champion of Champions ( he, אלוף האלופים, Aluf HaAlufim), is an Israeli association football club competition played as a single match between the winner of the latest Israeli top league champion ...
:
2021
File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October–November 2021 ...
,
2023
Events
Predicted and scheduled events
* January 1
** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law.
** Croatia will adopt the eu ...
See also
*
List of Jewish footballers
The following is a list of Jewish footballers (soccer), organised by nationality.
See also
* List of Jews in sports
References
{{reflist
*
Footballers
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different ty ...
*
List of Jews in sports
This list of Jewish athletes in sports contains athletes who are Jewish and have attained outstanding achievements in sports. The topic of Jewish participation in sports is discussed extensively in academic and popular literature (See also: Lis ...
*
List of Israelis
Israelis ( he, ישראלים ''Yiśraʾelim'') are the citizens or permanent residents of the State of Israel, a multiethnic state populated by people of different ethnic backgrounds. The largest ethnic groups in Israel are Jews (75%), foll ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldberg, Sean
1995 births
Living people
Footballers from Tel Aviv
Israeli people of Italian-Jewish descent
Israeli Ashkenazi Jews
Italian Ashkenazi Jews
Israeli men's footballers
Italian men's footballers
Jewish footballers
Men's association football defenders
Men's association football central defenders
Reichman University alumni
Israel men's youth international footballers
Israel men's under-21 international footballers
Israel men's international footballers
Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. players
Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. players
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. players
Beitar Jerusalem F.C. players
Hapoel Haifa F.C. players
Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C. players
Maccabi Haifa F.C. players
Israeli Premier League players