Israeli football and the capital of the Negev are in mourning: the footballer Shalom Avitan, Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s all-time leading scorer and one of the players most associated with the club, passed away today (Friday) at the age of 73, after suffering from medical problems in recent years. Avitan, born in France, left behind a wife, five children and eight grandchildren. His funeral will take place today at 14:00 at the old cemetery in Be’er Sheva.
Avitan wore the Hapoel Beer Sheva shirt for the first time in the 1972/73 season, after arriving from city rival Beitar. In the 1975/76 season, he contributed to winning the second championship in the club’s history. Until the end of his career, Avitan made 251 appearances in the team’s uniform (fifth place in its history) and scored over 116 goals, at the top of the all-time goalscoring chart.
The team’s all-time top scorer, Shalom Avitan, passed away. Shalom played for the first time in the team in the 1972/1973 season. He returned for a second term in the 1975/1976 season and contributed to winning the second championship in the club’s history. Until the end of his career, Shalom made 251 appearances in the club’s uniform and scored over 100 goals in all competitions. pic.twitter.com/No9M6kgYIx
In 1986 he won the second championship in his career, this time with Hapoel Tel Aviv, and then played for Hapoel Ashdod and retired.
Mayor of Beer Sheva, Rubik Danilovitz: “Sad day! Shalom Avitan, one of the greatest pioneers of Hapoel Beer Sheva and the State of Israel, passed away this morning. He and his teammates from the Hapoel Beer Sheva team brought great honor and pride to the city, when they won the state championships in the mid-seventies. Shalom He was a colorful and special figure, and he will be greatly missed by Ha’Ba’er Sheva and Israeli football. Our condolences to his devoted wife Gila, who surrounded him with love until his last moments. May his memory be blessed.”
