Nir Bitton Explained

Nir Bitton
Birth Date:30 October 1991
Birth Place:Ashdod, Israel
Height:1.95 m[1]
Position:Defensive midfielder, centre back
Currentclub:Maccabi Tel Aviv
Clubnumber:55
Youthyears1:1997–2009
Youthclubs1:SC Ashdod
Years1:2009–2013
Clubs1:SC Ashdod
Caps1:123
Goals1:14
Years2:2013–2022
Clubs2:Celtic
Caps2:158
Goals2:9
Years3:2022–
Clubs3:Maccabi Tel Aviv
Caps3:30
Goals3:1
Nationalyears1:2008
Nationalyears2:2009
Nationalyears3:2009
Nationalyears4:2010–2013
Nationalyears5:2010–
Nationalteam1:Israel U17
Nationalteam2:Israel U18
Nationalteam3:Israel U19
Nationalteam4:Israel U21
Nationalteam5:Israel
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalcaps3:15
Nationalcaps4:22
Nationalcaps5:39
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalgoals4:2
Nationalgoals5:3
Club-Update:1 February 2024
Nationalteam-Update:26 March 2022

Nir Bitton (or Biton,[2] [3] [4] Hebrew: ניר ביטון; born 30 October 1991) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or as a defensive midfielder for Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Israel national team.

Early and personal life

Bitton was born and raised in Ashdod, Israel, to a family of both Sephardi Jewish and Mizrahi Jewish descent.[5] He was enlisted and served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces.[6]

He married his Israeli girlfriend Bar (Shimon) in 2014: the couple have two children, Emma and Tom.[7] [8]

Club career

SC Ashdod

Bitton broke into the senior team of his home-town club SC Ashdod at the age of 17 in an Israeli Premier League match on 25 April 2009, and went on to make over 120 appearances.[9]

Celtic

On 30 August 2013, Bitton signed a four-year deal with Scottish Premiership club Celtic, for a fee of around £700,000 and a 20% sell-on clause from Israeli Premier League club SC Ashdod.[10]

He made his debut for the club on 18 September, in a Champions League group stage match against AC Milan, coming into the game as a late substitute in the 89th minute.[11] [12] Three weeks later he made another Champions League appearance for Celtic, coming as a 77th-minute substitute against Ajax on 22 October, but was sent off eleven minutes later for a late tackle on Thulani Serero. The resulting suspension and a few niggling injuries hindered Bitton's efforts to establish himself in the team,[13] but he still managed to make a total of 20 appearances for Celtic by the end of his first season there.[14] Celtic won their third successive league title, and Bitton's 15 league appearances saw him pick up his first major honour.[15]

In the 2014–15 season, Bitton scored in Celtic's first league match of the season from the penalty spot after a controversial red card for St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay.[16] Celtic winger Derk Boerrigter was later given a 3-match ban for simulation.[17] Later in the season, Bitton scored a stunning 30-yard goal against Dundee. in a 5–0 win.[18] He scored another long-distance strike on 12 August 2015, netting from 25 yards into the top corner in a 2–2 draw with Kilmarnock.[19]

To begin the 2015–16 season, on 19 August 2015, Bitton scored against Swedish side Malmö FF in a 3–2 win at Celtic Park in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs.[20] On 2 November 2015, Bitton was signed a new contract which would keep him at Celtic until the summer of 2020,[21] and again on 16 December 2019 he extended his contract up to 2023.[22]

On 13 May 2022, Celtic announced that Bitton and teammate Tom Rogic would both be leaving the club after the final game of the season against Motherwell.[23] Bitton said: "When I came to Celtic I never thought I would be part of such exciting times and it truly has been amazing to be part of such a great club. I have worked with some great managers and team-mates and I thank them all for those times and all we achieved together."[24] On his 245th and final game for Celtic, Bitton came on as a substitute for club captain Callum McGregor in the 85th minute, as Celtic ran out 6–0 winners.[25] Rogic and Bitton brought out the Scottish Premiership trophy together, which McGregor then lifted aloft with his departing teammates standing on either side.[26]

Bitton also occasionally captained Celtic.[27] [28] [29]

Maccabi Tel Aviv

On 1 July 2022, Bitton joined Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Tel Aviv on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract with an option for a third year. The player thus returned to Israel after spending nine years in Scotland.[30] [31]

International career

In 2009, Bitton represented his native Israel at the 2009 Maccabiah Games, and the team won a bronze medal.[32] [33] He played for the only Israel U-21 team to qualify for the UEFA European U21 Championship in 2013.[34]

He made his senior debut for Israel in a friendly match against Uruguay on 26 May 2010. Bitton played a major role in qualifying games for the 2016 UEFA Euro Tournament.[35] He scored his first goal for the national team against Andorra in a 4–0 victory On 3 September 2015.[36] Ever since 23 March 2016, Bitton is being used as a second or a third Captain for the senior Israel national team.[37] Bitton debuted as the first Captain of the senior national team, in a 3–2 home win for Israel against Faroe Islands on 15 November 2021 (even after Eitan Tibi, Israel's vice-captain, was substituted in), at the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[38]

Career statistics

Club

[15] [39]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
SC Ashdod[40] 2008–09Israeli Premier League1000000010
2009–10Israeli Premier League201000000201
2010–11Israeli Premier League345000000345
2011–12Israeli Premier League364000000364
2012–13Israeli Premier League314001000324
2013–14Israeli Premier League1000000010
Total1231400100012414
Celtic2013–14Scottish Premiership15010103[41] 0200
2014–15Scottish Premiership31250205[42] 0432
2015–16Scottish Premiership305302011[43] 3468
2016–17Scottish Premiership261302081392
2017–18Scottish Premiership140102060230
2018–19Scottish Premiership70300000100
2019–20Scottish Premiership150302011[44] 0310
2020–21Scottish Premiership13100106[45] 0211
2021–22Scottish Premiership22000105[46] 0120
Total158919013055424513
Maccabi Tel Aviv2022–23Israeli Premier League1000001[47] 010
Career total2822319014056437127

International goals

Scores and results list Israel's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bitton goal.[35] [48]

List of international goals scored by Nir Bitton
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 3 September 2015 Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel 2–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
2 10 October 2015 Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, Israel 1–1 1–2 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
3 12 November 2021 Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria 1–0 2–4 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Celtic[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nir Bitton . Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. . 21 July 2022 .
  2. Web site: football – Nir BITON. www.football.org.il.
  3. Web site: Nir Biton – Celtic Glasgow – Stats – titles won. www.footballdatabase.eu.
  4. Web site: Nir Biton (Israel) - Under-21 - nav_ - UEFA.com . www.uefa.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130610101320/http://www.uefa.com/under21/photos/photoid=1959948.html . 10 June 2013.
  5. News: Pals Ofir Marciano and Nir Bitton will finally face each other when Hibs play Celtic. Ross. Pilcher. 3 February 2019. Edinburgh Live.
  6. Web site: Meet The 24-Year-Old Celtic Midfielder Who's Been Compared To Sergio Busquets. Dunleavy. Brian P.. 22 November 2015. The18. 22 June 2019.
  7. News: Israeli Celtic star Nir Bitton and his wife subjected to torrent of online abuse. 6 January 2021. Jewish News.
  8. News: McStay . Kirsten . 11 October 2020 . Nir Bitton's wife shares insight into quarantine regime as Celt tackles virus . Daily Record . en.
  9. Web site: Nir Bitton. Celtic FC. 30 August 2016.
  10. Web site: Celtic sign Israeli star, Nir Biton. Celtic FC. 30 August 2013. 30 August 2013.
  11. Web site: Games Involving Biton, Nir in season 2013/2014. FitbaStats. 1 September 2014.
  12. Web site: 0–2 Vs AC Milan in UEFA Champions League (18/09/2013). FitbaStats. 1 September 2014.
  13. Web site: Cully. Ronnie. Biton out for Celtic shot at glory. Evening Times. 1 September 2014. 13 February 2014.
  14. Web site: Biton, Nir. FitbaStats. 1 September 2014.
  15. Web site: N. Biton. Soccerway. 1 September 2014.
  16. News: Burns. Cheri. St Johnstone 0 – 3 Celtic. 3 November 2015. BBC Sport. 13 August 2015.
  17. News: Derk Boerrigter accepts two-match ban for 'simulation'. 3 November 2015. BBC Sport. 18 August 2014.
  18. News: See Bitton hit wonder goal as Celtic edge closer to title with 5–0 win. 3 November 2015. STV Sport. 2 May 2015.
  19. News: Campbell. Andy. Kilmarnock 2 – 2 Celtic. 3 November 2015. BBC Sport. 12 August 2015.
  20. News: Celtic on top but Berget gives Malmö hope. 20 August 2015. UEFA. 19 August 2015.
  21. News: Bitton signs contract until 2020 with Scottish champions. 2 November 2015. BBC Sport. 2 November 2015.
  22. News: Celtic: Nir Bitton signs contract extension until 2023 . BBC Sport . 18 December 2020.
  23. News: Celtic: Nir Bitton & Tom Rogic to leave 'at right time' after nine years at the club. Lindsay. Clive. 13 May 2022. BBC Sport. 17 May 2022.
  24. News: Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton to leave Celtic at end of season. Coyle. Andy. 13 May 2022. STV News. 17 May 2022.
  25. News: Celtic 6–0 Motherwell: Player ratings as champions celebrate with thumping win. Davis. Krishan. 14 May 2022. 90min. 17 May 2022.
  26. News: Celtic duo Nir Bitton & Tom Rogic given trophy honour as Champions League theme blared at Parkhead. Irvine. David. 14 May 2022. Glasgow Times. 17 May 2022.
  27. Web site: Nir Bitton on playing Celtic mentor to 'little boy' Liel Abada as he praises compatriot's impact. Glasgow Times. 31 December 2021 .
  28. Web site: 26 December 2021 . Video: Captain Nir Bitton seals the points in Perth .
  29. Web site: ניר ביטון: הרצון שלי הוא להמשיך לשחק מעבר לים - ספורט 5 . 15 May 2022 .
  30. Web site: 2022-06-30 . ניר ביטון סיכם לשנתיים במכבי . 2022-07-01 . מועדון הכדורגל מכבי תל אביב . he-IL.
  31. Web site: McGinley . John . 2022-06-30 . Confirmed: Former Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton makes his next move . 2022-07-01 . 67 Hail Hail . en-GB.
  32. Web site: ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל - עמוד משחק. www.football.org.il.
  33. Web site: סגלי נבחרות ישראל לטורניר הכדורגל של המכביה . Israel Football Association . 9 July 2009 . 12 July 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090629062609/http://football.org.il/Archive/Articles/Pages/NationalTeamsJune24_2009.aspx . 29 June 2009 . dead .
  34. Web site: England Crushed by Israel's Winning Goal in Jerusalem (Video) . . 12 June 2013 . 22 May 2019.
  35. Web site: Nir Biton. National Football Teams. 1 September 2014.
  36. Web site: Israel back on track after Andorra stroll. UEFA. 3 September 2015.
  37. Web site: ניר ביטון: יש לנו במה להתגאות, הגשמתי חלום. 23 March 2016.
  38. Web site: Match Report of Israel vs Faroe Islands – 2021-11-15 – WC Qualification . Global Sports Archive . 15 November 2021 . 15 November 2021.
  39. Web site: Nir Biton Israel Football Association profile. Israel Football Association. 1 September 2019.
  40. National Cup and League Cup appearances for F.C. Ashdod unknown
  41. Appearances in the UEFA Champions League
  42. Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League and three appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  43. Six appearances and two goals in the UEFA Champions League and five appearances and one goal in the UEFA Europa League
  44. Five appearances in the UEFA Champions League and six appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  45. One appearance in the UEFA Champions League and five appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  46. One appearance in the UEFA Champions League and four appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  47. One appearance in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  48. Web site: ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל – Liel Abada .
  49. News: Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season. BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. 18 May 2020.
  50. News: Dundee United 1–1 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side reclaim league title. BBC Sport. 11 May 2022. 12 May 2022.
  51. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/20/celtic-hearts-scottish-cup-final-match-report Celtic win fourth straight Scottish Cup as Hazard's shootout saves break Hearts
  52. Web site: Rangers 0 – 1 Celtic . BBC Sport . 8 December 2019 . 8 December 2019.
  53. News: Hibernian 1–2 Celtic. BBC Sport.