Nir Bitton

Nir Bitton

Bitton lining up for Israel U21 in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-10-30) 30 October 1991
Place of birth Ashdod, Israel
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Playing position Defensive Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Celtic
Number 6
Youth career
1997–2009 FC Ashdod
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2009–2013 FC Ashdod 123 (14)
2013– Celtic 74 (8)
National team‡
2008 Israel U17 5 (0)
2009 Israel U18 2 (0)
2009 Israel U19 15 (0)
2010–2013 Israel U21 21 (2)
2010– Israel 17 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 April 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 April 2016

Nir Bitton (Hebrew: ניר ביטון‎; born 30 October 1991) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Celtic and the Israel national football team. Prior to his professional football career, he completed mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces.[1]

Club career

Celtic

On 30 August 2013, Biton signed a four-year deal with Scottish Premiership club Celtic, for a fee of around £700,000 and a 20% sell-on clause for Israeli Premier League club FC Ashdod.[2]

2013–2014 season

He made his debut for the club on 18 September, in a Champions League group stage match against AC Milan, coming in to the game as a late substitute at the 89th minute.[3][4] 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.[3][5] The resulting suspension and a few niggling injuries hindered Biton's efforts to establish himself in the team,[6] but he still managed to make a total of 20 appearances for Celtic by the end of his first season there.[7] Celtic won their third successive league title, and Biton's 15 league appearances saw him pick up his first major honour.[6][8]

2014–2015 season

In the 2014-15 season, Biton 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.[9] Celtic winger Derk Boerrigter was later given a 3-match ban for simulation.[10] Later in the season, Biton scored a stunning 30-yard goal against Dundee. in a 5–0 win.[11] 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.[12]

2015–2016 season

To begin the 2015–16 season, on 19 August 2015 Biton scored against Swedish side Malmö FF in a 3–2 win at Celtic Park in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs.[13]

International career

In 2009, Biton was selected to represent Israel at the 2009 Maccabiah Games, and the team won a bronze medal.[14] He made his senior debut for Israel in a friendly match against Uruguay on 26 May 2010. Biton played a major role in qualifying gamees for the 2016 UEFA Euro Tournament.[15] He scored his first goal for the national team against Andorra in a 4-0 victory On 3 September 2015.[16]

Honours

Club

Celtic[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Manchester City try to free talented Israeli midfielder from national service". Daily Mail. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Celtic sign Israeli star, Nir Biton". Celtic FC. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Games Involving Biton, Nir in season 2013/2014". FitbaStats. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "0-2 Vs AC Milan in UEFA Champions League (18/09/2013)". FitbaStats. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  5. ↑ McGowan, Stephen (22 October 2013). "Celtic 2 Ajax 1: Lennon's 10 men seal victory after goals from Forrest and Kayal". Mail Online. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  6. 1 2 Cully, Ronnie (13 February 2014). "Biton out for Celtic shot at glory". Evening Times. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Biton, Nir". FitbaStats. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "N. Biton". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  9. ↑ Burns, Cheri (13 August 201). "St Johnstone 0 - 3 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2015. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ↑ "Derk Boerrigter accepts two-match ban for 'simulation'". BBC Sport. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "See Bitton hit wonder goal as Celtic edge closer to title with 5-0 win". STV Sport. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  12. ↑ Campbell, Andy (12 August 2015). "Kilmarnock 2 - 2 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Celtic on top but Berget gives Malmö hope". UEFA. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "סגלי נבחרות ישראל לטורניר הכדורגל של המכביה". Israel Football Association. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  15. ↑ "Nir Biton". National Football Teams. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Israel back on track after Andorra stroll". UEFA. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  17. ↑ Nir Biton profile at Soccerway

External links

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