Nir Bitton
 Bitton lining up for Israel U21 in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 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 | 82 | (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 22 October 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
Bitton broke into the first team of his home-town club FC Ashdod at the age of 17, and went on to make over 100 appearances.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4][5] 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.[4][6] The resulting suspension and a few niggling injuries hindered Biton's efforts to establish himself in the team,[7] but he still managed to make a total of 20 appearances for Celtic by the end of his first season there.[8] Celtic won their third successive league title, and Biton's 15 league appearances saw him pick up his first major honour.[7][9]
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.[10] Celtic winger Derk Boerrigter was later given a 3-match ban for simulation.[11] Later in the season, Biton scored a stunning 30-yard goal against Dundee. in a 5–0 win.[12] 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.[13]
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.[14]
International career
In 2009, Biton was selected to represent Israel at the 2009 Maccabiah Games, and the team won a bronze medal.[15] 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.[16] He scored his first goal for the national team against Andorra in a 4-0 victory On 3 September 2015.[17]
Honours
Club
- Scottish Premiership (3): 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
- Scottish League Cup (1): 2014-15
References
- ↑ "Manchester City try to free talented Israeli midfielder from national service". Daily Mail. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ↑ "Nir Bitton". Celtic FC. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ↑ "Celtic sign Israeli star, Nir Biton". Celtic FC. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
- 1 2 "Games Involving Biton, Nir in season 2013/2014". FitbaStats. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ↑ "0-2 Vs AC Milan in UEFA Champions League (18/09/2013)". FitbaStats. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 Cully, Ronnie (13 February 2014). "Biton out for Celtic shot at glory". Evening Times. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ↑ "Biton, Nir". FitbaStats. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ↑ "N. Biton". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ↑ Burns, Cheri (13 August 2015). "St Johnstone 0 - 3 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ↑ "Derk Boerrigter accepts two-match ban for 'simulation'". BBC Sport. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ↑ "See Bitton hit wonder goal as Celtic edge closer to title with 5-0 win". STV Sport. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ↑ Campbell, Andy (12 August 2015). "Kilmarnock 2 - 2 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ↑ "Celtic on top but Berget gives Malmö hope". UEFA. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ↑ "סגלי נבחרות ישראל לטורניר הכדורגל של המכביה". Israel Football Association. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
- ↑ "Nir Biton". National Football Teams. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ↑ "Israel back on track after Andorra stroll". UEFA. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ↑ Nir Biton profile at Soccerway
External links
- Nir Biton profile at Soccerway
- ביטון ניר (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- "Nir Biton". Football Database. Retrieved 2012-07-18.