Andy Landesberg will manage the Team GB Open Football squad at the 20th Maccabiah Games next summer in Israel.
Landesberg, who led the Open Futsal side to gold at the European Maccabi Games 2015 in Berlin, is the first manager to be named in the build-up to the 2017 Games, which are also known as the ‘Jewish Olympics’.
He will be able to draw on his experiences at the 19th Maccabiah Games, where he oversaw Great Britain’s relatively-inexperienced Open Futsal team to a respectable fifth-placed-finish in their first outing on an international stage.
In addition to his achievements with Team GB, Landesberg is extremely familiar with the Jewish Football scene. A former Wingate and Finchley captain, he has represented every Men’s Team at London Maccabi Lions, both in the MGBSFL and in non-Jewish football. In 2014 he took over as manager of the Lions’ MGBSFL side, where he won the Cyril Anekstein Cup and finished fourth in the Premier Division before overseeing the club’s London Lions outfit in the Herts Senior League.
Landesberg said: "I have had the fortunate honour of representing my country as both player and manager. Obviously, the brilliant experience that we had in Berlin will live long in my memory, but this is the job I wanted.
"This is a very exciting and prestigious role and one I am so excited to have been given. I feel it is a big responsibility - a huge honour - but at the same time I am so focused on delivering something special, I really believe we can.
"The last Maccabiah taught me a lot about managing a group of players at an international tournament. Our performance was fantastic then, but I took that experience forward into Berlin, changed a few things and delivered the ultimate result.
"My focus was very much on building a team on and off the pitch. We achieved that, we were one unit at all times, disciplined, well-organised and, ultimately, respect made us the team we were. We had the talent, we just needed to forge that special relationship between everyone. That was the difference."
Great Britain’s Open Football Team had a tough time at the 19th Maccabiah Games, failing to reach the Quarter Finals, despite strong medal hopes. This is something Landesberg will be aiming to put right in 2017.
When asked about what type of team he is planning to build for the Maccabiah, Landesberg said: "We arrive at this tournament with ultimately one goal - to win the gold medal.
"The squad will be very different to the team of 2013. There is a strong core of players that are aged between 20-24-years-old all who have had good experience at a decent level of football.
"There is also a great batch of youngsters coming through that I believe may surprise a few people and find their way into the squad.
"Additionally, we have a number of players who are at University who will also be knocking on the door. I will be looking to combine this youth and talent with slightly older, more experienced players.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the talent and quality is there (injuries permitting) but, as I referred to before, one of the critical factors will be the way this squad works and plays off the field together. This sparkle, this integration between everybody becomes a key part of the performance and mindset on the field of play.
"To any footballer who is thinking of applying to represent Team GB in Israel I would say this – The Maccabiah Games is an event, an experience, that will never be forgotten. To be part of a great team, who are part of an even bigger Team [Team GB], who represent their country, their community at a tournament that welcomes like-minded competitors from across the world is truly unique.
"We want to create a squad who want and can deliver their dreams, because that is exactly why I am involved. Anybody who thinks they are good enough to be part of this, must apply and make their dreams come true. I want to help make those dreams and goals happen."
Maccabi GB will be competing alongside 9,000 other Jewish athletes from 80 countries around the world in July 2017 making it the biggest international Jewish Sports Tournament in the world.
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