Menashe Zalka

Menashe Zalka was born in 1990 in Addis Ababa

Zalka was born on 1 July 1990 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He came to Israel as a small child and grew up in the Yosftal neighborhood of Hadera. He began playing football in the youth teams of Hapoel Hadera.

He served in a combat role with the Paratroopers reconnaissance unit and nearly stopped playing during his service. He later earned a bachelor's degree in education and society from Ono Academic College.

Zalka started his senior career at Hapoel Hadera in 2012. He then played for Giv'at Olga, Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel and Maccabi Tzur Shalom before returning to Hadera. The club rose two leagues in a row and reached the Israeli Premier League in 2018, and he became its captain.

In December 2021 he received an offer to represent Ethiopia but said he would play only for Israel. In 2019 he lit a torch at the Independence Day ceremony. He continued reserve duty and, in 2026, a video of him in Lebanon led to calls for FIFA to consider disciplinary action.