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Moshe Leon

Moshe "Mutzi" Leon is a former Israeli footballer who played for Maccabi Jaffa and scored in Israel's win in the 1964 AFC Asian Cup final.

born 1944Long career at Maccabi JaffaGoal in 1964 Asian Cup finalIsraeli Football Hall of Fame member

Born: 9 January 1944, Ruse
Occupation: association football player

Moshe Leon was born in 1944 in Ruse

Leon was born on January 9, 1944, in Ruse, in northern Bulgaria. He moved to Israel at age 5. His father played as a defender for a football team in Ruse.

He played left-back and center-back for Maccabi Jaffa, after coach Vasil Spasov moved him to the senior team. His first senior game was on December 30, 1960, against Shimshon Tel Aviv. After a disrupted league game against Hapoel Jerusalem in January 1966, he was suspended for 4 months and left to play professionally in South Africa, for Westview Apollon and Rangers.

He returned to Maccabi Jaffa in 1970 and played his last game for the club on May 26, 1984, against Hapoel Tel Aviv. He played 399 league games for the club and scored 15 goals, a club record for league appearances. He also coached the team for short periods in 1978 and 1985.

Coach Gyula Mándi first called him to the Israel national team in May 1962. He played 26 games for Israel and scored 1 goal, in the 1964 AFC Asian Cup final against South Korea, which Israel won 2-1. He is a member of the Israeli Football Hall of Fame.