Ofek Melika

Ofek Melika

Personal information
Full name	Ofek Melika-Aharon
Date of birth	(2005-01-23) 23 January 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth	Givatayim, Israel
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Maccabi Tel Aviv
Number	22
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2023	Hapoel Ra'anana	12	(0)
2023–2024	Maccabi Petah Tikva	0	(0)
2024–	Maccabi Tel Aviv	1	(0)
International career^‡
2021–2022	Israel U17	9	(0)
2022–2024	Israel U19	18	(0)
Medal record Representing  Israel U-20 FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 Argentina Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 June 2023

Ofek Melika-Aharon[1] (Hebrew: אופק מליקה-אהרון; born 23 January 2005) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Israel national under-19 team.

Early life

Melika-Aharon was born and raised in Givatayim, Israel, to an Israeli family of Mizrahi Jewish descent.[1] He hails from a family of Israeli football goalkeepers, with his grandfather Shmuel Malika-Aharon and uncle Meir Melika, both playing for the Israel national team. He is also the son of Yaron Melika, who played as a goalkeeper in the Israeli Premier League.[2]

Club career

Melika made his senior debut for Hapoel Ra'anana on 4 April 2022, playing 90 minutes in a Liga Leumit away match against Hapoel Ramat Gan, that ended in a 2–1 win.[3][4]

On 22 May 2024 signed for 5 years in Maccabi Tel Aviv.[5]

International career

He is a youth International for Israel, who plays for the under-17 national team since 2021.[6]

Career statistics

Club

As of 16 May 2023.[7]^[citation needed]

Club	Season	League			State Cup		Toto Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hapoel Ra'anana	2021–22	Liga Leumit	1	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0	1	0
	2022–23	Liga Alef	10	0	1	0	0	0	–		0	0	11	0
	Total		11	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
Maccabi Petah Tikva	2023–24	Israeli Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0	0	0
Maccabi Tel Aviv	2024–25		0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0	0	0
Career total			11	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0

See also

• List of Jewish footballers
• List of Jews in sports
• List of Israelis

External links

• Ofek Melika – Israel Football Association national team player details
• Ofek Melika – Israel Football Association league player details
• Ofek Melika at Soccerway

References

1. "Israel - O. Melika - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
2. Shamir, Uri (16 May 2022). "זרקור על אופק מליקה" [Spotlight on the Melika horizon]. vole.sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 16 May 2022.
3. Geffen, Guy (13 May 2022). "מרעננה לליגה הגרמנית? אופק מליקה, שוער נבחרת הנערים, מכוון גבוה" [Refreshing for the German league? Ofek Malika, the goalkeeper of the boys' team, aims high]. tzomet-ran.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 16 May 2022.
4. "Hapoel Ra'anana vs. Hapoel Ramat Gan - 4 April 2022 - Soccerway".
5. Tuchman, Yaniv (22 May 2024). "אופק מליקה חתם במכבי תל אביב: "להגיע אחרי אבא וסבא זה מרגש"". Retrieved 22 May 2024.
6. Ofek Melika – Israel Football Association national team player details
7. Ofek Melika at Soccerway