*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 August 2024
Omer Ya'acov Nir'on (Hebrew: עומר יעקב ניראון; born 17 April 2001) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Israeli club Maccabi Netanya. He has previously played for Israeli clubs Bnei Yehuda and Hapoel Ramat HaSharon as well as Bosnian club Zrinjski Mostar. He has also represented Israel internationally at youth level. He is the son of retired Israeli footballer Danny Nir'on.
Nir'on made his debut senior appearance for Bnei Yehuda on 18 August 2018, in a Toto Cup game against Bnei Sakhnin. He kept a clean sheet, but they lost the subsequent penalty shootout.[3] His Israeli Premier League debut appearance was on 25 May 2019, during a 2–1 loss against Hapoel Hadera.[1] In the summer of 2019, Nir'on was loaned to Hapoel Rishon LeZion,[4] but he didn't register any match time with them and returned from loan in January 2020.[5] During the 2020–21 Israeli Premier League season, Nir'on was the starting goalkeeper for Bnei Yehuda,[5] but unfortunately they were relegated at the end of the season to the Liga Leumit.[6][7] Nir'on gathered interest overseas, especially in Denmark, where he has a local passport through his family, and he impressed Lars Høgh, goalkeeping coach for Brøndby and Denmark, who recommended him for Nordsjælland, where he went for a two week trial as well as with the Danish national youth team.[8] Despite the club's interest in signing him on a long-term deal, in the end Nir'on declined the offer.[5]
Loans
In the summer of 2022, Nir'on was loaned to Hapoel Ramat HaSharon for the season.[9] In July 2023, Nir'on secured a loan with an option to buy to Bosnian defending champions Zrinjski Mostar,[10] but he registered there only one appearance in which he conceded three goals and was recalled in January.[11]
Maccabi Netanya
In January 2024, Nir'on was loaned to Maccabi Netanya, with a half-million buyout option.[12] He made his debut for the club on 24 February against Beitar Jerusalem, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw.[13] In April 2024, the club opted to pay the buyout clause and permanently sign Nir'on.[14]
In September 2021, Nir'on was called up for the Israel under-21 squad to play in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.[23] Due to regular starting goalkeeper Daniel Peretz being called-up to the senior squad, Nir'on started the match against Germany and despite losing 3–2, he received plaudits and the coach Alon Hazan said he trusts him 100%.[24] He then started the next match against Latvia which they won 2–1, with Nir'on making some key saves.[25] After that he also played and kept clean sheets in the 4–0 victory over San Marino[26] and the 3–0 victory over Hungary.[27]
2024 Olympic Games
Following a good start to his time at Maccabi Netanya, Nir'on was called up as the alternate goalkeeper for Israel's Olympic football team competing in the men's tournament in the 2024 Summer Olympics.[28][29] On 18 July 2024, it was announced that the team's starting goalkeeper, Daniel Peretz, was withdrawn from the squad due to injury and Nir'on was promoted to the 18-player squad.[30] Due to an injury to the team's goalkeeper Niv Eliasi, Nir'on started the first match of the Olympics group stage against Mali.[31] The match ended in a 1–1 draw, and he received positive feedback after a strong performance including 5 saves.[32] Following this, the coach Guy Luzon said that Nir'on would start the next match against Paraguay.[33] Despite losing the match 4–2, Nir'on was chosen as Israel's best player on the field.[34] He also played in Israel's last match of the tournament against Japan, in which he made some great saves before conceding in injury time, leaving the scoreline at 1–0.[35] Despite the team being eliminated in the group stage, Nir'on received positive comments and was lauded for the many saves he made during the tournament.[36]
Personal life
Nir'on is the son of retired professional Israeli footballer Danny Nir'on.[5] Danny had a Danish passport through his mother and even played for Danish club Hvidovre.[37] Due to this, Nir'on also holds a Danish passport and is eligible to represent them internationally.[8]
References
^ ab"מבני יהודה לאלופת בוסניה: עומר ניראון הושאל לזרינסקי מוסטאר" [From Bnei Yehuda to the champion of Bosnia:Omer Nir'on has been loaned to Zrinjski Mostar]. Sport1 (in Hebrew). Maariv. 14 July 2023. ניראון עלה לגיל נוער בבני יהודה, אחרי שבגילים הצעירים שיחק גם בשמשון תל אביב, מכבי הרצליה ומכבי תל אביב, וגם את הופעת הבכורה בבוגרים רשם במדי בני יהודה כאשר שיחק מול הפועל חדרה במאי 2019. [Nir'on was promoted to the youth in Bnei Yehuda, after playing at an earlier age also for Shimshon Tel Aviv, Maccabi Herzliya and Maccabi Tel Aviv, and also his senior appearance for the seniors he made in Bnei Yehuda when he played against Hapoel Hadera]
^"סכנין ניצחה את בני יהודה 4:5 בפנדלים, גם רעננה וחדרה ניצחו" [Sakhnin beat Bnei Yehuda 5:4 on penalties, Ra'anana and Hadera also won]. Sport1 (in Hebrew). Maariv. 18 August 2018. עומר ניראון ב- ה-17 פתח בין הקורות של יוסי אבוקסיס ושמר על רשת נקייה במשך 90 דקות בהופעת הבכורה שלו, אך מהנקודה הלבנה הסיפור היה שונה ובסיום הדו קרב סכנין הייתה זו שחגגה ניצחון ומקום תשיעי במפעל. [The 17-year-old Omer Nir'on opened between the posts of Yossi Abuksis and kept a clean sheet for 90 minutes on his debut, but from the penalty spot the story was different and at the end of the duel Sakhnin were the ones who celebrated victory and ninth place in the tournament.]
^"דקה אחרי דקה: היום האחרון לחלון ההעברות בישראל 14.9" [Minute by minute: The last day for the transfer window in Israel 14.9]. Sport 5 (in Hebrew). 14 September 2021. השוער עומר ניראון חתם לעונה בהפועל רמת השרון. הוא הגיע בהשאלה מבני יהודה [Goalkeeper Omer Nir'on signed for the season with Hapoel Ramat HaSharon. He arrives on loan from Bnei Yehuda]
^Pacheski, Motti (22 January 2024). "כפי שפורסם: עומר ניראון הושאל למכבי נתניה" [As published: Omer Nir'on loaned to Maccabi Netanya]. Sport 5 (in Hebrew). ניראון הצטרף רק הקיץ לזרינקי בתור מושאל מבני יהודה אלא שכעת השאלתו בוטלה והוא עבר בהשאלה למכבי נתניה במקום. השוער לבש פעם אחת את מדי הקבוצה השייכת לאמיר כבירי וספג שלושה שערים. [Nir'on joined Zrinjski only this summer on loan from Bnei Yehuda, but now his loan was cancelled and he goes on loan to Maccabi Netanya. The goalkeeper wore Amir Kabiri's team's uniform once and conceded three goals.]
^"מילסון, פיירו או שהר? בחרו את מצטיין המחזור" [Melison, Piero or Sahar? Pick the round's MVP]. One (in Hebrew). 27 February 2024. לאחר שהגיע בינואר לקבוצה, עומר ניראון ערך את הבכורה במדי מכבי נתניה ביום שבת מול בית"ר ירושלים בטדי, ומנע מקבוצתו הפסד עם תצוגת ענק בין הקורות, שכללה הצלות גדולות, גם בדקות בהן קבוצתו נותרה בחיסרון מספרי והירושלמים לחצו על שערו ללא הפסקה. [After joining the team in January, Omer Nir'on made his debut in the Maccabi Netanya uniform on Saturday against Beitar Jerusalem in Teddy, and prevented his team from losing with a huge display between the posts, which included great saves, even in the minutes when his team remained at a numerical disadvantage and the Jerusalemites pressed for his goal non-stop.]
^Habez, Tomer (18 July 2024). "מכה ענקית: דניאל פרץ לא יטוס לאולימפיאדה" [Huge blow: Daniel Peretz will not fly to the Olympics]. One (in Hebrew). ניב אליאסי יהיה השוער הראשון, עומר ניראון השני. [Niv Eliasi will be the first goalkeeper, Omer Nir'on the second.]
^Goldberg, Asher (23 September 2022). ""הבקעתי, אבל אבא כבר לא היה ביציע. לא היה לאן לרוץ"" ["I scored, but dad was no longer in the stands. There was nowhere to run"] (in Hebrew). Walla!. הבן שלך עומר הוא השוער של בני יהודה. [Your son Omer is the goalkeeper for Bnei Yehuda]
