Dylan de Jong (Ironi Kiryat Shmona | Israel)

De Jong signed with Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona from Israeli 1st tier

https://oceaniafootballcenter.home.blog/2020/01/16...

Sheridan's club.

He has 4 goals there in 15 starts.

Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona lie 11th of 14 in the league.

https://us.soccerway.com/teams/israel/hapoel-ironi-kiryat-shmona-fc/1217/

https://iturank8.co.il/%d7%97%d7%95%d7%96%d7%a8-%d7%94%d7%91%d7%99%d7%99%d7%aa%d7%94/

Hopefully a good chance to revive the seemingly defunct Mr Sherry podcast with a special guest (De Jong) interview

Great to see another young Kiwi secure an overseas pro gig, at a pretty reasonable level.

Looks like a lengthy 4.5 year deal according to Transfermarket.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/dylan-de-jong/profil/spieler/682819

I think this has been answered before, but is no relation to Andre De Jong?

I see sometime Socceroo Nikita Rukavytsya, is the leading goal scorer in the Israeli League this season with 12 for 2nd placed Maccabi Haifa.

No relation to Andre.

Any Israeli relations in his family? If he's signed there as a visa player that's massive for a Kiwi. Transfermarkt says he's part-Israeli but their reliability's trash with Handy players. Interestingly the club only has an Instagram - no Facebook, Twitter or even an English-language website.

edit: did a cheeky bit of investigating, parents both have links to South Africa (lived there?) and his mother's Israeli.

Not much help, but is something.

https://missouristatebears.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/dylan-de-jong/4657

Personal: Dylan De Jong is the son of Steven and Maxine De Jong and was born on Sept. 28 in Auckland, New Zealand. He has two brothers and one sister. He plans to study accounting while attending MSU.

Looks like the Israeli season starts about late August, each year - so that may rule him out of Olympics contention, if his club say he has to report for early pre season training 2020/201 campaign.

Thats a pity, I would've lined him up as the Cacace successor

Literally every player that's in Olympics contention is either in-season or in pre-season in late July/early August.

Yeah sure, esp if playing stateside/Scandinavia (mid season),  or other Europe (seasons starting generally late August). 

Even more so, if fairly new at a club, and looking to establish oneself. Think Singh, Billingsley, Bell, De Jong, and possibly Cacace. 

But the A League guys will surely all be available enmasse? I presume the next A League season will have a typical October start date.

Plus any domestic Handy level players (which was De Jong yesterday) in contention, will also definitely go.

FYI - this week's Flying Kiwis.

Kiryat Shmona are 11th out of 14 teams in the IPL at the moment. DDJ is their third January signing. 

And in case you were wondering, yes he does have Jewish heritage. Beautiful stuff.  

Israeli League resumes this weekend.

League is now split into a Championship top 6, and a Relegation bottom 8.

de Jong's club Ironi Kiryat Shmona are in the Relegation group. 

Points from regular season carried over and Ironi, are one point above the two relegation spots.

Looks about 7 games before League is to finish end of June.

de Jong as yet hasn't been in a match day squad for the first team. His club getting relegated to the 2nd tier for next season, might be a good thing for him personally.

Made it on the bench for the first team, as Ironi Kiryat Shmona (6th in the Relegation split) beat Ashod (4th in Relegation split) 3-0.

According to Soccerway his first match day squad for the senior side.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/06/06/israel/ligat-haal/hapoel-ironi-kiryat-shmona-fc/ms-ashdod/3242167/

7th and 8th placed teams of the Relegation round, drop down to the 2nd Israeli tier.

this is a serious question and not out of place considering where he is playing - is he Jewish, Christian, whatever or no religion?

sorry read the above posts - Jewish 

I thought Flying Kiwis said he has Jewish heritage, not necessarily that he is of Jewish faith? Not that it matters that much of course

it can do in Israel 

I thought Flying Kiwis said he has Jewish heritage, not necessarily that he is of Jewish faith? Not that it matters that much of course

He is Jewish and grew up in the Jewish faith, having a Barmitzvah when he turned 13 which is the coming of age ceremony.

Another bench appearance for the first team, as Ironi Kiryat Shmona (6th in the Relegation split) lost 0-3 to Hapoel Hadera (3rd in Relegation split).

Shmona who had a player sent off at 73 mins, when down only 1-0, are in serious threat of the drop.

7th and 8th placed teams of the Relegation series, drop down to the 2nd Israeli tier. 

Shmona are equal on points with Sektzia Nes Tziona (7th), but have a better GD. They play each other in the last round. Two rounds to go.

On the bench for a 2-0 loss at Bnei Yehuda.

Ironi Kiryat Shmona's (GD -14) relegation rivals Sektzia Nes Tziona (GD -22), had a 1-0 win to go 3 points ahead.

They play each other in the final round next weekend. Winner stays up (Shmona with a much better GD). Draw would obviously be good enough for Tziona.

If De Jong's team do go down to the Israeli 2nd tier, not sure what standard is there? Much higher than Handy Prem?

Interesting Wiki read below on Kiryat Shmona, small city where the team is based. Right up north near the Lebanon border.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiryat_Shmona

Not in the match day squad for a huge 1-0 win against relegation rivals Sektzia Nes Tziona.

Would have been a tense game, winner takes all.

Pretty sure that result confirms Ironi Kiryat Shmona stay up, and Sektzia Nes Tziona are relegated, on GD. The two teams being level on points.

But's not so easy to find info on the Israeli League. That's not in Hebrew anyway.

Confirmed Ironi Kiryat Shmona stay up. Hopefully De Jong, can debut next season.

Israeli league usually starts in late August.

Maccabi Tel Aviv have won the League, with 2 games top go.

Maccabi Haifa with comp's leading goal scorer Nikita Rukavytsya (now appears to hold non-visa status/Israeli passport), plus Trent Sainsbury are 2nd.

Recent article below on the Israeli League

https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/05/10/after-getting-kicked-by-corona-israeli-premier-league-set-to-resume/

Kiryat Shmona have played 3 pre season Cup games, and De Jong hasn't been in the match day squad for any.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/08/16/israel/toto-cup-ligat-al/hapoel-ironi-kiryat-shmona-fc/ihoud-bnei-sakhnin-fc/3309987/

I presume he stayed in The Holy Land at end of the last season (July).

Israel wouldn't be the easiest country to settle in, made even harder by Covid. I presume being Jewish he spoke some Hebrew before going there.

Kiryat are based in a small city right up north near the Lebanon border.

Israeli season proper kicks off with first league game. 

Ironi Kiryat Shimona with a 2-0 win over Ashdod.

No De Jong in match day squad.

Two Ugandans in their squad. That wouldn't have happened in the days of Idi Amin.

Today's match between Ironi Kiryat Shimona & Beitar Jerusalem called off due to Covid.

Seems Israel has returned to lock down for the next 3 weeks, as cases are on the rise again.

At least 2 clubs in the top league have players with the virus.

De Jong yet to feature in a match day squad this new season.

Israeli league restarts with Kiryat Shmona drawing 1 - 1 with Hapoel Hadera.

No De Jong in match day squad. He hasn't been sighted, since last season finished.

Kiryat Shmona travelling very well in the Israeli top flight, currently top of the table. Unbeaten after 6 games. That after being so close to relegation last season.

1-0 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv (12th), this morning.

No De Jong in match day squad. He still hasn't been sighted, since last season finished.

Anyone know if he is still in Israel?

Looks like a nice Christmas present for the de Jong family.

Young Dylan makes his pro football debut in the Holy Land verus Maccabi Tel Aviv (5th).

Lineups off Flashscore so hopefully correct.

Kiryat have had a bad run of results lately. 4 L & 1 D in last 5 games. 

After briefly being top of the league in November they now sit 8th.

Tough result as Kiryat concede at 98 mins to lose 1-0.

Stay 8th.

he didn’t play unfortunately. I watched the game and he was not even in the bench. https://m.one.co.il/Mobile/Article/20-21/1,1,3,0/374075.html?ref=hp If you read Hebrew, he isn’t mentioned in the line up at all. Doesn’t even appear on the bench ?

Bugger. Flashscore still have him listed, but if you watched the game you will know best.

https://www.flashscore.com/team/shmona/QN0gwBSC/re...

this was the offical line up 

He is no longer with the team at all. Is living in Israel but not playing at the moment.