Quick Facts
Biography
Shimon Ratner (Hebrew: שמעון רוטנר), also known as Shimon Leumi (Hebrew: שמעון לאומי), and by the nickname "Lוmek" (Hebrew: לומק) was a Polish-born football player and coach, who coached the Mandatory Palestine national football team in 1934, taking control of them for their first ever match during the 1934 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
Biography
Ratner was born in Kraków, Poland, and emigrated to Vienna in 1914, where he joined Hakoah Vienna. In 1920 Ratner emigrated to Mandatory Palestine, where he joined Maccabi Tel Aviv, later also acting as the club's manager. In 1928 Ratner moved to Maccabi Avshalom Petah Tikva, and later to Hapoel Petah Tikva, where he stayed, in several functions, including as club manager, until 1954. In 1934, Ratner was appointed as manager of the Mandatory Palestine national football team for its campaign in the 1934 FIFA World Cup qualification. After the campaign, which lasted two matches, Ratner stepped down.
Ratner, who hebraized his last name to Leumi, died on 21 January 1964.