Lee named head of GB football for 2015 Euro Games

Darryl Lee has been appointed as Head of the senior men’s, masters and women’s football for the 2015 European Maccabi Games, being held in Berlin, Germany.

Maccabi GB, in partnership with UJIA, have announced Lee, who represented Maccabi GB as a player at the 2001 Maccabiah Games and won bronze as Team GB’s open men’s manager at the European Maccabi Games in Rome in 2007.

Lee also has won gold for MGB at masters over 35’s at the Pan American Games in 2005, and bronze at the 2009 Maccabiah Games for masters over 35’s, as team manager on each occasion.

Darryl was instrumental in putting together the men’s 2009 Maccabiah silver medal-winning management Team, led by Jonathan Kestenbaum, and will initially oversee the appointment of management teams for men’s open, masters and the women’s football teams for Berlin, alongside general manager Joel Nathan.

Speaking about Lee’s appointment, Nathan said, “We are delighted that Darryl has agreed to take the responsibility of not only putting a strong Management Team in place for our senior football teams, but also one that reflects development and the true values of the Maccabi ethos.”

Maccabi GB Vice Chairman and Head of Delegation Daniel Collins added: “We are happy that Darryl is returning to the fold and that we get to use his vast experience in helping us develop some of our outstanding youngsters both in terms of players, managers and coaches. We have also asked Darryl to consider plans for both the Pan American Games [also in 2015] and the 20th Maccabiah Games in July 2017.”

Darryl cannot wait to get started and appealed to the Maccabi football fraternity to apply to attend the Berlin Games when applications open. He said, “I want everyone to feel they have a fair chance to succeed. Whilst experienced I have no preconceived ideas about who will do what or play where and I want to hear from new names and faces, especially those working hard every week in the MGBSFL. I would also like to encourage far more representation from the North of England as I know from my own experience there are both players and managers who could perform at international level.”

Darryl concluded: “My brief is to continue the development of our fantastic Junior Teams, who did so well at the 19th Maccabiah Games, into senior players at the next international event. To do that we have an aggressive strategy to bring through young players and young coaches and we will be making a particularly exciting announcement about player qualification in due course.”

He also added that he will be looking to establish a long term strategy to ensure we have women’s football teams at all future international games.