1. Overview
Nir Bitton (ניר ביטוןHebrew) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as either a centre-back or a defensive midfielder. He currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League and represents the Israel national team. Bitton is known for his versatility and long-range passing. He began his professional career with his hometown club, F.C. Ashdod, before moving to Scottish Premiership club Celtic in 2013. During his nine-year tenure at Celtic, he became a key player, winning numerous domestic titles, including eight Scottish Premiership championships. He has also represented Israel at various youth levels and for the senior national team, making his debut in 2010 and occasionally serving as captain.
2. Early life and personal background
Nir Bitton's early life was rooted in Ashdod, Israel, where he was born and raised. His personal background includes his family's Sephardi Jewish and Mizrahi Jewish heritage, which is a significant part of his identity.
2.1. Childhood and family
Bitton was born on 30 October 1991. He spent his childhood in Ashdod, a major city in Israel, and comes from a family with both Sephardi Jewish and Mizrahi Jewish descent. His upbringing in Ashdod also saw him join the youth system of the local football club, F.C. Ashdod, at the age of six, where he remained until he was seventeen.
2.2. Military service and personal life
As is common for many Israeli citizens, Bitton was enlisted and served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. In his personal life, Bitton married his Israeli girlfriend, Bar (née Shimon), in 2014. The couple has two children, a daughter named Emma and a son named Tom.
3. Club career
Nir Bitton's club career spans over a decade, beginning in his native Israel before a significant period in Scotland and then a return to his homeland.
3.1. SC Ashdod
Bitton developed his football skills within the youth system of his hometown club, SC Ashdod, from 1997 to 2009. He broke into the senior team at the age of 17, making his Israeli Premier League debut on 25 April 2009. During his time with SC Ashdod, he became a regular fixture, making a total of 123 appearances and scoring 14 goals for the club.
3.2. Celtic
On 30 August 2013, Bitton signed a four-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Celtic. The transfer fee was around 700.00 K GBP, and his former club, SC Ashdod, retained a 20% sell-on clause. He made his debut for Celtic on 18 September 2013, coming on as a late substitute in the 89th minute of a UEFA Champions League group stage match against AC Milan. Three weeks later, on 22 October, he made another Champions League appearance for Celtic against Ajax, entering as a 77th-minute substitute. However, he was sent off just eleven minutes later for a late tackle on Thulani Serero. This suspension, combined with a few minor injuries, initially hindered Bitton's efforts to establish himself in the team during his first season. Nevertheless, he managed to make 20 appearances for Celtic by the end of that season, securing his first major honor as Celtic won their third successive league title, with Bitton contributing 15 league appearances.
In the 2014-15 season, Bitton scored from the penalty spot in Celtic's first league match of the season against St Johnstone, a game notable for a controversial red card given to St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay. Celtic winger Derk Boerrigter was later given a 3-match ban for simulation. Later in the season, he scored an impressive 30-yard goal in a 5-0 victory against Dundee. His ability to score from distance was further demonstrated on 12 August 2015, when he netted a 25-yard strike into the top corner during a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock.
At the beginning of the 2015-16 season, on 19 August 2015, Bitton scored against Swedish side Malmö FF in a 3-2 win at Celtic Park during the first leg of the Champions League playoffs. His strong performances led to a new contract on 2 November 2015, extending his stay at Celtic until the summer of 2020. He further extended his contract on 16 December 2019, committing to the club until 2023.
On 13 May 2022, Celtic announced that Bitton and teammate Tom Rogic would be leaving the club after the final game of the season against Motherwell. Bitton reflected on his time, stating that he never imagined being part of such an exciting period and expressed gratitude to the managers and teammates he worked with. In his 245th and final game for Celtic, Bitton entered as a substitute for club captain Callum McGregor in the 85th minute, as Celtic secured a 6-0 victory. Following the match, Bitton and Rogic jointly carried out the Scottish Premiership trophy, which McGregor then lifted alongside his departing teammates. Throughout his tenure, Bitton occasionally served as captain for Celtic. He made a total of 176 appearances and scored 10 goals during his time at the club.
3.3. Maccabi Tel Aviv
On 1 July 2022, Nir Bitton returned to Israel, joining Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Tel Aviv on a free transfer. He signed a two-year contract, which includes an option for a third year. This move marked his return to Israeli football after a successful nine-year period in Scotland.
4. International career
Nir Bitton has a distinguished international career, representing Israel at various youth levels before becoming a key player for the senior national team.
4.1. Youth national teams
Bitton has been called up to represent Israel at different youth levels. In 2008, he played for the U-17 team, making 5 appearances. In 2009, he represented the U-18 team twice and the U-19 team 15 times. Also in 2009, he participated in the 2009 Maccabiah Games, where the Israeli team earned a bronze medal. From 2010 to 2013, he was a member of the Israel U-21 team, making 21 appearances and scoring 2 goals. This team notably qualified for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which was hosted in Israel.
4.2. Senior national team
Bitton made his senior debut for the Israel national football team in a friendly match against Uruguay on 26 May 2010. He played a significant role in the qualifying campaigns for the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament. His first goal for the national team came on 3 September 2015, in a 4-0 victory against Andorra during the UEFA Euro 2016 qualification. Despite this, the Israeli team ultimately failed to qualify for the main tournament.
Since 23 March 2016, Bitton has been an occasional captain for the senior Israel national team, typically serving as a second or third choice captain. He made his debut as the primary captain for the senior national team on 15 November 2021, leading Israel to a 3-2 home win against Faroe Islands in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. This occurred even after Eitan Tibi, Israel's vice-captain, had been substituted into the game.
5. Career statistics
Nir Bitton's career statistics provide a comprehensive overview of his performances across various club competitions and for the national team. His data includes appearances and goals from his time at SC Ashdod, Celtic, and Maccabi Tel Aviv, as well as his international goal-scoring record.
5.1. Club statistics
The table below details Nir Bitton's appearances and goals for each club, categorized by season and competition, up to 30 October 2021.
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Total | Notes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| SC Ashdod | 2008-09 | Israeli Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2009-10 | Israeli Premier League | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2010-11 | Israeli Premier League | 34 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 5 | ||
| 2011-12 | Israeli Premier League | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 4 | ||
| 2012-13 | Israeli Premier League | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 4 | ||
| 2013-14 | Israeli Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 123 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 14 | National Cup and League Cup appearances for F.C. Ashdod unknown. | ||
| Celtic | 2013-14 | Scottish Premiership | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | European appearances in the UEFA Champions League. |
| 2014-15 | Scottish Premiership | 31 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 43 | 2 | European appearances include two in the UEFA Champions League and three in the UEFA Europa League. | |
| 2015-16 | Scottish Premiership | 30 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 46 | 8 | European appearances include six in the UEFA Champions League (2 goals) and five in the UEFA Europa League (1 goal). | |
| 2016-17 | Scottish Premiership | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 39 | 2 | European appearances in the UEFA Champions League. | |
| 2017-18 | Scottish Premiership | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 23 | 0 | European appearances in the UEFA Champions League. | |
| 2018-19 | Scottish Premiership | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2019-20 | Scottish Premiership | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 31 | 0 | European appearances include five in the UEFA Champions League and six in the UEFA Europa League. | |
| 2020-21 | Scottish Premiership | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 21 | 1 | European appearances include one in the UEFA Champions League and five in the UEFA Europa League. | |
| 2021-22 | Scottish Premiership | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 0 | European appearances include one in the UEFA Champions League and four in the UEFA Europa League. | |
| Total | 158 | 9 | 19 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 55 | 4 | 245 | 13 | |||
| Maccabi Tel Aviv | 2022-23 | Israeli Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | European appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League. |
| Career total | 282 | 23 | 19 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 56 | 4 | 371 | 27 | |||
5.2. International goals
Scores and results list Israel's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bitton goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 September 2015 | Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel | Andorra | 2-0 | 4-0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 2 | 10 October 2015 | Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, Israel | Cyprus | 1-1 | 1-2 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 3 | 12 November 2021 | Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria | Austria | 1-0 | 2-4 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6. Honours
Nir Bitton achieved significant success during his professional club career, primarily with Scottish club Celtic, where he accumulated numerous titles.
Celtic
- Scottish Premiership (8): 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22
- Scottish Cup (4): 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20
- Scottish League Cup (6): 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22