Menashe Zalka

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Menashe Zalka
מנשה זלקה

Personal information
Full name	Menisan Menashe Zalka
Date of birth	(1990-07-01) 1 July 1990 (age 36)
Place of birth	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Position	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Hapoel Hadera
Number	15
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2013	Hapoel Hadera	28	(4)
2013–2015	F.C. Giv'at Olga	20	(4)
2014	Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel (loan)	9	(0)
2015	Maccabi Tzur Shalom (loan)	14	(4)
2015–	Hapoel Hadera	212	(5)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 31 March 2026

Menashe Zalka (Hebrew: מנשה זלקה; born 1 July 1990) is an Israeli footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains Liga Leumit club Hapoel Hadera.

Club career

Zalka started his career with Hapoel Hadera in 2012, before signing for F.C. Giv'at Olga in 2013. Subsequently, he signed for Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel in 2014. The same year, he returned to F.C. Giv'at Olga.

One year later, he signed for Maccabi Tzur Shalom. Following his stint there, he returned to Hapoel Hadera in 2016 and has captained the club. Altogether, he has played over 100 games in the Israeli Premier League.

International career

Zalka is eligible to represent Ethiopia internationally, having been born in the country. Despite receiving interest from the Ethiopian Football Federation, he has not been called up to the Ethiopia national football team.

Personal life

Zalka was born on 1 July 1990 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and grew up in Hadera, Israel.

Military involvement in invasion of Lebanon

Drafted twice, he has served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces and served in the north of the country during the Israel–Hezbollah conflict In 2026, he became the subject of international controversy following the release of a video in which he appeared participating alongside Israeli troops in an invasion of the sovereign territory of Lebanon, during which he was seen throwing a grenade and celebrating it euphorically.. The incident sparked outrage in various circles and led to calls for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to consider taking possible disciplinary action against him.

Honors

In 2019 Zalka was honored as one of the torchbearers in the national Israeli Independence Day ceremony.

References