The historic rise of Israel's first Ethiopian-Jewish national team captain

Countries & Cities · Published 13 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the high-stakes world of international football, leadership often follows established patterns. However, Eli Dasa has broken new ground, becoming the first captain of the Israel national team to trace his roots to the Ethiopian-Jewish community.

Born in Netanya on 3 December 1992, Eliezer "Eli" Dasa has navigated a professional career marked by significant milestones for both himself and his heritage. Dasa's professional career started on 31 July 2010, playing as a right-back for Beitar Jerusalem F.C. this occurred in a Toto Cup fixture versus Hapoel Ashkelon. The player's younger brother, Or Dasa, also pursued professional football, representing the Israel U-21 national team and playing for the club Hapoel Ramat Gan. This family connection highlights a shared path in the Israeli footballing landscape.

His ascent through the national structures was steady. After representing the Israel under-21 team since 2010 and participating in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, he earned his senior international call-up from coach Eli Guttman in 2015. While his first international appearance occurred in July 2015 against FC Ordabasy, his official senior debut came on 3 September 2015, in a 4–0 victory over Andorra. Dasa's early professional scoring milestone occurred on 12 September 2012, when he found the net during a league match against Hapoel Be'er Sheva. This period followed his initial professional debut by over two years.

A defining moment in his career arrived on 26 March 2022, during an international friendly against Germany. It was during this match that Dasa first led the Israeli lineup as captain, a distinction that solidified his place in sporting history as the first senior captain of Ethiopian-Jewish origin. His club career has since spanned several prominent leagues, including a period with the Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv, a two-year stint with Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League, and a move to the Dutch Eredivisie side NEC in September 2025. During his time in Russia, Dasa signed a two-year deal with Dynamo Moscow in September 2022, which included an option for an extra year. This contract was later extended for the 2024–25 season before his eventual departure in June 2025.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How a Portuguese passport and Sephardi ancestry helped an Israeli football captain's career
• The desert club that pioneered Israeli football's European journey
• The enduring dominance of Israel's oldest football club
• How a midfielder's career path mirrored shifting Middle Eastern diplomacy
• The prolific striker who conquered leagues from Israel to China
• How a 21st-century heroine navigated the constraints of an 18th-century pirate world
• Why the world's second-largest democratic election often feels like a national protest vote
• Why the world’s most massive dams are held together by friction, not cement
• Why Sweden’s ballot secrecy was once a public spectacle and how it changed
• The aircraft designed to mimic jets became the global standard for pilots
• How India manages the world's largest democratic exercise through a single constitutional body.
• Can a regional jet perform the duties of a massive surveillance aircraft?

More in Countries and other regions · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics