{{short description|Israeli footballer (born 1991)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Nir Bitton<br>ניר ביטון | image = 20170701 SK Rapid Wien vs Celtic FC 1742.jpg | caption = Bitton playing for Celtic in 2017 | full_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Ashdod, Israel | height = 1.95 m<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/en/team/nir-bitton/ | title=Nir Bitton | publisher=Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. | access-date=21 July 2022 }}</ref> | position = Defensive midfielder, centre back | currentclub = F.C. Ashdod | clubnumber = 5 | youthyears1 = 1997–2009 | youthclubs1 = F.C. Ashdod | years1 = 2009–2013 | clubs1 = F.C. Ashdod | caps1 = 123 | goals1 = 14 | years2 = 2013–2022 | clubs2 = Celtic | caps2 = 158 | goals2 = 9 | years3 = 2022–2025 | clubs3 = Maccabi Tel Aviv | caps3 = 31 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2025– | clubs4 = F.C. Ashdod | caps4 = 20 | goals4 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2008 | nationalyears2 = 2009 | nationalyears3 = 2009 | nationalyears4 = 2010–2013 | nationalyears5 = 2010–2022 | nationalteam1 = Israel U17 | nationalteam2 = Israel U18 | nationalteam3 = Israel U19 | nationalteam4 = Israel U21 | nationalteam5 = Israel | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalcaps3 = 15 | nationalcaps4 = 22 | nationalcaps5 = 39 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalgoals4 = 2 | nationalgoals5 = 3 | club-update = 21 September 2025 | nationalteam-update = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's football}} {{MedalCountry|{{fb|ISR}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Maccabiah Games}} {{MedalBronze |2009 Maccabiah|Football}} }} '''Nir Bitton''' (or Biton,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.football.org.il/en/national-team-player/?player_id=2243|title=football – Nir BITON|website=www.football.org.il}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/photos/photoid=1959948.html |title=Nir Biton (Israel) - Under-21 - nav_ - UEFA.com |website=UEFA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610101320/http://www.uefa.com/under21/photos/photoid=1959948.html |archive-date=10 June 2013}}</ref> {{langx|he|ניר ביטון}}; born 30 October 1991) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Israeli Premier League club F.C. Ashdod.
==Early and personal life== Bitton was born and raised in Ashdod, Israel, to a family of both Sephardi Jewish and Mizrahi Jewish descent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/sport/football/celtic-hibs-ofir-marciano-nir-15774917|title=Pals Ofir Marciano and Nir Bitton will finally face each other when Hibs play Celtic|first=Ross|last=Pilcher|date=3 February 2019|website=Edinburgh Live}}</ref> He was enlisted and served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://the18.com/soccer-news/meet-24-year-old-celtic-midfielder-whos-been-compared-sergio-busquets|title=Meet The 24-Year-Old Celtic Midfielder Who's Been Compared To Sergio Busquets|last=Dunleavy|first=Brian P.|date=22 November 2015|website=The18|access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>
He married his Israeli girlfriend Bar (née Shimon) in 2014: the couple have two children, Emma and Tom.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/israeli-celtic-star-nir-bitton-and-his-wife-subject-to-torrent-of-online-abuse/|title=Israeli Celtic star Nir Bitton and his wife subjected to torrent of online abuse|date=6 January 2021|work=Jewish News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McStay |first=Kirsten |date=11 October 2020 |title=Nir Bitton's wife shares insight into quarantine regime as Celt tackles virus |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celtic-star-nir-bittons-wife-22828160 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}</ref>
==Club career== ===SC Ashdod=== Bitton broke into the senior team of his home-town club SC Ashdod at the age of 17 in an Israeli Premier League match on 25 April 2009, and went on to make over 120 appearances.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nir Bitton|url=http://www.celticfc.net/team/151|website=Celtic FC|access-date=30 August 2016}}</ref>
===Celtic=== On 30 August 2013, Bitton signed a four-year deal with Scottish Premiership club Celtic, for a fee of around £700,000 and a 20% sell-on clause from Israeli Premier League club SC Ashdod.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/4509?item=4509|title=Celtic sign Israeli star, Nir Biton|publisher=Celtic FC|date=30 August 2013|access-date=30 August 2013}}</ref>
He made his debut for the club on 18 September, in a Champions League group stage match against AC Milan, coming into the game as a late substitute in the 89th minute.<ref name="1314s">{{cite web|title=Games Involving Biton, Nir in season 2013/2014|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player_games.php?playerid=6657&page=2|publisher=FitbaStats|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=0–2 Vs AC Milan in UEFA Champions League (18/09/2013)|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/game.php?gameid=85281|publisher=FitbaStats|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref> Three weeks later he made another Champions League appearance for Celtic, coming as a 77th-minute substitute against Ajax on 22 October, but was sent off eleven minutes later for a late tackle on Thulani Serero.<ref name="1314s" /> The resulting suspension and a few niggling injuries hindered Bitton's efforts to establish himself in the team,<ref name="etfeb14">{{cite web|last=Cully|first=Ronnie|title=Biton out for Celtic shot at glory|url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/celtic/biton-out-for-celtic-shot-at-glory-151945n.23426029|publisher=Evening Times|access-date=1 September 2014|date=13 February 2014}}</ref> but he still managed to make a total of 20 appearances for Celtic by the end of his first season there.<ref name="fbc">{{cite web|title=Biton, Nir|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=6657|publisher=FitbaStats|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref> Celtic won their third successive league title, and Bitton's 15 league appearances saw him pick up his first major honour.<ref name="etfeb14" /><ref name="sway">{{cite web|title=N. Biton|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/nir-biton/91988/|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref>
In the 2014–15 season, Bitton scored in Celtic's first league match of the season from the penalty spot after a controversial red card for St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burns|first1=Cheri|title=St Johnstone 0 – 3 Celtic|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28670295|access-date=3 November 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=13 August 2015}}</ref> Celtic winger Derk Boerrigter was later given a 3-match ban for simulation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Derk Boerrigter accepts two-match ban for 'simulation'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28842098|access-date=3 November 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=18 August 2014}}</ref> Later in the season, Bitton scored a stunning 30-yard goal against Dundee in a 5–0 win.<ref>{{cite news|title=See Bitton hit wonder goal as Celtic edge closer to title with 5–0 win|url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/319195-watch-celtics-nir-bitton-hit-wonder-goal-in-5-0-win-over-dundee/|access-date=3 November 2015|work=STV Sport|date=2 May 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092438/http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/319195-watch-celtics-nir-bitton-hit-wonder-goal-in-5-0-win-over-dundee/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He scored another long-distance strike on 12 August 2015, netting from 25 yards into the top corner in a 2–2 draw with Kilmarnock.<ref>{{cite news|last=Campbell|first=Andy|title=Kilmarnock 2 – 2 Celtic|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33783337|access-date=3 November 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=12 August 2015}}</ref>
To begin the 2015–16 season, on 19 August 2015, Bitton scored against Swedish side Malmö FF in a 3–2 win at Celtic Park in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs.<ref>{{cite news|title=Celtic on top but Berget gives Malmö hope|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2015647--celtic-vs-malmo/|access-date=20 August 2015|publisher=UEFA|date=19 August 2015}}</ref> On 2 November 2015, Bitton was signed a new contract which would keep him at Celtic until the summer of 2020,<ref>{{cite news|title=Bitton signs contract until 2020 with Scottish champions|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/34703851|date=2 November 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> and again on 16 December 2019 he extended his contract up to 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Celtic: Nir Bitton signs contract extension until 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50813188 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref>
On 13 May 2022, Celtic announced that Bitton and teammate Tom Rogic would both be leaving the club after the final game of the season against Motherwell.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61437616|title=Celtic: Nir Bitton & Tom Rogic to leave 'at right time' after nine years at the club|last=Lindsay|first=Clive|date=13 May 2022|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=17 May 2022}}</ref> Bitton said: "When I came to Celtic I never thought I would be part of such exciting times and it truly has been amazing to be part of such a great club. I have worked with some great managers and team-mates and I thank them all for those times and all we achieved together."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.stv.tv/sport/tom-rogic-and-nir-bitton-to-leave-celtic-at-end-of-season|title=Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton to leave Celtic at end of season|last=Coyle|first=Andy|date=13 May 2022|work=STV News|accessdate=17 May 2022}}</ref> On his 245th and final game for Celtic, Bitton came on as a substitute for club captain Callum McGregor in the 85th minute, as Celtic ran out 6–0 winners.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.90min.com/posts/celtic-6-0-motherwell-player-ratings-2021-22|title=Celtic 6–0 Motherwell: Player ratings as champions celebrate with thumping win|last=Davis|first=Krishan|date=14 May 2022|work=90min|accessdate=17 May 2022}}</ref> Rogic and Bitton brought out the Scottish Premiership trophy together, which McGregor then lifted aloft with his departing teammates standing on either side.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/20139516.celtic-duo-nir-bitton-tom-rogic-given-trophy-honour-champions-league-theme-blared-parkhead/|title=Celtic duo Nir Bitton & Tom Rogic given trophy honour as Champions League theme blared at Parkhead|last=Irvine|first=David|date=14 May 2022|work=Glasgow Times|accessdate=17 May 2022}}</ref>
Bitton also occasionally captained Celtic.<ref name="celticCaptain1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/19818308.nir-bitton-playing-celtic-mentor-little-boy-liel-abada-praises-compatriots-impact/|title=Nir Bitton on playing Celtic mentor to 'little boy' Liel Abada as he praises compatriot's impact|website=Glasgow Times|date=31 December 2021 }}</ref><ref name="celticCaptain2">{{Cite web |date=26 December 2021 |title=Video: Captain Nir Bitton seals the points in Perth |url=https://thecelticstar.com/video-captain-nir-bitton-seals-the-points-in-perth/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?FolderID=3075&docID=402151 | title=ניר ביטון: ''הרצון שלי הוא להמשיך לשחק מעבר לים'' - ספורט 5 | date=15 May 2022 }}</ref>
=== Maccabi Tel Aviv === thumb|Bitton with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2024 On 1 July 2022, Bitton joined Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Tel Aviv on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract with an option for a third year. The player thus returned to Israel after spending nine years in Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=ניר ביטון סיכם לשנתיים במכבי |url=https://www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/2022/06/ניר-ביטון-סיכם-לשנתיים-במכבי/ |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=מועדון הכדורגל מכבי תל אביב |language=he-IL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McGinley |first=John |date=2022-06-30 |title=Confirmed: Former Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton makes his next move |url=https://www.67hailhail.com/transfers/confirmed-former-celtic-midfielder-nir-bitton-makes-his-next-move/ |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=67 Hail Hail |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==International career== [[File:Nir Biton Euro U-21 2013.jpg|thumb|Bitton during the 2013 UEFA Under-21 Euros that were hosted in Israel]]
In 2009, Bitton represented his native Israel at the 2009 Maccabiah Games, and the team won a bronze medal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.football.org.il/en/national-team-game/?game_id=2297|title=ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל - עמוד משחק|website=www.football.org.il}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=סגלי נבחרות ישראל לטורניר הכדורגל של המכביה |url=http://football.org.il/Archive/Articles/Pages/NationalTeamsJune24_2009.aspx |publisher=Israel Football Association |date=9 July 2009 |access-date=12 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629062609/http://football.org.il/Archive/Articles/Pages/NationalTeamsJune24_2009.aspx |archive-date=29 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He played for the only Israel U-21 team to qualify for the UEFA European U21 Championship in 2013.<ref>{{cite web | title=England Crushed by Israel's Winning Goal in Jerusalem (Video) | url=https://www.jewishpress.com/blogs/cifwatch/england-crushed-by-israels-winning-goal-in-jerusalem-video/2013/06/12/| work=Jewish Press | date=12 June 2013 | access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref>
He made his senior debut for Israel in a friendly match against Uruguay on 26 May 2010. Bitton played a major role in qualifying games for the 2016 UEFA Euro Tournament.<ref name="NFT">{{cite web|title=Nir Biton|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/38234/Nir_Biton.html|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the national team against Andorra in a 4–0 victory On 3 September 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Israel back on track after Andorra stroll|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/2013975--israel-vs-andorra/|publisher=UEFA|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> Ever since 23 March 2016, Bitton is being used as a second or a third Captain for the senior Israel national team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sport1.maariv.co.il/israeli-soccer/national-team/Article-692367/|title=ניר ביטון: יש לנו במה להתגאות, הגשמתי חלום|date=23 March 2016}}</ref> Bitton debuted as the first Captain of the senior national team, in a 3–2 home win for Israel against Faroe Islands on 15 November 2021 (even after Eitan Tibi, Israel's vice-captain, was substituted in), at the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.<ref name="Global Sports Archive 2021">{{cite web | title=Match Report of Israel vs Faroe Islands – 2021-11-15 – WC Qualification | website=Global Sports Archive | date=15 November 2021 | url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2021-11-15/israel-vs-faroe-islands/2236769/ | access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 24 May 2025}}<ref>{{soccerbase|65150}}</ref><ref name="sway"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Nir Biton Israel Football Association profile|url=http://www.football.org.il/en/players/player/?player_id=2243|publisher=Israel Football Association|access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Israel State Cup, Scottish Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Toto Cup, Scottish League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- |rowspan="7"|Ashdod{{efn|Cup appearances for Ashdod are unknown}} |2008–09 |Israeli Premier League |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0 |- |2009–10 |Israeli Premier League |20||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||20||1 |- |2010–11 |Israeli Premier League |34||5||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||34||5 |- |2011–12 |Israeli Premier League |36||4||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||36||4 |- |2012–13 |Israeli Premier League |31||4||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||32||4 |- |2013–14 |Israeli Premier League |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !123!!14!!0!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!124!!14 |- |rowspan="10"|Celtic |2013–14 |Scottish Premiership |15||0||1||0||1||0||3{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||0||20||0 |- |2014–15 |Scottish Premiership |31||2||5||0||2||0||5{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||43||2 |- |2015–16 |Scottish Premiership |30||5||3||0||2||0||11{{efn|Six appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, five appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League}}||3||46||8 |- |2016–17 |Scottish Premiership |26||1||3||0||2||0||8{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||39||2 |- |2017–18 |Scottish Premiership |14||0||1||0||2||0||6{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||23||0 |- |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{{efn|Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||31||0 |- |2020–21 |Scottish Premiership |13||1||0||0||1||0||6{{efn|One appearance in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||21||1 |- |2021–22 |Scottish Premiership |22||0||0||0||1||0||5{{efn|One appearance in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||12||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !158!!9!!19!!0!!13!!0!!55!!4!!245!!13 |- |rowspan="4"|Maccabi Tel Aviv |2022–23 |Israeli Premier League |21||1||2||0||0||0||5{{efn|name=UECL|Appearance in UEFA Conference League}}||0||28||1 |- |2023–24 |Israeli Premier League |9||0||0||0||0||0||9{{efn|name=UECL}}||0||18||0 |- |2024–25 |Israeli Premier League |1||0||0||0||0||0||2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !31!!1!!2!!0!!0!!0!!16!!0!!49!!1 |- |Ashdod |2024–25 |Israeli Premier League |16||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||16||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !328!!24!!21!!0!!14!!0!!71!!4!!434!!28 |}
{{notelist}}
===International=== :''Scores and results list Israel's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bitton goal.''<ref name="NFT"/><ref name="Israel Footbal Association - Liel Abada">{{cite web | url=https://www.football.org.il/en/players/player/?player_id=113648 | title=ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל – Liel Abada }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Nir Bitton |- !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |- | align="center"|1 || 3 September 2015 || Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel || {{fb|AND}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center" |4–0 || UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |- | align="center"|2 || 10 October 2015 || Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, Israel || {{fb|CYP}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center" |1–2 || UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |- | align="center"|3 || 12 November 2021 || Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria || {{fb|AUT}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center" |2–4 || 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |}
==Honours== '''Celtic'''<ref name="sway"/> *Scottish Premiership (8): 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52646282|title=Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season|work=BBC Sport|date=18 May 2020|access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref> 2021–22<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61316038|title=Dundee United 1–1 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side reclaim league title|work=BBC Sport|date=11 May 2022|access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> *Scottish Cup (4): 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20<ref name=cup20>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/20/celtic-hearts-scottish-cup-final-match-report Celtic win fourth straight Scottish Cup as Hazard's shootout saves break Hearts], Ewan Murray, The Guardian, 20 December 2020</ref> *Scottish League Cup (6): 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50672183 | title=Rangers 0 – 1 Celtic | publisher=BBC Sport | access-date=8 December 2019 |date=8 December 2019}}</ref> 2021–22<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59705941|title=Hibernian 1–2 Celtic|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>
==See also== *List of Jewish footballers *List of Jews in sports *List of Israelis *Liel Abada
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IFA national player}} * {{Soccerway}}
{{F.C. Ashdod squad}} {{Israeli Premier League managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitton, Nir}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Israeli Mizrahi Jews Category:Israeli Sephardi Jews Category:Footballers from Ashdod Category:Israeli men's footballers Category:21st-century Israeli sportsmen Category:Jewish footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:F.C. Ashdod players Category:Celtic F.C. players Category:Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. players Category:Israeli Premier League players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Competitors at the 2009 Maccabiah Games Category:Maccabiah Games medalists in football Category:Maccabiah Games bronze medalists for Israel Category:Israel men's under-21 international footballers Category:Israel men's international footballers Category:Israeli expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland Category:Israeli expatriate sportspeople in Scotland Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Men's association football central defenders Category:Israel men's youth international footballers