Arik Yanko

Arik Yanko (Hebrew: אריק ינקו; born 21 December 1991) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays for Hapoel Rishon LeZion.^[1]

Arik Yanko
אריק ינקו

Yanko playing for Hapoel Ra'anana in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Arik Yanko
Date of birth	(1991-12-21) 21 December 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	Rishon LeZion, Israel
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Hapoel Rishon LeZion
Number	22
Youth career
	Hapoel Tel Aviv
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2014	Hapoel Tel Aviv	1	(0)
2011–2013	→ Hakoah Ramat Gan	63	(0)
2013–2014	→ Hapoel Ra'anana	13	(0)
2014–2017	Hapoel Ra'anana	68	(0)
2017–2020	Hapoel Tel Aviv	47	(0)
2020–2022	Maccabi Petah Tikva	66	(0)
2022–2023	Maccabi Bnei Reineh	29	(0)
2023–2024	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm	30	(0)
2024–	Hapoel Rishon LeZion	35	(0)
International career
2008	Israel U17	2	(0)
2008–2009	Israel U18	5	(0)
2009–2011	Israel U19	9	(0)
2013	Israel U21	0	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 June 2025

Arik Yanko

Medal record
Representing  Israel
Football
Maccabiah Games
	2009 Maccabiah	Football

Biography

Playing career

Arik Yanko starting playing youth football with Hapoel Tel Aviv. As a youth team player, Yanko cracked four teeth during a derby match against Maccabi but played out the entire match.^[2] This endeared him to the youth team staff who saw the young goalkeeper as having a strong character.^[2]

Yanko made his league debut in a Premier League match against Maccabi Petah Tikva on 4 April 2009 when he replaced Ben Luz in the 80th minute after back up goalkeeper Yaniv Mizrahi was red-carded. In October 2009, Yanko said that that moment was by far the most exciting moment of his career.^[2]

International career

Yanko represented Israel at the 2009 Maccabiah Games, winning a bronze medal.^[3][4]

In 2013, Yanko was a part of Israel U21 squad.^[5]

References

• ינקו אריק (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. Retrieved 12 July 2009.