Yossi Benayoun

Infobox Football biography
playername = Yossi Benayoun
יוסי בניון


fullname = Yosef Shai Benayoun
יוסף שי בניון
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|5|5|28
cityofbirth = Dimona
countryofbirth = Israel
height = height|ft=5|in=8cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/benayoun/|title=1ST TEAM SQUAD PROFILES|publisher=Liverpoolfc.tv|date=2008-07-08|accessdate=2008-07-08]
position = Atacking Midfielder/Winger
currentclub = Liverpool
clubnumber = 15
youthyears =
youthclubs = Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Maccabi Haifa
Ajax
years = 1997–1998
1998–2002
2002–2005
2005–2007
2007–
clubs = Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Maccabi Haifa
Racing de Santander
West Ham United
Liverpool
caps(goals) = 025 (15)
130 (55)
101 (21)
063 0(8)
055 0(11)
nationalyears = 1998–2001
1998–
nationalteam = Israel U21
Israel
nationalcaps(goals) = 011 0(5)
067 (17)
pcupdate = 22:17, 31 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 23:30, 11 october 2008 (UTC)

Yosef Shai "Yossi" Benayoun ( _he. יוסי בניון, sometimes spelled Benayun, born _he. יוסי שי בניון on 5 May 1980 in Dimona, Israel) is an Israeli football player with Liverpool FC of the English Premier League. Benayoun plays as an attacking midfielder, occupying the space just behind the striker. In Israel he is nicknamed "The Kid"cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/magazine/news/kind=512/newsid=319108.html |title=Benayoun the kid for Hammers |work=Article on uefa.com|date=July 22, 2005|accessdate=July 11|accessyear=2007] and "The Diamond", and he is the captain of the Israeli national football team.

Early years

Jason Burt writing for "The Independent" described Benayoun's youth years: "aged nine and he was spotted as a footballing talent. Aged 11 and the talent was labelled a genius. By 13 his face appeared on the front of magazines in Israel."cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20050924/ai_n15620650|title=The Premiership Interview : Yossi Benayoun|work=The Independent|date=September 24, 2005|accessdate=July 11|accessyear=2007] Benayoun started his career aged 9 with Hapoel Be'er Sheva. To attend training he regularly hitchhiked the 60km roundtrip with his father. After making a name for himself, he was scouted by Ajax Amsterdam. They invited the 15 year old Benayoun and his family to the Netherlands. By his 16th birthday, he was the Ajax youth team's highest scorer and best player, and Ajax duly offered Benayoun a four-year professional contract. However, Benayoun and his family hadn't settled very well in Amsterdam, and so he turned his back on the contract and returned to Israel after just eight months. In Israel he was criticized for letting go of a golden opportunity.

Club career

Hapoel Be'er Sheva

At the age of 17½, he was promoted to the Hapoel Be'er Sheva senior team, but could not prevent the club from being relegated to Israel's second division. In the last match of the season against Maccabi Haifa, Benayoun got a penalty kick in the 90th minute. Haifa's goalkeeper, Nir Davidovich saved the shot but Benayoun scored the rebound. However, their relegation rival had won their match, meaning that his team would be relegated nonetheless. [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=19560 Soccerbase: Yossi Benayoun] , "Racing Post". Retrieved 23 June 2007.]

Maccabi Haifa

After that season, Benayoun moved to Maccabi Haifa in a deal signed by Ya'akov Shahar (Maccabi Haifa's president) and Eli Zino (the former Be'er Sheva president), and it was agreed that the two clubs would share the profits from selling Benayoun to a European club.

In 1998, under the guidance of Dusan Uhrin and Daniel Brailovsky, Benayoun and Haifa reached the quarterfinals of the Cup Winners' Cup, and he scored against Paris Saint-Germain by the help of Reuven Atar in an unforgettable match and SV Ried.

In 1999, he confronted his manager Eli Cohen, when Benayoun allegedly refused to be substituted during a match. This incident, plus a bad month for the club, ultimately caused Cohen's resignation.

In the 2000/2001 season under the guidance of Avram Grant, Benayoun led Haifa to a first championship after seven years and was chosen as the MVP of the season. The next season, Benayoun helped Maccabi Haifa win another championship, despite suffering from an injury in the beginning of the season. When he returned to play, he combined well with Giovanni Rosso, Raimondas Žutautas and Aiyegbeni Yakubu to win the championship.

Benayoun made 130 appearances for Maccabi, scoring 55 goals. [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=19560 Soccerbase: Yossi Benayoun] , Racing Post. Retrieved 23 June 2007.]

Racing Santander

In 2002, Benayoun moved to Racing de Santander in Spain, with his friends, Dudu Aouate, Omri Afek and Ilan Bakhar, where he became one of the big stars of the club and one of its leading scorers during the 2004/2005 season. He made 101 appearances for Racing, scoring 21 goals. Santander opted to cash in on Benayoun by selling him to his agents Pini Zahavi and Ronen Katsav for €3.5 million. Benayoun rejected a €5 million move to CSKA Moscow, preferring a move to England or to remain in Spain. This sparked a great deal of interest in the player with Newcastle, Tottenham, Liverpool, Bolton, Real Sociedad and Deportivo La Coruna seen as likely suitors. [ cite web |last=Kendall |first=Mark |title=Agents buy Benayoun's rights |publisher=Skysports |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11840_2340953,00.html# |accessdate=2008-08-06 ]

West Ham United

West Ham completed the signing of Benayoun in July 2005 for £2.5 million with Benayoun signing a four-year contract. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/4689691.stm "West Ham complete Benayoun swoop"] , BBC Sport, 19 July 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2007.]

He made his Premiership debut for West Ham on the opening day of the 2005-06 season (13 August, 2005 against Blackburn Rovers) in West Ham's 3-1 win. [ cite web |title=West Ham 3-1 Blackburn |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4127042.stm |date=2005-08-13 |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] He went on to score his first Premiership goal for the club when he netted the closing goal in a 4-0 home victory over Aston Villa on 12 September, 2005. [ cite web |title=West ham 4-0 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC |date=2005-09-12 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4210912.stm |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] More goals followed with him scoring two goals in a Premiership match against Fulham. [ cite web |title=West Ham 3-3 Fulham |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6236745.stm |date=2007-10-13 |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] Under manager Alan Pardew Benayoun flourished, producing skilful performances and goals on one of the world's biggest football stages, including a stunning chip from the edge of the box against Fulham on 23 January, 2006. [ cite web |title=West Ham 2-1 Fulham |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4612234.stm |date=2006-01-23 |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] He also scored a last minute goal that stopped West Ham's bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur qualifying for the Champions League in the infamous food poisoning match. [ cite web |title=West Ham 2-1 Tottenham |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4957464.stm |date=2006-05-07 |accessdate=2008-08-06 ]

Benayoun played in the 125th FA Cup Final for West Ham against European Champions Liverpool. [ [http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/05/FACF06_MatchReport.htm "Reds in seventh heaven"] , TheFA.com, 13 May 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2007.] West Ham lost on penalties to Liverpool after a 3-3 draw. Benayoun's display was heralded in "The Guardian", stating: "He never seemed to stop running over the course of the two hours and the sprightliness of thought was inextinguishable as well." [ cite web |last=McCarra |first=Kevin |title=Gerrard ignores striking poverty and drives Liverpool to fresh glory |publisher="The Guardian" |date=2006-05-15 |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/may/15/match.westhamunited |accessdate=2008-08-06 ]

In the last Premiership match of the season against Manchester United, he headed goalbound shots from Kieran Richardson and Alan Smith to safety. These saves ensured West Ham United stayed in the Premiership and avoided relegation. [ cite web |title=Man Utd 0-1 West Ham |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6627803.stm |date=2007-05-13 |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] In 63 League appearances for the Hammers, Benayoun scored 8 goals.

Liverpool

Benayoun moved to Liverpool under controversial circumstances. Yossi had verbally agreed a new five-year deal with West Ham in May 2007, only to go back on the agreement in a bid to move to Liverpool F.C. [ cite web |last=O'Rourke |first=Peter |title=Yossi agrees new hammers deal |publisher=www.skysportsnews.com |date= |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11685_2389133,00.html |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] The controversy was heightened on 10 July when the Israeli media reported that Benayoun's agent, Ronen Katsav, had agreed a deal with Liverpool which would mean Benayoun taking a lower pay than the £50,000 a week offered by West Ham in May. [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3423780,00.html "Benayoun leaves West Ham for Liverpool"] , ynetnews.com, 10 July 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.] On 12 July, Liverpool FC reported on their official website that the signing of Yossi Benayoun had been completed a £5 million deal with him signing a four-year contract. [ [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/news/2007/jul/12/N156349070712-1825.htm "Benayoun signs for Liverpool"] , Liverpool Football Club Official Website, 12 July 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6289760.stm "Benayoun seals Liverpool transfer"] , BBC Sport, 12 July 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2007.]

Benayoun was introduced as a Liverpool player along with Ryan Babel on 13 July, and was given the number 11 shirt. He made his first competitive start for Liverpool against Toulouse FC in the UEFA Champions League qualifier 3rd round 1st leg. His first goal for Liverpool came on the 25 September 2007 when he scored against Reading in the Carling Cup with a wonderful solo effort. [ cite web |last=McKenzie |first=Andrew |title=Reading 2-4 Liverpool |publisher=www.bbc.co.uk |date=2007-09-25 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7008013.stm |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] Benayoun went one better by adding himself into the Liverpool history books by scoring a hat-trick against Beşiktaş J.K. in the Champions League. Not only did Liverpool win a Champions League record 8-0, but also Yossi netted the 500th goal in Liverpool's European history. [ cite web |last=Lawton |first=Matt |title=Eight's Great for Rafa |publisher="The Daily Mail" |date=2007-11-07 |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-492137/Eights-great-Rafa-Benayoun-sparks-Anfield-goal-feast.html |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] Yossi scored a second hat trick against a mismatched opponent in his first season against non-league side Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup, a team 122 places behind Liverpool on the league pyramid. Benayoun ended a successful first season having played 48 games scoring 11 goals in the process.

However, his performance was not enough to prevent transfer rumours in the summer of 2008. This led to the Israeli openly announcing his intention to stay, saying: "Liverpool is good for me and it was always clear I want to stay and Liverpool wants me," [ cite web |title=Beanyoun staying with reds |publisher=www.cksysports.com |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3793337,00.html |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] Yossi was given his preferred number 15 shirt (which was occupied by Peter Crouch during the 2007-2008 season but was vacated when he moved to Portsmouth) for the 2008-2009 season. Benayoun had worn the number 11 during his first season at the club, but switched to the number he wore for West Ham and Israel. [ cite web |title=Yossi switches numbers |publisher=www.lfc.tv |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N160789080805-0948.htm |accessdate=2008-08-06 ] Benayoun had a fruitful pre-season, scoring in a 4 0 victory against Glasgow Rangers and netting again against Norwegian side Vålerenga with an "outstanding, high-quality goal", according to "The Guardian". [ cite web |last=Lawless |first=Matt |title=Liverpool cruise past Rangers in emphatic friendly win |publisher="The Daily Telegraph" |date=2008-08-02 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/2490038/LIverpool-crusie-past-Rangers-in-emphatic-friendly-win.html |accessdate=2008-08-14 ] [ cite web |last=Walker |first=Paul |title=Gerrard injured as Liverpool tune up for European start |publisher="The Guardian" |date=2008-08-06 |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/aug/06/liverpool.premierleague |accessdate=2008-08-14 ] . In the summer 2008 transfer window Yossi attracted much interest of top teams such as AS Roma, Rafa Benitez told the press he wasn't leaving the club, 2 days later Benayoun told the L.F.C website that he desired to stay at Liverpool F.C.

International career

Benayoun was a member of the Israel U16 team that came third in the 1996 UEFA European Under-16 Championship. [ [http://www.uefa.com/magazine/news/Kind=512/newsId=319108.html "Benayoun the kid for Hammers"] , uefa.com, 22 July 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2007.]

He made his senior debut for Israel against Portugal in November 1998. During the World Cup 2006 qualifiers, Benayoun became the leading player of the Israeli national team after equalizing against Cyprus at home (in a game that ended 2-1 to Israel) and scoring twice against Switzerland. In the away game in Cyprus, Benayoun assisted the winning goal after Nir Davidovich saved a crucial penalty. His strong performances gave Israel a chance at qualifying for the World Cup, but they missed out on goal difference.

Just prior to the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, Benayoun was given the captaincy of the Israeli national team. In eight appearances in the qualifiers, Benayoun has scored two goals. Benayoun's motivation and dedication to the Israeli national team is well documented. He puts his body on the line for his country, with one such example occurring in a Euro 2008 qualifier against the Croatian national team. Benayoun received several injections in order to be available for the match despite knowing the effects it could have in the following weeks. After the match, the injury worsened and he had to miss over three weeks of football for his team at the time, West Ham United.

References

Further reading

*cite news| last =Ronen-Abels| first =O| coauthors =| title =Benayoun feeling London pride| work =Magazine| pages =| language =| publisher =UEFA| date =2005-10-21| url =http://www.uefa.com/magazine/news/kind=16/newsid=353488.html| accessdate =2007-09-30

External links

*FIFA player|178915
* [http://www.thisisanfield.com/players/benayoun Thisisanfield.com player profile]
*soccerbase|id=19560|name=Yossi Benayoun
* [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/benayoun/ Yossi Benayoun Bio at Liverpoolfc.tv]
* [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=1189 LFChistory.net player profile]