Premiership

Altman helps Fulham win Academy final

Simon Griver — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:32:16 +0100

Omri Altman completed a successful first season with Fulham as the Cottagers beat Blackburn 2-0 in the Academy League national final.

The Israeli under-19 international scored 16 goals for Fulham Academy, including a dramatic last-gasp winner in a 4-3 semi-final win over Norwich. He also made two appearances for Fulham reserves.

Altman said: “It’s a marvellous challenge here and my dream is to make it to the top in the Premier League.

“I really want that and hope I might earn a few minutes on the pitch in the Premier League next season.”

Benayoun bows out on a high

Simon Griver — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:30:30 +0100

Yossi Benayoun helped Arsenal clinch automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League with a goal in the crucial 3-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.

The Israel captain completed a successful loan spell from Chelsea with goals in Arsenal’s last two games to help them pip Spurs to third place.

Benayoun said: “What an amazing way to finish the season. Victory, third place and I scored again.

“I want to thank all the Arsenal fans and management who have supported me throughout the season and given me a chance to be part of a wonderful club.”

Benayoun, 32, has returned to Chelsea where he has one year remaining on his contract, but it remains unclear whether the Blues will keep him, Arsenal will sign him or if he joins another club.

Cohen: I'm praying for Muamba

Simon Griver and Danny Caro — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:16:16 +0000

Tamir Cohen recalled the moment Fabrice Muamba helped him overcome the loss of his father, before paying tribute to his former teammate who suffered a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup tie against Spurs.

Cohen, 28, left Bolton last season but remains "very close friends" with Muamba. In a heartfelt tribute to the player who was given life-saving treatment on the pitch at White Hart Lane, Cohen said: "I played with Fabrice for three years at Bolton and he is one of the most wonderful guys you could ever meet.

"We're very good friends and I'm stunned by what happened. I'm praying for him and hoping that he will recover as quickly as possible."

Cohen, who returned to Israel to join Maccabi Haifa last August, says that he has been monitoring Muamba's progress at the London Chest Hospital. "I'm in contact all the time with former teammates in England and I received a text message saying that Fabrice is improving and speaking," he said. "I just hope there will be no lasting damage to the brain."

Cohen revealed Muamba was one of the teammates who was "most supportive" following the death of his father, Avi Cohen, the former Liverpool star, just over a year ago. "It was Muamba together with Johan Elmander who came to me with the idea that I should have a shirt made with a picture of my father on it," he said. "They suggested I should wear it under my Bolton shirt and if I scored I could take off my shirt and dedicate the goal to my father."

● Stuart Lustigman, the chairman of the Maccabi Masters League, has described the Muamba incident as "a real wake-up call" to Sunday morning footballers.

Lustigman this week emailed all clubs in the over-35's league, advising them to ensure they have someone qualified on hand to deal with similar incidents.

He said: "Hopefully some good has to come from adversity and we're calling for people to be educated. The response has been good so far.

"The fact that it happened in such a high-profile match made people sit up and take notice, but at amateur level it probably happens more than we realise."

Martin Berliner, the Chief Executive of Maccabi GB, says that he will write to all the Jewish football leagues to remind them of the importance of having a qualified first-aider. Berliner said: "We have medical staff on hand at all our events. We were on the case prior to the Muamba incident and have a duty of care to do so. All our staff are trained, including those who coach in our after- school sessions."

Assulin to stay with Brighton until May

Danny Caro — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:48:20 +0000

Israel midfielder Gai Assulin will stay with Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season.

The Manchester City player, 20, initially joined the Seagulls for one month, but after making four appearances for the Championship team, manager Gus Poyet is keen to keep him in the push for the playoffs.

Poyet said: "He's been out for a while and needs to play to get back to his best.

"We think he's the type of player that perfectly suits the way we play. Everybody gains from this situation."

Assulin wrote on his Twitter page: "Just extended my loan with Brighton till the end of the season!! Really happy!"

City bid for Biton unrealistic

Simon Griver — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:46:47 +0000

Manchester City have made an official bid for MS Ashdod midfielder Nir Biton.

Club owner Jacky Ben Zaken said: "They want to take him on loan immediately and want an option to buy him in the future."

Biton's agent Dudu Dahan is currently in England negotiating with City director Brian Marwood. However, it seems unlikely that the 20-year-old Israeli, who impressed during a week-long trial in Manchester earlier this month, will ever don a City jersey.

Not only does Biton still have nine-months IDF duty to perform, but he has made only two appearances for Israel and falls short of the criteria required for a UK work permit.

Grant: Write me off at your peril

Simon Griver — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:52:11 +0000

As Avram Grant signed an 18-month deal to manage Serbian champions Partizan Belgrade, he pledged to return to the Premier League.

Grant, who has managed at Chelsea, West Ham and Portsmouth, said: "It is no secret that I still want to manage in England where I have been for the past five years.

"I love the place but the offers I received in England were not good enough and probably people remember last season with West Ham and not what I did before that."

Grant was greeted in Belgrade by Partizan fans bearing banners saying "Avram Go Home".

The Israeli replaces the popular Aleksander Stanojevic, who was sacked after falling out with club chairman Dragan Djuric despite a successful spell where the team won the Serbian title and reached the group stages of the Champions League.

Stanojevic left the club 10 points clear at the top going into the winter break. One survey showed that only 20 per cent of Partizan fans support Grant's appointment.

The situation is reminiscent of 2007 when Grant replaced Jose Mourinho at Chelsea after he was sacked by Roman Abramovich despite winning back-to-back titles.

Grant took Chelsea to the Champions League final but lost his job after the defeat against Manchester United after a penalty shootout. He then presided over successive relegations with Portsmouth and West Ham.

Grant will reportedly earn €500,000-a-year with a €400,000 bonus if Partizan qualify for the Champions League group stage.

Grant said: "Partizan is a team with a great reputation and tradition.

"I'm taking on a great challenge and I know we will build a team that succeeds in Europe."

Liverpool eye Celtic star Kayal

Simon Griver — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:37:00 +0000

Israel star Beram Kayal is being linked with a big-money move to Premier League giants Liverpool.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish was at Parkhead last week to run his eye over the Celtic midfielder, who captained the Hoops in their 1-0 Europa League defeat by Atletico Madrid.

Dalglish has shortlisted Kayal to replace Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, who is injured for the rest of the season.

Kayal's £8 million pound price tag would make him the most expensive ever Israeli signing.

Kayal's uncle and advisor Hamoudi Kayal, himself a professional footballer, told The JC, "These rumours about Kenny Dalglish wanting Beram are very flattering and they give him extra motivation to train harder and play even better.

"I think everybody knows that Beram is worthy of playing in the English Premier League and he has certainly proven himself in the SPL."

He added, "It is no secret that Beram sees Celtic as a stepping stone to one of the big clubs in England. That said, Beram has just signed a new contract and he is completely focused on helping Celtic to win the SPL title and advance in the Europa League."

Yossi is key

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:08:46 +0000

Arsene Wenger has told Yossi Benayoun that he still has a big role to play this season.

Benayoun has been a bit-part player since joining the Gunners on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

Wenger said: "The season is so long that he will play his part and I am convinced that he will be an important player for us.

"His experience can make a big difference at some stage."

Jacobson: We can beat Arsenal

James Masters — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:46:49 +0100

Joe Jacobson is determined to leave Yossi Benayoun red-faced by dumping Arsenal out of the Carling Cup.

Jacobson is set to start against Benayoun on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium when League Two side Shrewsbury Town aim to record a huge upset in north London.

And the highly-rated defender says he cannot wait to pit his wits against the Israel skipper after growing up in awe of Benayoun's silky skills.

"It would be great to play against Yossi," said Jacobson. "He's a fabulous player and I've spent years watching him.

"He's great to watch and is so talented and it's going to be great if I get the chance to play against him.

"To actually get the chance to play against him and some of their other players will be fantastic and I can't wait for it.

"But we're not going there thinking we can't win the game. We're going there to win because unless you believe that then you've got no chance.

"Obviously, they're huge favourites but they're not having a great time at the moment and if they play a few fringe players, then who knows?

"We're playing very well at the moment and hopefully we can go there and give a good account of ourselves."

The former Wales Under-21 starlet played in Shrewsbury's second round win over Premier League Swansea – a particularly sweet moment for the Cardiff-born defender.

"Beating Swansea was great and really enjoyable for a Cardiff lad like me," he said.

"My dad's a big Cardiff fan to so that was really nice but it was also big for the club because Swansea had a good side out.

"Obviously, winning against them set up this Arsenal game and everyone's really excited about it.

"To go to the Emirates and play in such a fantastic arena is a dream come true."

Jacobson will be cheered on by friends and family. He said: "As a Tottenham fan, it's a real chance for me to get one over the old enemy and I can't wait for it."

Duty flee

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:13:25 +0100

No sooner had he passed a medical and signed for Arsenal than did Yossi Benayoun rejoin his national teammates ahead of today's crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Greece in Tel Aviv.

After flying to London on Wednesday, Benayoun completed his whistle-stop tour on transfer deadline day by joining the Gunners.

The Israel captain had been linked with potential moves to Spurs, Liverpool and Lille, but in the the end he agreed to go to the Emirates on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

The writing was on the wall for Benayoun, 31, when he handed his shirt number (10) to new signing Juan Mata. The playmaker, nicknamed The Kid from Dimona, made only eight appearances for the Blues after joining last year during an injury-plagued spell and slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

Benayoun's move came as something of a distraction to Israel's preparation ahead of two must-win qualifiers in the space of five days. Following Friday's match against the group leaders, Luis Fernandez's troops will travel to Croatia whom they play on Tuesday in games that could effectively seal Israel's fate.

Israel go into the matches lying joint-second in Group F, a point behind Greece, who like Croatia have a game in hand, although they will meet on Yom Kippur. Israel's final game will be away to Malta on October 11.

After losing to Greece and Croatia last year, Israel revived its chances with victories over Georgia and Latvia in March. But Fernandez insists that Israel must improve to reach next summer's finals.

Fernandez said: "The way we played against Latvia and Georgia will not be good enough against Greece who are fast and physical. We must be strong and have the desire and the commitment if we want to beat Greece."

Portsmouth defender Tal Ben Haim is convinced that Israel can do the job. "A draw against Greece will be a failure. Greece are not Italy or Spain. We take them seriously but who knows when we will get a better opportunity to reach the finals of a major competition.

"We are good enough to finish at least second in this group and we would have really blown it if we can't beat Greece."

Israel suffered a blow when Genk striker Elyaniv Barda was ruled out by injury while Auxerre's Ben Sahar is nursing a swollen ankle. Otherwise Israel will be at full strength with Celtic's Beram Kayal returning to fitness.

Itay Shechter is likely to start up front after scoring his first Bundesliga goal for Kaiserslautern.