Yossi Benayoun
Yossi Benayoun (2009)
Yossi Shai Benayoun (Hebrew יוסי בניון; born May 5, 1980 in Dimona ) is an Israeli football player who stands at the Queens Park Rangers under contract.
Club career
Youth
Benayoun grew up in Dimona. From a young age he was recognized as a great talent. At age nine, he moved to Hapoel Be'er Sheva. At 15, he attended the youth academy of Ajax Amsterdam. After two years he got homesick and returned to Israel.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
At 17 he was promoted to the first team of Hapoel Be'er Sheva. The club was relegated, however. A year later, he moved from Be'er Sheva Maccabi Haifa. Haifa's president Yaakov Shachar agreed with the then President of Hapoel Beer Sheva, in the case of a resale to a European club to pay a portion of the transfer fee to Beersheba.
Maccabi Haifa
In four seasons with Maccabi Haifa midfielder Benayoun scored as more than 50 goals, including two hat-tricks. His greatest successes with the club to reach the quarter finals of the Cup Winners' Cup and the championship in the 2000/2001 season under manager Avram Grant.
Racing Santander
In 2002 he moved to Racing Santander. There bigger clubs were aware of him. Above all, Rafael Benitez, who was coach of FC Valencia at this time, Benayoun watching over the next few years. Benayoun change seemed only a matter of time, but Santander demanded a high fee which only the FK Moscow was willing to pay. However, after Russia Benayoun did not change.
In July 2005, Benayoun signed with the then newly promoted to the Premiere League West Ham United. His greatest success here was the finals in the FA Cup. Benayoun impressed in this game, the coach of the opponent Liverpool, Rafa Benitez.
Liverpool FC
Benayoun moved to Liverpool in 2007. After Eli Cohen and Ronny Rosenthal he was the third Israeli player who has played at Liverpool.
Chelsea FC
In summer 2010, Benayoun moved to Chelsea.
Loan to Arsenal
31 August 2011 Benayoun was awarded for one season at Arsenal.
On 31 August 2012, he was loaned out for the first round to West Ham United. The business included an option to extend the loan until end of season. He received the 15 as a back number. On January 3, 2013, he returned to Chelsea. Due to a knee injury he could do only some games.
Queens Park Rangers
After Benayoun had been without a club after the 2012/13 season, he signed on December 10, 2013 a contract until the end of the 2013/14 season at the Queens Park Rangers.
Achievements
- UEFA Europa League: 2013
National
On 18 November 1998 it was first used in the Israeli national team, where he established himself as a key player. He played with the likes of Israeli Haim Revivo ( last Galatasaray ) and Eyal Berkovic ( last Portsmouth FC and Maccabi Tel Aviv).
Yossi is also since August 2006 captain of the Israeli national team. In the qualifying matches for Euro 2008, he contributed to the good performance of the Israeli national football team. On August 14, 2013 he performed at 0-2 against the Ukraine with his 94th international match the record set by Arik Benado one.