| Eyal Berkovic | ||
 |
||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eyal Berkovic | |
| Date of birth | April 2, 1972 | |
| Place of birth | Nahariya, Israel | |
| Height | 1. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nahariya (נַהֲרִיָּה is a City with an estimated population of 50000 located in Northern Israel, on the Mediterranean sea, just south For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. 70 m (5 ft 7 in) | |
| Playing position | Midfielder | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| 1982-1988 | Maccabi Haifa | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1989-1996 1996-1997 1997-1999 1999-2001 2001 2001-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 |
Maccabi Haifa Southampton West Ham Celtic Blackburn Man City Portsmouth Maccabi Tel-Aviv |
128 (25) 28 (4) 65 (10) 32 (10) 11 (2) 56 (7) 22 (2) 25 (2) |
| National team2 | ||
| 1992-2004 | Israel | 82 (14) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Eyal Berkovic (Hebrew: אייל ברקוביץ'), also spelled Berkovich, born April 2, 1972 in Nahariya, Israel) is a former Israeli footballer. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nahariya (נַהֲרִיָּה is a City with an estimated population of 50000 located in Northern Israel, on the Mediterranean sea, just south For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. He played as a midfielder. For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules.
Although not a frequent scorer, he has been known to score crucial goals, some of which have been quite spectacular. Hailed by many for his intelligence and ability to avoid tackles and fouls from defenders, he is considered to be one of Israel's best football players. Because of his amazing assists, he is known in Israel by the nickname Ha-Kossem (lit. "The Magician").
Aside from his footballing talent, Berkovic is also known for his temperament. He has had several clashes with team-mates, most notably the Israeli footballers Reuven Atar and Eli Ohana, Kevin Keegan (his manager when at Manchester City), and Welsh striker John Hartson. Reuven Atar (רְאוּבֵן עטר born January 3 1969) is a former Israeli football player and currently manager of Israeli football club Eli Ohana (אלי אוחנה born February 1, 1964 in Jerusalem, Israel) is an Israeli football manager and Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE (born 14 February 1951 is a former footballer, and former England national team coach who has been manager of various ManaGeR ( MGR) is a graphical Window system. The MGR server provides a builtin Window manager and windowed graphics Terminal emulation on color TalkManchester City FC before changing verbs to singular --> Manchester City Football Club is an English professional football club John Hartson (born 5 April 1975 in Swansea) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a Striker. His autobiography Ha-Kosem sparked controversy with the Israeli football scene because of the sharp and straight criticism of many of its figures. Football (כדורגל Kaduregel) is the unofficial national sport of Israel.
He is the older brother of footballer Nir Berkovic. Nir Berkovic (born November 16, 1982) is an Israeli Football (soccer player who plays in the position of attacking midfielder
Contents |
Early career
Berkovic started his career at Maccabi Haifa in 1989, playing there until 1996. Maccabi Haifa Football Club (מועדון הכדורגל מכבי חיפה Moadon HaKaduregel Maccabi Haifa) is an Israeli football club and one of the leading football During his time with the club he won league titles in 1990-91 and 1993-94, and the State Cup three times, including a 'double' in the 1990-91 season. The State Cup (גביע המדינה Gvia HaMedina) is the second most important tournament in Israeli football after Ligat ha'Al the top division The 1990-91 Liga Leumit season began on October 1990 and ended on June 1991 with Maccabi Haifa winning the title His performances for the club earned him a call-up to the Israeli national team as well as the MVP award for 1993-4 season. The Israeli National Football Team (נבחרת ישראל בכדורגל is the national football team of Israel and is controlled by the Israel Football Association The 1993-94 Liga Leumit season began on 28 August 1993 and ended on 4 June 1994, with Maccabi Haifa winning their fifth
Move To England
For the 1996-97 season, Berkovic signed on a season-long loan for English club Southampton. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Southampton Football Club is a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. He proved to be a big influence, and was a major part of the famous 6-3 victory over Manchester United, as he scored twice and got three assists.
The next season he was signed by West Ham United for £1. } West Ham United Football Club is an English football club based in Upton Park, London Borough of Newham, East London, who have played The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency 75 million, for whom he played for two seasons, appearing in 64 games. Striker John Hartson had a prolific season that term for West Ham and it is believe that he would not have scored as many goals as he did without Berkovic's assists. John Hartson (born 5 April 1975 in Swansea) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a Striker. In a training ground bust-up between the two, Hartson kicked Berkovic in the face, after the Israeli midfielder had punched Hartson in the leg as he attempted to help Berkovic to his feet after a crunching tackle. The incident was captured on camera. Hartson was fined for the incident.
Soon after the incident he was then signed for £5. 75 million by Celtic, who were at that point coached by John Barnes. The Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the east end of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE (born 7 November 1963 in Kingston Jamaica) is a Jamaican born former professional English He played for the Scottish club for two years scoring ten goals but Martin O'Neill left him out of the team when he took over the Glasgow giants as manager and Berkovic returned to England to join Blackburn Rovers on loan for the 2000-01 season. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill OBE, (born 1 March 1952 in Kilrea, Northern Ireland) is a former Northern Ireland national football team captain Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. He remained only a short while before a permanent move to Manchester City the following year. TalkManchester City FC before changing verbs to singular --> Manchester City Football Club is an English professional football club
Manchester City
His first game for the blue half of Manchester saw him score in a man of the match display against Watford. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. In his second game for the team he contracted an injury which prompted the team to sign an additional playmaker in the form of Ali Benarbia. Ali Benarbia (علي بن عربية (born October 8, 1968 in Oran, Algeria) is a former Algerian footballer, who came to France When Eyal returned the City team began to play with both playmakers in a 3-5-2 formation with Kevin Horlock operating in the anchor midfield position. Kevin Horlock (born November 1, 1972 in Erith, Kent) is an English born Northern Irish football player currently This was a successful formation earning City promotion in a most emphatic style. In an FA Cup game against then-Premiership team Ipswich Town F.C. Berkovic scored a volley goal set up by Ali Benarbia from a corner and City duly beat the team in the league above them 4-1. PLEASE NOTE This section is the introduction Please do not add too much detail here Ali Benarbia (علي بن عربية (born October 8, 1968 in Oran, Algeria) is a former Algerian footballer, who came to France The following season when City were in the Premiership Berkovic was instrumental in a 3-1 victory over local rivals Manchester United, a team he had also helped Southampton demolish 6-3 in the 1996-97 season scoring two goals. Southampton Football Club is a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. The tactic of playing with two playmakers was continued in the Premiership but although City were playing well, results were not too favourable to begin with and Keegan decided that he would play with only one playmaker and that that would be Berkovic. Berkovic was voted as Manchester City's player of the season in 2002-03 in the club's magazine by former player and radio personality Gary Owen and was also described by Keegan as 'world class'. Gary Owen may refer to Gary Owen (snooker (born 1929 retired Welsh snooker player
Portsmouth
Despite becoming a firm favourite with the fans, a fallout with manager Kevin Keegan saw him transferred to Portsmouth for the 2003-04 season. Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE (born 14 February 1951 is a former footballer, and former England national team coach who has been manager of various Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the south coast city of Portsmouth. Ironically his first game for Pompey was against Manchester City whom he helped destroy 4-2. After the game he publicly lambasted Kevin Keegan stating that: I don't see any reason why Kevin didn't play me because I was the best player in training for six months and everyone knew that. Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE (born 14 February 1951 is a former footballer, and former England national team coach who has been manager of various Man City's 45,000 supporters knew I had to play but Kevin was behaving like a big baby. I told him that and I think he deserves the sack. He also stated that Keegan had lost the dressing room and that the Manchester City players no longer believed in their manager [1]. Kevin Keegan responded publicly by saying He should learn to keep his counsel. He's entitled to his opinion and he's bitter - but I've no axe to grind. I wished him good luck when he left and tried to make the move as easy as possible as he wanted to go. His comments don't bother me one little bit. I have had worse said about me before and I don't think Eyal will be the only person in my career who says I should be sacked. [2]
Berkovic soon established himself in the first team at Pompey where he was reunited with former West Ham United manager Harry Redknapp, and became a vital part of their drive for Premier League survival. Henry James "Harry" Redknapp (born 2 March 1947 is an English former footballer who has had a long career in football management and is the current The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs
However, he failed to hold down a regular starting place in the team for the 2004-05 season season mainly due to Redknapp's departure, and in January 2005 left Portsmouth. He had been linked with a move to Crystal Palace F.C. but instead decided to return to the country of his birth. Crystal Palace FC is an English football club based in South Norwood, London. He wanted to return to Maccabi Haifa but was rejected, leading him to a decision to sign for rivals Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Maccabi Haifa Football Club (מועדון הכדורגל מכבי חיפה Moadon HaKaduregel Maccabi Haifa) is an Israeli football club and one of the leading football Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is an Israeli Association football club part of the Maccabi Tel Aviv sports club.
Berkovic has played 82 caps and scored 14 goals for the Israeli national team, but was left out of the World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign by coach Avraham Grant. A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament Avraam Grant (אברהם "אברם" גרנט born Avraham Granat on 4 May 1955 in Petah Tikva Israel) is an Israeli Association
Retirement
He announced his retirement from professional football on May 7, 2006. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. In the summer of 2006 he was appointed as the general manager of Maccabi Netanya. Maccabi Netanya FC (מועדון כדורגל מכבי נתניה Moadon Kaduregel Maccabi Netanya) is an Israeli football club playing in the city of However he was manager only for two months and did not even have the chance to manage the team in season games. He stated that he left the job due to poor professional relations with Daniel Jammer (who is the clubs owner and chairman). Daniel Jammer ( דניאל יאמר, August 11, 1966 &ndash) is a Jewish German businessman who owns Maccabi Netanya Berkovic had been an active manager in the transfer market during his two months signing fifteen players including Mazuwa Nsumbu, Liran Strauber and Itay Shechter. Nsumbu Mazuwa (born 24 November, 1982) is a Congolese footballer who plays for Hapoel Tel Aviv F Liran Strauber (לירן שטראובר born August 20 1974) is an Israeli Football (soccer Goalkeeper. Itay Menachem Shechter (איתי מנחם שכטר born 22 February, 1987) is an Israeli footballer currently playing his trade at Maccabi Neyanya
Yossi Benayoun has stated that Eyal Berkovic was a contributing factor in his move to English Premier League side West Ham United, Berkovic's former club. Yosef Shai "Yossi" Benayoun ( יוסי בניון, sometimes spelled Benayun, born יוסי שי בניון on 5 May 1980 The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs } West Ham United Football Club is an English football club based in Upton Park, London Borough of Newham, East London, who have played He joined the newly promoted West Ham in 2005 and shocked Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce who had offered Benayoun a much bigger wage and were in the running for Champions League places. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football club based in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Samuel "Sam" Allardyce (born 19 October 1954 in Dudley, West Midlands) is an English football manager and former See also List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League winners The UEFA Champions League, which evolved from the European Champion Clubs' Cup is a seasonal club
He is married and has two children.
References
External links
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