Hanukkah Soccer Legends: Night 2 – Eran Zahavi | OneFootball

One of the most prolific goal scorers in modern Israeli soccer, Eran Zahavi began his professional career with Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2006. In his four years there, he scored 27 goals in 94 appearances. He also earned the top assist provider in his 2010-11 season, with 13.

A two season spell with Serie A side Palermo was a bust (he only scored twice in 23 appearances), and he returned to the Israeli Premier League with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Between 2013 and 2016, he scored 98 times in 116 games, including a league record 35 goals in a single season.

International Club Achievements

A lucrative transfer to the Chinese Super League followed. With Guangzhou R&F, Zahavi was bestowed with the moniker “The King of Yuexiushan” due to his scoring prowess. In 2019, he set a then-record 29 goals scored in a season. In total, he contributed 91g/24a over five seasons in China.

Zahavi signed with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 2020. Over two seasons there, he played in 78 matches across all competitions, registering 36g/14a. He then returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he became team captain. Before being released at the end of the 2025 season, he scored another 41 goals in 81 games for the club.

National Team

Zahavi’s first call-up to the Israeli national team came in 2010. Over the next fourteen years he would earn 74 caps, along with four hat-tricks. In 2019, two those came in back-to-back matches against Austria (4-2 win) and Latvia (3-0 win) during the 2020 UEFA Euro qualifying. In total, Zahavi scored 35 goals for his country.

About This Article Series

Hanukkah, the festival of lights, is celebrated over eight days and nights by followers of Judaism across the world. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the success of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

The holiday’s close proximity to Christmas has made it a mainstay within the United States and other western regions, even though its religious importance is somewhat minor. In observance of Hanukkah, Hooligan Soccer will present eight shining soccer players associated with the Jewish faith.

Night 1: Benny Feilhaber