Hanukkah Soccer Legends: Night 8 – Tal Ben Haim | OneFootball

We saved a special player for the final night. Actually it’s two players who share the exact same name: Tal Ben Haim. Both played on the Israeli national team (at the same time no less), and also shared a locker room in the Israeli Premier League.

Tal Ben Haim I – Israel’s Iron Wall

If Israeli soccer had a Navy Seal, it would probably look a lot like Tal Ben Haim. Born in 1982, Ben Haim was a rugged, dependable center-back who turned the simple act of defending into an art form. He cut his defensive teeth with Maccabi Tel Aviv, helping them win a league title in 2003 and becoming team captain soon thereafter. In summer 2004 he took his hardnose style abroad to England. Over the next eleven years he featured throughout the Premier League for giants like Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, Manchester City, Sunderland, Portsmouth, West Ham, Queens Park Rangers, and even Charlton Athletic. He even had a brief stint in Belgium with Standard Liége. 

Ben Haim was no goal machine. He scored once in the English top flight and a handful more elsewhere, but he was a master of organization and aerial duels. He notched well over 200 club appearances and a reputation for reliability. Internationally, he was no less impressive, earning 96 caps with Israel’s national team while captaining the side on numerous occasions.

Tal Ben Haim II – The Sharpshooter

Enter into the picture the 1989-born Tal Ben Haim. No backline bruiser, this Ben Haim was all  flair and finesse: a winger/forward with an eye for goal. To distinguish himself from the older Tal he would wear “Ben Haim II” or even “Ben Chaim” on his jersey. 

Photo credit: Eran Luf. Source.

He started with Maccabi Petah Tikva, and spent five seasons with them. He then had stints with Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and even two seasons abroad with Sparta Prague. His four years with Tel Aviv were particularly fruitful, scoring 30+ league goals for Israel’s biggest club. He returned to his childhood club for his last season, and at age 32 scored another 13 for Petah Tikva.

On the international stage, Ben Haim II earned over two dozen caps for Israel and found the back of the net multiple times. It wasn’t a bad run for a guy who had to share not just a nation, but a jersey name, with a teammate.

Name Game Sharing Same Stage

​​So there you are folks: two Tal Ben Haims. One was a defensive lynchpin, the other an attacking spark. Both were forged in Israeli football’s rich furnace, conquering club and country in their own stylish ways. If ever fans got confused, just remember: one kept the ball out, the other put it in.

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 FeilhaberNight 2: Eran ZahaviNight 3: David “Dudu” AouateNight 4: Tai BariboNight 5: Oscar GloukhNight 6: Ronny RosenthalNight 7: Jeff Agoos