Eran Zahavi

Eran Zahavi
Zahavi celebrating after scoring against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Tel Aviv derby in March 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-07-25) 25 July 1987
Place of birth Rishon LeZion, Israel
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder / Striker
Club information
Current team
 Guangzhou R&F
Number 7
Youth career
1993–2003 Hapoel Tel Aviv
2003–2005 Ironi Rishon LeZion
2005–2006 Hapoel Tel Aviv
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 Hapoel Tel Aviv 94 (27)
2007–2008 → Ironi Ramat HaSharon 45 (10)
2011–2013 Palermo 23 (2)
2013–2016 Maccabi Tel Aviv 120 (98)
2016– Guangzhou R&F 67 (55)
National team‡
2008 Israel U21 1 (0)
2010– Israel 40 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 September 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 September 2018

Eran Zahavi (or Eran Zehavi, Hebrew: ערן זהבי‎; born 25 July 1987) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or striker for Guangzhou R&F.

Zahavi was named the Israeli Footballer of the Year twice (2013 and 2014), and finished as the top goalscorer three seasons in a row in the Israeli Premier League, in 2013–14 (29 goals, all-time club record), in 2014–15 (27 goals), and in 2015–16 (35 goals, all-time club and league record). In December 2014, Zahavi broke the Israeli Premier League record for scoring in consecutive appearances after he scored for an 18th game in a row. In 2016, he broke the Israeli league six-decade-old season scoring record, beating the 1954–55 record.[1] He has been a senior international since 2010, earning 40 caps. He was named the 2017 Chinese Super League MVP.

Biography

Zahavi was born in Rishon Lezion, and is Jewish.[2][3][4][5] He started his youth career with Hapoel Tel Aviv. At the age of 16 he went to Ironi Rishon LeZion, in his hometown. Two years later, in 2005 he returned to Hapoel. He managed to get to the state cup final with his team but lost to Beitar Jerusalem F.C. after a penalty shootout; he scored the equalizer that led to extra time.

Career

Hapoel Tel Aviv

Zahavi before the match with Hapoel Tel Aviv 2010

A Hapoel Tel Aviv youth product, he was promoted into the first team in 2006 and won the Israel State Cup and the championship title after a dramatic match against the fierce rival Beitar Jerusalem in which Zahavi scored at the 92nd minute of extra time. Zahavi was reported to have garnered interest from clubs in Belgium during the 2009–10 season. Zahavi has a French passport, which would mean that he would not count as a foreigner in many European leagues.[6]

In the 2010–11 season Zahavi became the top assister of the Israeli Premier League, providing 13 assists during the season.[7]

Palermo

Zahavi signed a five-year deal with the Italian Serie A club, Palermo, before the beginning of the 2011–12 Serie A season.[8]

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Zahavi during a 2015–16 Champions League match against Chelsea

In December 2012, towards the winter transfers window opening, Zahavi showed signs of returning to Israel.[9] Following an agreement made by Palermo and Maccabi Tel Aviv, his former club Hapoel Tel Aviv was given seven days to make a bid on him due to a first-option clause in his contract,[10] but it was not exploited. On 21 January 2013, after over a month of speculation in the media, Maccabi Tel Aviv announced his arrival, signing him on a three-and-a-half year contract[11] for €250,000.[12]

In a Tel Aviv derby on 3 November 2014, Zahavi scored a penalty to equalise the score at 1–1 in the first half, but was then attacked by a pitch invader. On retaliating, he was sent off, prompting more pitch invasions which led to the match being abandoned.[13]

In the beginning of the season, Zahavi was appointed as Maccabi's new captain after former captain Sheran Yeini signed at Dutch football club Vitesse Arnhem. On 5 August 2015, Zahavi scored two goals against Czech team Viktoria Plzeň in a 2–0 away victory on the second leg of the third qualifying round after Maccabi lost at home 2–1. On 19 August 2015, Zahavi scored a brace, including a 96th-minute equaliser, in a 2–2 draw against Swiss side FC Basel at St. Jakob-Park in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs.[14] On 25 August, the second leg at Bloomfield, he scored a 24th-minute equaliser and the match ended 1–1, a result that sent Maccabi to the Champions League group stage due to the away goals rule.[15]

Zahavi finished the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round as the top goalscorer with 7 goals in 5 games.[16] During the season Zahavi scored 35 league goals, in 36 league games, and set a new Israeli record for league goals in single season. The previous record was set by the striker Nissim Elmaliach, who scored 30 goals in 26 league games during the 1954–55 season.[17]

Guangzhou R&F

On 29 June 2016, Zahavi joined Guangzhou R&F of the Chinese Football League, making him the second Israeli player in China after Liron Zarko.[18] The transfer deal will pay Zahavi a reported $12.5 million over two-and-a-half years.[19] On 2 July, Zahavi made his debut coming on from the bench at the 60th minute playing against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright with the score a 1–1 draw. 15 minutes later he scored his first goal, and later on he added an assist to lead his team to a 4–2 victory.[20]

On 13 July, Zahavi scored a hat-trick in 19 minutes in the Chinese FA Cup match against Hebei China Fortune coming on from the bench in the second half and so helping R&F to a 3–0 win.[21] On 18 October, during a league match against Hangzhou Greentown, Zahavi netted his second hat trick in an R&F jersey, propelling them to a 5–2 victory. He found the net in the 33rd, 55th, and 67th minutes of the match. Those goals gave him 16 goals in as many games for R&F, across all competitions. These scoring exploits quickly earned him the nickname "the King of Yuexiushan".[22]

Zahavi finished his first half season for Guangzhou R&F with six goals in four Chinese FA Cup games, and 11 league goals in 15 appearances. In December 2016, according to media reports, Chinese club Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C. offered $20 million for Zahavi, the highest transfer fee ever offered for an Israeli footballer.[23] On 24 January 2017, Zahavi signed a renewed contract with Guangzhou R&F until the end of the 2020 season, for an estimated $7 million per season.[24] On 23 July, in the league match against Yanbian Funde he scored four goals and Guangzhou won 6–2. Zahavi finished the 2017 season with 27 league goals (one short of the league record) to win the CSL Golden Boot Award.[25][26] He was also named the Most Valuable Player in the Chinese Super League, and selected in the CSL team of the year.[27][28]

After Shanghai Shenhua F.C. failed to sign Zahavi in September 2017 for a transfer fee of $25 million,[29] Zahavi renewed his contract with Guangzhou R&F in February 2018 for an estimated $10 million per season on a three-year contract.[30][31] On 2 March, during round 1 of the 2018 CSL season, Zahavi scored a hat-trick and assisted one goal in the 5–4 away win against reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao.[32]

In July 2018, it was reported by Ynet that Zahavi was close to signing at Shanghai SIPG, with the club paying R&F $40 million for Zahavi, and him earning $20 million a season with his new team.[33]

International

Zahavi made his international debut on 2 September 2010 against Malta in Ramat Gan Stadium, in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match. He scored his first goal for the national team on 10 September 2013 against Russia.[34] On 2 June 2014, he scored his second goal in a friendly match against Honduras.[35] He has made 40 appearances for Israel, scoring six goals.[25]

Career statistics

Club

As of 23 September 2018
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hapoel Tel Aviv 2006–07 000020——20
2007–08 000000——00
2008–09 267005400—3111
2009–10 2911500000—3411
2010–11 3293242104—4917
Total 872782116104—11639
Ironi Ramat HaSharon (loan) 2006–07 14200———142
2007–08 31700———317
Total 45900———459
Palermo 2011–12 20200000000202
2012–13 300000000030
Total 23200000000232
Maccabi Tel Aviv 2012–13 16721—0000188
2013–14 342910—114004633
2014–15 3427554162004935
2015–16 36356310118125548
Total 1209814951281412168124
Guangzhou R&F 2016 151146———1917
2017 302744———3431
2018 221732———2519
Total 675511120000007867
Career total 3421913323167381812430241

International goals

Israel score listed first, score column indicates score after each Zahavi goal.[36]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 10 September 2013Petrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia15 Russia1–31–32014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 1 June 2014BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States20 Honduras1–04–2Friendly
3 16 November 2014Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel23 Bosnia and Herzegovina3–03–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
4 3 September 2015Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel27 Andorra1–04–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
5 31 May 2016Karađorđe Stadium, Novi Sad, Serbia31 Serbia1–11–3Friendly
6 12 November 2016Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania32 Albania1–03–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

Hapoel Tel Aviv[36]
Maccabi Tel Aviv[36]

Individual

Records

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "Israeli Sports", Jewish Sports Review, Vol. 9, No. 11, Issue 107, p. 21, January/February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Eran Zahavi". Yahoo Eurosport UK.
  4. ↑ "The Jews and the Chinese: A connection between ‘the world’s most ancient people’"
  5. ↑ "Israel's Jewish player Eran Zahavi (L) a Pictures" | Getty Images
  6. ↑ Gladstone, Roy (11 February 2010). קבוצה בכירה מהליגה הבלגית הציעה חוזה לערן זהבי [A Leading Club From The Belgian League Offers Contract To Eran Zahavi] (in Hebrew). One. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  7. ↑ 2010/11 IPL top assisters on one.co.il (in Hebrew)
  8. ↑ "Palermo is strengthen, here is the initial balance". US Città di Palermo (in Italian). www.ilpalermocalcio.it. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  9. ↑ Eran Zahavi claims return to Israel, nrg, 14 December 2012
  10. ↑ "Palermo: Hapoel Tel Aviv got a first-option on Eran Zahavi", ynet, 2 January 2013
  11. ↑ "Zahavi agrees 3.5 years deal". Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. 21 January 2013. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  12. ↑ Eran Zahavi moves to Maccabi Tel Aviv, walla!, 21 January 2013
  13. ↑ "Tel Aviv derby abandoned after player and fan clash". BBC Sport. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "Zahavi header ensures Maccabi deny Basel". UEFA. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "Zahavi strike ensures Maccabi edge out Basel". UEFA. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  16. ↑ http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2016/statistics/round=2000630/players/kind=goals/index.html Archived 29 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ "3.5 Years in Yellow & Blue: Zahavi's Stats" - Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club
  18. ↑ 以色列球星1250万美元加盟广州富力
  19. ↑ "Israeli soccer star Eran Zahavi completes record transfer to Chinese club"
  20. ↑ "Zahavi shines in debut as Guangzhou R&F beat Shijiazhaung Everbright" - Xinhua | English.news.cn
  21. ↑ "לא עוצר: ערן זהבי נכנס כמחליף וכבש שלושער לזכות גוואנגז'ו R&F [Doesn't stop: Eran Zahavi came on as a substitute and scored a hat-trick for Guangzhou R&F]" (in Hebrew). Walla!. 13 July 2016.
  22. ↑ "Yuexiushan: The cradle of Cantonese football, part two". Wild East Football. 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  23. ↑ "דיווחים: שנדונג הציעה 20 מיליון דולר על ערן זהבי" [Reports: Shandong offered $20 million for Zahavi]. Sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). 24 December 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  24. ↑ "חוזה המדינה: זהבי ירוויח כשבעה מיליון דולר לעונה" [Zahavi to earn approximately $7 million per season]. Sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). 24 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  25. 1 2 Chinese Super League MVP: Who is Eran Zahavi? - FOX Sports Asia
  26. ↑ "中超颁奖富力成最大赢家 球员球迷携手斩4项大奖". sports.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  27. ↑ "Cannavaro wins gold again a decade on". MARCA. 2017-11-11. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  28. ↑ "Israeli soccer star named China's player of the year" | The Times of Israel
  29. ↑ "שנגחאי שנואה הציעה על זהבי 25 מיליון דולר" [Shanghai Shenhua has offered 25 million dollars for Zahavi]. ONE (in Hebrew). 21 September 2017.
  30. ↑ Allon Sinai, Israel’s Zahavi signs mega-extension with Chinese club, The Jerusalem Post, 27 February 2018
  31. ↑ Michael Church, Eran Zahavi signs new three-year contract at Guangzhou R&F, ESPN, 26 February 2018
  32. ↑ Chinese Super League 2017: Guangzhou Evergrande vs Guangzhou R&F, Preview, Prediction & Predicted Lineup: Chinatopix
  33. ↑ R&F Israeli striker "Eran Zahavi close to sign with Shanghai SIPG" - Xinhua | English.news.cn
  34. ↑ Sinai, Allon (11 September 2013). "Downtrodden Israel decisively defeated". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  35. ↑ "Honduras struggle again in 4–2 loss to Israel". Yahoo! Sports. Reuters. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  36. 1 2 3 Eran Zahavi at Soccerway
  37. ↑ 扎哈维当选2017中超MVP 拉维奇冯潇霆遗憾落选_中超_新浪竞技风暴_新浪网
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Sheran Yeini		 Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. captain
2015–2016		 Succeeded by
Gal Alberman
Preceded by
Tal Ben Haim		 Israel national football team captain
2016–2017		 Succeeded by
Bibras Natkho
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