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man here
Benayoun is calling for it it is Yossi Benayoun it's true and Vernon Parisa and Benayoun welcome to today's podcast where we Greg and I are joined by Yossi Benayoun an absolute pleasure to have you Yossi a legend of the game so I'm excited to to have you on thank you very much Thank you.
I'm happy to be here with you guys.
That's good. First things first, how do you two know each other?
First from the game, but of course from the Liverpool-Legend game. We have been lucky to play together. Yeah. But I was... I mean, Yussi was a beautiful player, you know? Yeah. So it was always nice to see him playing. Thank you very much. No, it's... I mean, for me, it's an honour today, but But yeah, and the Liverpool-Jean game, you know, now I'm like a family.
Yeah, but they're just two play against each other.
Yeah, but maybe you don't remember me because I'm too young.
No, of course I remember, of course. I have the privilege also, you know, of course we know from the football in general, but also we are lucky to be in the Liverpool-Jean. I think it's very interesting. We are always very happy to come, especially when it's in Anfield. to meet, enjoy the game, you know, with the full stadium, with the fans. So it's amazing for us.
Yeah. At this age,
it was deep play.
Yeah. And so, anyway, I want to go back to the start of your career, Yossi. Obviously, you started out in Israel, but there was a period of time, I believe, when you were with Ajax as a youngster, right?
Yes. I played with the Israel national team under 16 in the European Championship. And we achieved the best achievement until two years ago. We were third in Europe. And I was one of the main players. You know, I scored a few goals. And in this tournament, some scouts from Ajax came to speak with my coach. He wanted me to come for a week, for a trial. I went to Ajax and then I signed the contract. The difficulties for my family were too much, so I had to leave after eight months, nine months. Although the club offered me four years with the first team contract.
So
I decided when I was less than 17 to come back to Israel and wait for the next chance to go out to Europe. So, you know, in Israel, you need to do army between 18 to 21. If you want or even if you don't want, you have to do it. So I came back to Israel and when I finished, I went to Spain to play in Santander.
So when you were playing in Israel, you were doing military service as well?
Yeah, from 18 to 21. Because I was, well, when you are a very good player, not every player, if you are in a top, top level, so the military, they help you, they come. You don't do what anyone else will do, any soldier. We get a lot of breaks. We come only to do some other things. You know, I went to play some football, to teach football to some soldiers, you know, once in a while. They help you because they don't want to prevent you from being a successful player. But, well, now we changed the rules. But at my time, you couldn't leave Israel from 18 to 21 to side for other teams in Europe. You have to stay in Israel.
Jeez, I didn't know that.
But now soldiers, now in Israel, the last few years, they changed the rules. So you can go sign, even if you are in the army, they agree something, you do only on vacation, two, three weeks. So it's perfect. Because of that, we have a few youngsters that play, you know, we have a player who plays in Ajax. Now Israeli players, they sign also in Crystal Palace. So they are 2021, so they can leave Israel with no problem. So, but... At my time, it was a bit different. So I had to stay three years. Well, I think it helped me also to my career. I played with a big club, Maccabi Haifa. I took trophies, you know, I became one of the best in Israel, national team. And I was ready for my challenge in Europe. And I went for 12 years in a row in Europe and came back to Israel. Oh,
you've done all right. You've done all right.
Yeah, I did not bad. It was okay.
One question. If you had stayed at Ajax on the four-year contract, would you have got out of the military stuff? Would you have been exempt? Yeah.
Yeah, because I left before, you know, if I stayed there, so I had the right to stay and live in... in Holland without doing the military or or agree something to do you know one week two weeks every year just to get some service in Israel to help or to work with some children with people but I decided to leave because for me it was perfect but my family you know I was young I took my parents with me my brother it was difficult for them and I decided to put the family first and I came back to Israel and In my head, I believed in myself that the day will come and I will be more ready and I will go out to play another club in Europe. Although the press criticised and they said I would never be a good player because I gave up too quick. But I was lucky to prove differently at the end.
Yeah. So obviously you moved to Spain and established yourself at Santander. Obviously playing a lot of good games. How was that? Did you take your family out to Spain? Obviously, you were a young kid going to Holland, but what was different? Why did you stick it out in Spain?
It was different because, first of all, I was with my girlfriend. I was with my girlfriend since I was 15 and she's my wife. We live together now. We have five kids together. So we left to Spain alone, just me and my... I just got married. When I was 22, we finished the season. I won the championship in Israel. And we got married just one week after the league finished. And then I signed the contract in Spain. So I left only with my wife. So I was ready. You know, it was different without taking my family. They stayed here, my parents, you know, brothers. And I left alone with my wife. I was mature enough. I was ready. And it was easy for me. We learned also quick the language. Spanish was easy to learn. And I felt ready for the challenge, you know, and slowly, slowly, I built myself as a player. I improved. I felt that I'm improving every year. They believe in me and even they, you know, they choose me. Or even I think I was the first foreign captain in the last, in the third year. So, you know, it's built your confidence. But to tell you the truth, I never thought I would live to play in England because I played there. I had a few offers from big clubs in Spain. But the rule was, you know, only three foreigners can play. I didn't have a foreign passport. So I started the procedure to take out the passport. I agreed with one big club in Spain that I would sign for five years and I would stay one more year in Santander because I got a letter that I would get my passport in one year. And suddenly some offer came from West Ham, Bolton and West Ham actually together. And I don't know, my agent said, let's go meet with them. And when I had a meeting with West Ham, I decided this is the club I want to go, you know, from nowhere. I thought I would stay in Spain for the rest of my career. Everyone told me, England, it's not for you. Big guys, strong guys. And, you know, I'm not that strong, you know. I play with my head, not with my body. But it was also a great decision for me. So it was great.
What was it about West Ham though? What sucked you in there? Was it the fans? I don't know, the stadium?
No, first of all, I have to tell you the truth. The meeting with Alan Pardew was the coach. You know, when I came to England, my idea was Bolton. You know, I heard some West Ham, maybe, maybe yes, maybe not. And Bolton wanted me. So I had to stop in London just because my agent told me, look, the manager of West Ham wants a short meeting. And then we continued to Bolton. We drive to Bolton, you know. It was like this. I met with him in a hotel. Maybe we spoke 40, 45 minutes. We left. I told to my agent, I want to play for this guy. Like this. I want to play for him. I felt really the confidence. I had a good feeling in the conversation. Of course, I watched the club. I watched the fans. You know, it was really great. And on the way, you know, I went to Bolton. I think the story came also in the press. I started a medical test in Bolton. I agreed to him. And I started to run, you know, blood test, everything, you know. And in the middle, I decided to stop. I stopped. I took everything out. And I told him, look, I need to think. I feel something inside that I'm not sure I want to sign, you know. And it was difficult to tell them this at the moment. But we went to the room with the coach. Oh. I kept the name of the bot on the Big Sam He closed the room, he told me you don't go out if you don't sign the contract I know you have something else. I told him, look, I need to think. And I decided at that night to sign for West Ham.
I wouldn't like to say that to Big Sam.
Yeah, yeah, it's not easy.
So that's around 2005.
Yeah,
I played 2002-2005 in Spain. In 2005, I came to play for West Ham. And I had a great two years at West Ham. I think it was one of my best decisions, the best decision of my career. Because I enjoy with the fans. They give me a great feeling. I built myself in England. I proved that I can play in England, you know, even if it was different football from England. I knew I had to improve. I felt that I'm improving every day. And from there, you know, I got the offers from big clubs and I did all my career in England. It was really amazing. More than I dream of, you know. Even as a kid, I never dreamed to play for Liverpool, West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal. It was great.
Yeah. And obviously, you played in that crazy FA Cup final.
I told you myself, I hope you will not remind me this game.
Obviously, against Liverpool. Obviously, you went to Liverpool after that. Do you think, was it that game that maybe done something for you?
Definitely. Because... After, you know, my agent, well, two agents, they worked together, one Argentinian agent, he knew Rafa Benitez. And I play, I think he was one of my best games in the FA Cup final. I know Steven Gerrard scored last minute to 3-3 and we lost the penalties. And I think the commentator, even before the penalty, said that if Liverpool win, Steven Gerrard, man of the match, but if West Ham win the penalties, Yossi Benayoun will be man of the match. So I really had a great game. Of course, I was disappointed that we lost. But my agent called me straight after the game. He told me, look, Rafa spoke with me. And he said that Yossi improved unbelievably. It was great. And I'm thinking, you know, I'm thinking about him. And a year later, I signed for Liverpool. So definitely, this game was big, you know, important to the decision of Liverpool to take me as a player.
Yeah. And Boisereni? Anything stopping you from going to Liverpool? Or was that the next stage? Was your heart not attached to it? Because you mentioned that West Ham were the best.
It was a very, very hard decision. I just agreed. Five years, new contract with West Ham. You know, Alan Kerbyshley was the coach. I agreed for five years. And I really felt at home. And suddenly Liverpool came with an offer. And of course, you know, it's difficult, but you are thinking, how many times I will have the chance to play for a club like Liverpool? You know, I need to try to do this. And I had to give up 50% of my contract. I didn't go for money because Liverpool told me, look, we will not say the numbers, but we can pay only this. It was 50% from the new contract. And I went to West Ham and said, look, I don't care about the money. I want to achieve my dreams. I want to play for you. I know I love you very much. I know you did everything for me, but you need to understand. So we had the discussions about three weeks until they agreed to, because they saw that I'm insisting, I want to play. And I did it in a good way. I didn't fight with West Ham. And in the end, they got the money that they asked. So it was good for both sides. And I thought to myself, look, I give up for money. I want the chance to play for a big club. I will try to prove myself. Because I did my head, if I would not be successful, still I would be able to find, because my year is at West Ham, I can go level down to play for another club, you know, if I would not be successful at Liverpool.
Yeah.
But I had a great first season. I think I scored 11 goals and 9 or 10 assists in my first season at Liverpool. And then I agreed a new contract with Liverpool, so I signed for four more years, so everything went perfect for me.
I think, you know, Yuzi, it's really difficult to turn down an offer from Liverpool Football Club.
Definitely.
Because of the prestige, the DNA. And I keep saying to the guys every time, signing for Liverpool is something, but playing for Liverpool, it's something different.
You know, I didn't know how special it is. I knew Liverpool. My father was a big fan of Liverpool in the early years, you know, with Kenny Delglish and the ex-players. But when I arrived to Liverpool and then my first time at Anfield, I was amazing. You know, I had a good mom. I went in the tunnel and I said, God, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to play. And I was very lucky to be there three years. And it was amazing,
you know. Some good moments at Liverpool. Obviously, Champions League hat-tricks. Scoring at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
We did.
Yeah. I'm just curious, when Liverpool went to the Bernabeu and obviously you scored to beat Real Madrid, was there that... actual belief? Because that was a very good Real Madrid team at the time. Did Rafa Benitez actually go there and actually think you guys could win when you won that game?
I will tell you, I think Liverpool, we were not in a good moment. And the rumours were, before that game, that Rafa is leaving. You know, in the dressing room, the press and everything, they said OK, they will lose also to Real Madrid and it will be the time to depart, you know, waves with Rafa. This was the... The mindset that we went to the game, but Rafa, of course. You know Rafa, when he concentrates the tactics, everything, he loves to work the tactics to prepare you well. He concentrates on that. I was lucky also to be when he picked me to the first XI, you know. And I think we worked really hard against a very good team. I don't know, you know, Raul, Ruben, Guti, Marcelo, Ramos. Really, really good team of Real Madrid. But I think we deserved the win. It was a very tight game, not many chances, but we stood well tactically. And I was lucky with the cross of Fabio Aurelio, seven minutes to the end, to score the winner. And personally, after this game, I think, I always believed in myself, but you know, the fans love me. But after this game, I think everyone believes in me more. And I felt it from the fans, from the press in England. Every game after, also, I played better and better. I scored a few goals even after this game. And from this moment, I felt really appreciated by everyone, you know. Because when I went to Liverpool, some of the players, even ex-players, you know, some of them of Liverpool said, why we need to bring Israeli player Yossi Benham from West Ham? What he can give to Liverpool, you know. And I can understand because big clubs, they want big names most of the time. Thanks. This is also something that gave me the drive to prove myself more. And I was happy that I proved. And even those players, I had some interviews after that said, Yossi surprised me very much. He well deserved to play. And suddenly, when I was not in the XI, they went to the press and said, we don't understand where Rafa is. Don't put him in the XI. So, you know, I won this battle, you know, personally. And it was great. It was really, really good. great three years to play for this wonderful club.
And you scored hat-tricks in FA Cup, Champions League and the FA Cup.
Yes, I was. I think the only Liverpool player was to do it.
Yeah. And as a midfielder, obviously you're listed as a midfielder. What was your kind of...
Yeah, midfielder, you know, exactly. This way, you know, everyone's surprised because... I played number 10, I played on the wing, but my game was always to look for the goal, even for the assist or to score. I looked for the dangerous area, always to be there, always to do something. The supporters are looking for this. I was lucky to score a lot of goals. But like you said, even if you look on the list today of the players who did it, I think there is not many, but Harry Kane, Aguero, Plaston, this level. Most of them are strikers. Yeah. And I'm not a striker. So I'm the only midfielder, I think, that leads the score. I was lucky to score Champions League, FA Cup, you know, and then the league. So, I don't know. This was my game also. Same with the national team. I have 24 goals. You can see I'm third in the history. But you can see the first 10 players, nine are strikers. And only me, midfielder. Yeah. So,
this was a...
important part of my game to look for the goal all the time it was your game it was my game trying to be dangerous yeah always in between the lines I just think from my memories of watching you playing if you asked me now where did he play I would have said I don't know you were always like out in the left coming in exactly I used to play come to play a lot from the left left wing yeah love to play but some games you know Rafa put me on the right sometimes number 10 Even when I went to loan in Arsenal, late in my career, always some games he put me number eight, number 10, you know, on the wing. So I used to play lots of free, all the positions in attack.
And is that something like Rafa or whoever would say to you, like, just go do your own thing, just be dangerous?
Rafa, it's more, he loves, as I told you, more the tactics. When he put me one game on the left, he told me, you'll see, I don't want the right back to be alone, even not once. So, you know, I need to walk like crazy to go with him all the time. But of course, in attack, he tells you, do what you know, go to the middle, do what you do all the time, you know. Sometimes if you want to change position, change, but you have to be responsible that someone else will be. So if I go to the middle, I need to tell to the guy, you have to be with the right back all the way, because if not, it's my fault. So it was very clear by Rafa. And also, more what you said, even if it was only for one year, it was Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He used to say to me, to Rosicky, to any other player, Walcott, it doesn't matter, or Arteta. I trust you. Okay, you start the position, but Yossi, I trust you. If you want to finish middle, left, right, I don't care. As long as someone else will be in the position. Do what you want. He'll give you more freedom.
If you're obviously a manager, would you give a guy like Yossi just free roam now? Because I think a lot of football is now very structured.
I think now you see less team playing with a number 10.
Yeah.
And I am from a generation... where I learned the football with a number 10.
Yeah.
You know, especially when we had like Zidane, you know, from France, you know, and, you know, Cruyff, Maradona, this type of player. And I think depending on what you are doing in terms of, you know, animation, with the ball, you know, in position, but the player like him, if I am the manager, I would play him as a number 10, a prop number 10 in between the lines. You know, of course, you need to adjust and to have, you know, the profile around him, you know, to defend. But I understand, of course, why Rafa told him to track the right back, because in England it's always an open game. You have to run a lot. But yeah, of course, that's why I said to you before the podcast, he was an unbelievable player technically, because he couldn't see the last pass, play the last ball, scoring goals, and to be like a magician. So, as a manager, I love this type of player. You remember me, I had a young boy last year, Igor. Igor, you know, and like an English-Polish guy, but really smart, you know, really elegant on the ball. And I love this type of player. So it's a big demand, eh? Yeah, of course. But I think it could be a big threat.
Yeah. Obviously, after Liverpool, you moved on to Chelsea. How did that come about? and What made it Chelsea? Was that the only team that was interested in you at that time?
No, I will tell you the truth. I never really wanted to leave Liverpool. I had a contract for a few more years and I had no intention to leave. But in the last few months, I felt me and Rafa didn't go as planned. You know, it was before. I didn't like the way he treated me in the last few months. I think I deserved much more credit. And I felt that always I'm the one who pays for his decisions. And I wanted to play, I wanted to enjoy, and I felt that with him it's impossible. So I was tricked. I was telling him that if he will stay, I prefer to move. And of course I got a big offer from Chelsea. But I was waiting because the rumors were that Rafa will leave. And the owner also told me to wait. So I was waiting. And Rafa told me, you know, we speak freely. And I called Rafa, tell me the truth, what it's going to be. And he told me, Yossi, look, I want you to stay. But I decided to stay for one more year. So I said, okay, thank you very much. So I had to go to sign for another club. And when I signed for Chelsea, a few days later, I think Rafa signed for Inter Milan. So he left. you He didn't really, I felt that he didn't say the truth really in the conversation. And this is why I was very disappointed. And I said it to the press when I'm not used to speak to the press. But I felt really, really disappointed, really angry. Although, you know, Chelsea is a big club, of course. And, you know, it was amazing also to know a coach like Ancelotti and Mr. Avramovic. And plus, it was also... Something you always have to remember for your career. But if it was 100% depending on me, I didn't want to leave Liverpool. I wanted to stay as long as possible. But it's the way football works, you know. I think if Rafa was straight with me and telling me, look, Yossi, I'm going to leave, it would take one month, two months, so I would stay. It didn't happen, so I had to leave. And I went to Chelsea. A year later, you know, I got injured in Chelsea. A year later, when I recovered, I wanted to go on loan. And I don't think even that nobody knows. In the end, I signed for Arsenal, but I was very close to signing for Liverpool. To go back to Liverpool, we agreed everything. In the last minute, I don't know, I was on the way to Liverpool in the car, and the agent told me, look, Yossi, I think they're going to sign in the last minute. Some other player, Craig Bellamy. So maybe it's not a good idea that you will drive to Liverpool and then we will stack. It was the last day of the transfer.
Yeah.
So I didn't want to take the risk. And Arsene Wenger called me and I went to sign for Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger. That's a legend of the game as well.
Yeah, of course. I had the privilege to play for Rafa, for Wenger, for Ancelotti, for Alan Pagio and Carbisley. So be cautious.
Different style of managers.
Different, yeah. Each one has his own mind, how you prepare a game, tactically different. But it was good.
And obviously, who would Ancelotti be the manager at Chelsea at that point? I was going to say, was it Mourinho? It wasn't Ancelotti. No,
no, Ancelotti. Chelsea just won a double, if I'm not wrong. And I just signed with them. We finished second and I think we lost in the Champions League against United, if I'm not wrong. And they decided to depart with Archelotti. And then Villas-Boas came and I decided to leave alone.
I've got a question for you. I've always wanted to ask someone who's involved at Chelsea. When you're at the club or negotiating your contract, how involved is Abramovich in these conversations? Is he a big part of that or was he a big part of that?
Of course he's the main man, but he doesn't speak too much, you know, a few words, but of course he's in all the meetings, but he had his own people, you know, Eugene and Marina, the world's strongest guys in Chelsea, they do sit with you about the contract, about everything, but Roman is there and gives the last okay, you know, all the time, yes or no, he's the boss. Like this or like that? For me, it's like that. Like this. He did that for me. It was great to know big players, Dress Room, Lampard, John Terry, Drogba, these kind of players. It was amazing also to share with them the Dress Room. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that because of my injury the first season, although Ancelotti told me I would play a lot for him. I played two games and then I did the injury for six months. Achilles the first and only injury of my career I came back end of the season but then they sacked Ancelotti and I felt I wanted to go to another club to play more and I signed for Arsenal you know I was lucky also that Wenger came for me yeah and who were the big names at Arsenal at that time? Robin van Persie Aaron Ramsey Rosicky Arteta we signed together me, Arteta you A few more players. If you remember, Arsenal lost 8-2, if I'm not wrong, at Otrath.
Oh, yeah,
Yeah, so we signed the day after or something like that. We had to sign a few players. They had to sign a few players. I was lucky. They called me, Arteta. A few more players and we did a great season. We finished third, you know, went straight to the Champions League. It was a good season and I enjoyed a lot. Rosicky, Walcott, you know, a lot of good players.
Yeah. And then you obviously went on loan again back to West Ham.
Yeah, for a short while. You know, of course, I wanted to play. I went and who was the coach there? You know, Sam Aronais. I didn't sign for him when I was at Bolton. You know, it was always nice to come back to West Ham. But almost before January or a few weeks before, they bad tackling at Newcastle and I had to go for treatment at Chelsea for a few weeks and we January arrived and who arrived to Liverpool? Rafa Benitez. Sorry, to Chelsea. Rafa Benitez.
Jeez.
And Rafa told me, look, I don't want you to go back to West Ham. I want you to stay for Chelsea and to play. And I didn't know in the beginning. I said, look, I want to play. He said, don't worry. Because I came back to train. He told me I'm good in training. He wants me to stay there. So I stayed with the Wichels in the end. You know, I played the many more games than I thought that you would let me play you know so it was good we won the Europa League I didn't play in the final but I played all the way in the groups and everything so it was also a good experience we won the Europa League with Chelsea when Rafa was the coach so another trophy another trophy in a bag yeah not bad after I missed the FA Cup final you know This was the trophy I felt already in my hands. But Stevie took it from me. Yeah.
No, that was a mad game, that. Yeah,
it was a mad game.
You stayed in London and went to QPR.
Yeah, actually, I finished the contract. I went back to Israel just for... And I was looking for an option. I had the offers from Spain. I almost agreed to move to Spain, but... Also because of my kids, they really wanted to come back to England. So I had to stay. I stayed a few months without the team. And my agent told me, Yossi, let's go to QPR. Ari Redknapp is a great coach. He's a friend of my agent. And I decided to go for a few months. We did well. The club went to the Premier League. And after that, you know, I had an offer from MLS in Israel. And I sat with my family and we decided to come back to the club. that I played before in Israel, Maccabi Haifa. And actually, I thought I would finish my career there, but I kept going to play for five more years. So I played five more years in Israel, and then I retired in a club that's called Beta Jerusalem, also a great club. So I was privileged also to play until I was 39. So it was really great for me.
Yeah. And how was the body holding up at 39?
It was really good, you know. I felt that I can continue. Also from Betal Jerusalem, from other clubs, they offered me also two more years contract to play until 41. But Jerusalem gave me an offer that I will be the sport director at the end of the season. And I decided this is the moment to step down as a player and take the club to another level. And I decided straight to do it. The day after I retired, I became the sport director.
Yeah.
I had to take this decision. I told myself, OK, I will play one more year. Maybe yes, maybe not. I don't know if I will have another offer to be straight sport director. So I took it and it was a good decision also for me.
Yeah. And you obviously want to touch on your international career as well. You obviously had 100 plus caps for...
102. I had the most caps as an Israeli player. Yeah.
Again... maybe You obviously won something at under-16 level as well, right? Yeah,
under-16. I was standing in Europe, the biggest achievement of Israel. And I was eight years the captain of the Israel national team. And where I grew up, I'm sure you've never heard about this, but it's a city called Dimona. Dimona is a very small city in the desert, in the middle of nowhere. So with the family, they didn't have any money. I didn't have any money for years, even to go to the bus. So I grew up from a place that, as I said, no one heard about this. And to think that I will one day be the Israeli captain, to go with the Hamban and with the national anthem and lead everyone, it's beyond your dreams. It's amazing to play for the national team, to get the chance to be the first team when I was 17, 18 years old. And since then, I didn't leave the national team until I was 39. I played over 20 years. And I think also I was the most... as I told you, most cars, but even the period of time, I think I was the player that played the war in the national team more than everyone, over 20 years. So it was amazing.
Unbelievable.
Massive story, big, unbelievable. That's why I told you we have to have him on the podcast.
Great, I scored. I tell you, in the last two years, I didn't speak even one word with the press. And I'm sure even they will hear something and they will know some headlines that I speak with you, they will kill me now. Why you don't speak with us? Every day they try. Let's do an interview. No, no.
The answer is really, really simple. Just say I spoke with Greg because he's a good friend of mine and a very honest guy.
What I was going to ask you was, obviously you played until you were 39. What was your training regime like? Obviously, you can't train at 39 the same way you were at 29, or did you? I'm just curious because...
I train every day the same. I train every day. I didn't make a discount. I train like everyone, but the only difference is your body, after a game, when you play 90 minutes, you need a little bit more treatment to recover, to take some things that you never take as a younger player, just to recover, because you felt it will take me a little bit more to be sharp again. One day, two more days. So in the training, I try to train, but day after or two days after, I keep myself a little bit just to get the feeling again that I'm not that stiff and heavy and I can play again the next game. But I tried every training, every game, I tried to give everything to run as long as possible, even in the games. I was 39 and we had the data of the GPS. I always was... First or second in the team, it doesn't matter if I play with 20 years old or 25. They put always the least. And, you know, the coach always said, give me as an example. Look, Yossi is almost 39, runs more than everyone, sprints more than everyone. You know, it was built in from England because I learned it in England. And you cannot, you know, it was in my mind to do it every game, every training to be successful.
Yeah. And your take that England is going to get the credit for that? Because obviously you played in Spain, you played in England, and obviously back home. Would you say England was the...
No, no, England is the best league in the world, the best culture in the world. For me, one of the best countries. You know, I love the people in England. But for me, it's the best league. After, you know, it was very difficult for me to be in the rhythm in the first two months, three months. But I understand what I need to do to be successful. I worked hard like everyone, you know, even harder. And this was, I think, this is why I became a better player. This is why I arrived to big clubs, only because I, you know, I came to England and I learned to work harder. You know, of course, in Israel, I went to Spain, I worked harder than I worked in Israel. But then I left to England. I understand that I need to work much harder than in Spain to be successful. So I think this is what made me a better player. Gave me the possibilities to play for big clubs.
And obviously you played with a lot of teams, but I've got some questions here. Who is the best player you ever played with? I know it's probably an unfair question. No,
it's easy for me. The answer is easy. I played with a lot of big, big players, big names. But the best player ever is Steven Gerrard. Because when you look at the player, he's a complete player. You know, he does everything. He will tackle on the 16-yard box and 10 seconds later, he will score a winner from 25 yards to the top corner. You know, when you need him, he's always there, left, right, head, to fight, to tackle. He was the complete player for me. And, of course, there were a lot of other players, you know, Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Drogba, Lampa. Evan Percy, I think he did his best season in Arsenal when I was there. He scored 30 goals in the league. So I was privileged to play with a lot of big players, but definitely Steven Gerrard is the best.
And who is the best one you played against?
I think you said the name before, Zinedine Zidane. I think I played against him with the national team a few times. I have his shirt, we changed shirts also. Zidane and Ronaldinho in Spain were at their best when I played against Barcelona. You can say Zidane and even Ronaldo, the Brazilian, number nine, he played in Real Madrid. You have two, three big, big top players.
Yeah, Ronaldinho was always my favourite. Yeah,
Ronaldinho was unbelievable, but Zidane was unbelievable.
I told him one day when I played against him, I said, Zidane. Gigi, could you walk away? Could you walk away from me, please? He was laughing.
It's better for you that he played for that.
Oh, what a player. He was unbelievable. Yeah, he was unbelievable. Unstoppable. Honestly. Technically, physically.
No, no. Physically, he was tall. He was strong. But what he did with the ball, it was like with a glue. The ball with glue to his legs. It's unbelievable. Yeah. I was lucky to play against him.
Yeah, no, he was a phenomenal player. Who was your funniest teammate? Obviously, you played again, but who was the funniest?
Easy, easy. Crouchy, Crouchy. Crouchy,
man.
Good job.
Yeah, he was the clown of the dressing room. Until today, you see.
In the
Legend game, Crouchy is the clown. Yeah, he's a DJ. Penalti was also funny, you know, but Crouchy was the funniest one for everyone, you know. Always a good atmosphere in the dressing room because of him.
Who was the biggest moaner?
Well, his coach. His coach now, you know, Riera. Albert Riera. I played with him also. We played in Liverpool. We played in the Legend Cup. But I don't know how he's the coach now. I think he's signed for Belgrade now. The Red Star.
Yeah, I spoke with him last week. He should be on the show with us. And he's a great candidate.
He likes to win anything. Why then? Why this? This is the area. He's a great guy, but...
Yeah,
definitely.
One for you, because obviously you were not the...
biggest built guy who was the strongest guy you come up against there must have been someone in that english premier league where you're like up me well to play against you know well when i play wheat also you know in the training was martin's character you know oh he he was very very strong it was unbelievable and when i played against it always was very difficult to play against rio ferdinand when he was uh you know as a center back he's quick he was strong he was top, top level, but in training, you know, Martin Skelter, always, like you said to Zidane, I always used to tell him, Martin, don't come to me, go to the other side, please. I'm here with the ball, don't touch me, you know. He's very strong. It's very dangerous to be around him. Again, great guy, but he plays so hard and, you know, strong tackles all the time.
And you played under a lot of different managers, all got their own things, as you mentioned earlier. Yeah. Who is the best manager for you?
He's very difficult. You know, I would have to take a little bit from each one, you know, because like the freedom that I told you and the confidence is Asen Wenger. Rafa prepared the team, I think, tactically better than anyone else. And combination also, one of the nicest men and also always give you a good feeling. And, you know, in training, what you are doing is the Ancelotti. You know, everyone loves Ancelotti, even the players who don't play. And it's very rare, you know, in football. Because when you don't play, a lot of times you moan about the coach, you know, why he don't play me. But with Ancelotti, it's always a different feeling. He gives you, to everyone, the same feeling. And it's not easy to keep a full dressing room happy. And, you know, they play for you, even if they don't start, they go in and give everything. So I think it's a little bit for Mirvan, Alain Pardieu. Gave me the confidence my first season at West Ham. I had the feeling he believed in me. Gave me the freedom also. So I appreciate, you know, for all of them. I cannot say one, you know, that is better than everyone.
Yeah. Oh, fair enough. Fair enough. Who was the most underrated player that you played with? Someone who maybe didn't get the coverage from the press?
It was... What? In the end, he's one of the biggest players in the world, yeah. But at the moment, when I was in Chelsea in the beginning, one of the young players who played with me was Kevin De Bruyne. And he didn't play. Even in training, no. I went to him, I remember I went to him. I said, look, I don't understand how we don't play. Okay, you are young. It doesn't matter. You need to play. So I think the first few years he was underrated until he proved himself. And if I need to think about someone else underrated, I don't really have someone. West Ham, I think they were a few pairs. You know, Bobby Zamora at West Ham, I think he was top, top striker. Maybe, you know, if it was in those years now, he played for big clubs because I never saw a striker with both legs the same, left, right, keep the ball. He was very strong. Maybe he was a little bit underrated, I think. Yeah.
Could be, yeah.
Bobby Zamora was,
yeah. Bobby Zamora was a good big player. I like big Bobby Zamora. And can you name a player who you would want most beside you in a fight? If you were going to battle, who would you want beside you?
Well, you know, I have to say from the football, one of my best friends till today is Fernando Torres. We are in a good connection. He's one of my best friends. And I had also great connection on the pitch. But also, off the pitch, he knows I will do everything for him and I'm sure he will do everything for me. So maybe him I will have to check. But I think both of us, in our back, we will need Martin Skelter with us. We need him behind to come, you know, that we will not have problems. Just to make sure.
And if you were going back through your... career, you'll say, where did you enjoy the most? I know you played most frequently in London, but staying in Liverpool, staying in London, if you had to pick again?
If I had to pick, I would live all my life, you know. I think you would be surprised. I would live in Liverpool.
Really? That does surprise me, man.
Yeah, I know it's a surprise because when I argue with my friends, they always ask me, how did you live in Liverpool, London? I say, no, no, no. For me, Liverpool. The people in Liverpool, I love the people in Liverpool. They're more, I don't know, to say, you know, they remind me a lot of people in Israel. Very, very simple, very honest, you know, very humble. You know, I like the people in Liverpool and I like the city. I love the atmosphere there. It's very calm. This is what I look, you know, for a family. I have my restaurants, you know, a cinema. I don't need more than that. But generally, I really, really love Liverpool.
That does. I was fully expecting London.
Everyone said London, but not me.
No, I get it. Because Glasgow is very like Liverpool as well, where it's just friendly people. The weather's not great, but...
Yeah, but generally in England, the weather is. So it doesn't matter. Weather is not great, but I think the people in Liverpool are really great and I really love the place.
And I'm just curious, Yossi. What do you do now? Obviously, you've had your career. You've done your sporting director stuff.
Yeah. I was the sporting director, as I told you, at Betelgeuse, where we did a great season and went to Europe. The club that almost went down here before. Then I signed for the national team. I was the sporting director of the national team.
Yeah.
And unfortunately, we were very close for the first time to qualify for the Euro. But unfortunately, you know... We started, I'm sure you heard about the 7th of October, you know, the war in Israel.
Yes.
And we got attacked on the 7th of October. So it was really just before the four games that we needed to host two of them in Israel. And we needed one win to be in the, you know, to beat Romania or Switzerland, one of them in Israel. And then we will qualify. But unfortunately, because of the war, we played away from Israel. We played Hungary in front of 500 people. instead of playing 50,000 or 40,000. And we drew with Switzerland and we lost 2-1 to Romania. So we also went to the Nation Cup semi-final and we lost to Iceland again in front of an empty stadium. So then I sat with the new chairman of the federation camp, not the one who signed me, and we decided to depart away. I did the... I took a break from football for almost two years. I did all my badges, I have a pro license as a coach, I have everything. But I was really concentrated on my kids, my family. And of course I went to see football around the world. Also with my kids, to see the youth clubs. Because one of my kids is very talented, he had some offers from Europe. So we went to Spain, we went to Portugal, I was in England. So I was traveling mainly. And now a lot of people try to put me back in football. I got a few offers from clubs in Israel. I'm thinking if to do it or not. Or still wait.
So when you go to the job, you give me a call and I coach your team.
As a director, of course.
Job's done, you see. It is done.
We just signed the contract and that's it. We're OK.
Oh, God. So would the jobs be sporting directors or do you fancy coaching?
Yeah, well, I did coach everything because I think if I leave Israel, you know, I'm thinking maybe to leave Israel, it will not be easy to get to the sporting director directly, you know. So this is why I did the badge. I'm thinking maybe even to coach you or to be, like you said, even when we spoke in the beginning, you said maybe you will be, you know, an assistant coach or something like this. I'm really open to this also way if I will find, you know, the right coach. to work for him, to start to build my career also as a coach. I think it will be also something interesting, even youth, youth players. So, because I think sport director, I will be only if I would sign in Israel because, you know, I have the name here in Israel. A lot of clubs wanted me, want me now as a sport director. But to get this job away from Israel now is very difficult. You need to prove yourself. You need to be there for a few years, and then I'm sure I can do it. So I'm open for the options.
Well, if anyone's listening.
Yeah, if anyone needs someone to help him improve.
I'm sure you will get offers. I'm not worried about this, for sure.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
But it has been a pleasure, Yossi.
Thank you for me too. Thank you very much. Thank you.
And yeah, hopefully you get a job.
Hopefully in England. Or Scotland. You can take us to Scotland. Scotland, England, I'm ready.
Have you been to Scotland before?
Well, I played a few times. You know, we played against strangers, even friendly with Liverpool. A few I played with the national team, but years ago, not in...
Recent years.
Not in recent years. So I need to organise a trip for you to come to watch Rangers.
Yeah, I come to watch. We organise a meeting with the club. You know, if they need assistance, I'm ready.
Perfect.
Thank you. Thank you very much. It was great. Thank you.
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man here
Benayoun is calling for it it is Yossi Benayoun it's true and Vernon Parisa and Benayoun welcome to today's podcast where we Greg and I are joined by Yossi Benayoun an absolute pleasure to have you Yossi a legend of the game so I'm excited to to have you on thank you very much Thank you.
I'm happy to be here with you guys.
That's good. First things first, how do you two know each other?
First from the game, but of course from the Liverpool-Legend game. We have been lucky to play together. Yeah. But I was... I mean, Yussi was a beautiful player, you know? Yeah. So it was always nice to see him playing. Thank you very much. No, it's... I mean, for me, it's an honour today, but But yeah, and the Liverpool-Jean game, you know, now I'm like a family.
Yeah, but they're just two play against each other.
Yeah, but maybe you don't remember me because I'm too young.
No, of course I remember, of course. I have the privilege also, you know, of course we know from the football in general, but also we are lucky to be in the Liverpool-Jean. I think it's very interesting. We are always very happy to come, especially when it's in Anfield. to meet, enjoy the game, you know, with the full stadium, with the fans. So it's amazing for us.
Yeah. At this age,
it was deep play.
Yeah. And so, anyway, I want to go back to the start of your career, Yossi. Obviously, you started out in Israel, but there was a period of time, I believe, when you were with Ajax as a youngster, right?
Yes. I played with the Israel national team under 16 in the European Championship. And we achieved the best achievement until two years ago. We were third in Europe. And I was one of the main players. You know, I scored a few goals. And in this tournament, some scouts from Ajax came to speak with my coach. He wanted me to come for a week, for a trial. I went to Ajax and then I signed the contract. The difficulties for my family were too much, so I had to leave after eight months, nine months. Although the club offered me four years with the first team contract.
So
I decided when I was less than 17 to come back to Israel and wait for the next chance to go out to Europe. So, you know, in Israel, you need to do army between 18 to 21. If you want or even if you don't want, you have to do it. So I came back to Israel and when I finished, I went to Spain to play in Santander.
So when you were playing in Israel, you were doing military service as well?
Yeah, from 18 to 21. Because I was, well, when you are a very good player, not every player, if you are in a top, top level, so the military, they help you, they come. You don't do what anyone else will do, any soldier. We get a lot of breaks. We come only to do some other things. You know, I went to play some football, to teach football to some soldiers, you know, once in a while. They help you because they don't want to prevent you from being a successful player. But, well, now we changed the rules. But at my time, you couldn't leave Israel from 18 to 21 to side for other teams in Europe. You have to stay in Israel.
Jeez, I didn't know that.
But now soldiers, now in Israel, the last few years, they changed the rules. So you can go sign, even if you are in the army, they agree something, you do only on vacation, two, three weeks. So it's perfect. Because of that, we have a few youngsters that play, you know, we have a player who plays in Ajax. Now Israeli players, they sign also in Crystal Palace. So they are 2021, so they can leave Israel with no problem. So, but... At my time, it was a bit different. So I had to stay three years. Well, I think it helped me also to my career. I played with a big club, Maccabi Haifa. I took trophies, you know, I became one of the best in Israel, national team. And I was ready for my challenge in Europe. And I went for 12 years in a row in Europe and came back to Israel. Oh,
you've done all right. You've done all right.
Yeah, I did not bad. It was okay.
One question. If you had stayed at Ajax on the four-year contract, would you have got out of the military stuff? Would you have been exempt? Yeah.
Yeah, because I left before, you know, if I stayed there, so I had the right to stay and live in... in Holland without doing the military or or agree something to do you know one week two weeks every year just to get some service in Israel to help or to work with some children with people but I decided to leave because for me it was perfect but my family you know I was young I took my parents with me my brother it was difficult for them and I decided to put the family first and I came back to Israel and In my head, I believed in myself that the day will come and I will be more ready and I will go out to play another club in Europe. Although the press criticised and they said I would never be a good player because I gave up too quick. But I was lucky to prove differently at the end.
Yeah. So obviously you moved to Spain and established yourself at Santander. Obviously playing a lot of good games. How was that? Did you take your family out to Spain? Obviously, you were a young kid going to Holland, but what was different? Why did you stick it out in Spain?
It was different because, first of all, I was with my girlfriend. I was with my girlfriend since I was 15 and she's my wife. We live together now. We have five kids together. So we left to Spain alone, just me and my... I just got married. When I was 22, we finished the season. I won the championship in Israel. And we got married just one week after the league finished. And then I signed the contract in Spain. So I left only with my wife. So I was ready. You know, it was different without taking my family. They stayed here, my parents, you know, brothers. And I left alone with my wife. I was mature enough. I was ready. And it was easy for me. We learned also quick the language. Spanish was easy to learn. And I felt ready for the challenge, you know, and slowly, slowly, I built myself as a player. I improved. I felt that I'm improving every year. They believe in me and even they, you know, they choose me. Or even I think I was the first foreign captain in the last, in the third year. So, you know, it's built your confidence. But to tell you the truth, I never thought I would live to play in England because I played there. I had a few offers from big clubs in Spain. But the rule was, you know, only three foreigners can play. I didn't have a foreign passport. So I started the procedure to take out the passport. I agreed with one big club in Spain that I would sign for five years and I would stay one more year in Santander because I got a letter that I would get my passport in one year. And suddenly some offer came from West Ham, Bolton and West Ham actually together. And I don't know, my agent said, let's go meet with them. And when I had a meeting with West Ham, I decided this is the club I want to go, you know, from nowhere. I thought I would stay in Spain for the rest of my career. Everyone told me, England, it's not for you. Big guys, strong guys. And, you know, I'm not that strong, you know. I play with my head, not with my body. But it was also a great decision for me. So it was great.
What was it about West Ham though? What sucked you in there? Was it the fans? I don't know, the stadium?
No, first of all, I have to tell you the truth. The meeting with Alan Pardew was the coach. You know, when I came to England, my idea was Bolton. You know, I heard some West Ham, maybe, maybe yes, maybe not. And Bolton wanted me. So I had to stop in London just because my agent told me, look, the manager of West Ham wants a short meeting. And then we continued to Bolton. We drive to Bolton, you know. It was like this. I met with him in a hotel. Maybe we spoke 40, 45 minutes. We left. I told to my agent, I want to play for this guy. Like this. I want to play for him. I felt really the confidence. I had a good feeling in the conversation. Of course, I watched the club. I watched the fans. You know, it was really great. And on the way, you know, I went to Bolton. I think the story came also in the press. I started a medical test in Bolton. I agreed to him. And I started to run, you know, blood test, everything, you know. And in the middle, I decided to stop. I stopped. I took everything out. And I told him, look, I need to think. I feel something inside that I'm not sure I want to sign, you know. And it was difficult to tell them this at the moment. But we went to the room with the coach. Oh. I kept the name of the bot on the Big Sam He closed the room, he told me you don't go out if you don't sign the contract I know you have something else. I told him, look, I need to think. And I decided at that night to sign for West Ham.
I wouldn't like to say that to Big Sam.
Yeah, yeah, it's not easy.
So that's around 2005.
Yeah,
I played 2002-2005 in Spain. In 2005, I came to play for West Ham. And I had a great two years at West Ham. I think it was one of my best decisions, the best decision of my career. Because I enjoy with the fans. They give me a great feeling. I built myself in England. I proved that I can play in England, you know, even if it was different football from England. I knew I had to improve. I felt that I'm improving every day. And from there, you know, I got the offers from big clubs and I did all my career in England. It was really amazing. More than I dream of, you know. Even as a kid, I never dreamed to play for Liverpool, West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal. It was great.
Yeah. And obviously, you played in that crazy FA Cup final.
I told you myself, I hope you will not remind me this game.
Obviously, against Liverpool. Obviously, you went to Liverpool after that. Do you think, was it that game that maybe done something for you?
Definitely. Because... After, you know, my agent, well, two agents, they worked together, one Argentinian agent, he knew Rafa Benitez. And I play, I think he was one of my best games in the FA Cup final. I know Steven Gerrard scored last minute to 3-3 and we lost the penalties. And I think the commentator, even before the penalty, said that if Liverpool win, Steven Gerrard, man of the match, but if West Ham win the penalties, Yossi Benayoun will be man of the match. So I really had a great game. Of course, I was disappointed that we lost. But my agent called me straight after the game. He told me, look, Rafa spoke with me. And he said that Yossi improved unbelievably. It was great. And I'm thinking, you know, I'm thinking about him. And a year later, I signed for Liverpool. So definitely, this game was big, you know, important to the decision of Liverpool to take me as a player.
Yeah. And Boisereni? Anything stopping you from going to Liverpool? Or was that the next stage? Was your heart not attached to it? Because you mentioned that West Ham were the best.
It was a very, very hard decision. I just agreed. Five years, new contract with West Ham. You know, Alan Kerbyshley was the coach. I agreed for five years. And I really felt at home. And suddenly Liverpool came with an offer. And of course, you know, it's difficult, but you are thinking, how many times I will have the chance to play for a club like Liverpool? You know, I need to try to do this. And I had to give up 50% of my contract. I didn't go for money because Liverpool told me, look, we will not say the numbers, but we can pay only this. It was 50% from the new contract. And I went to West Ham and said, look, I don't care about the money. I want to achieve my dreams. I want to play for you. I know I love you very much. I know you did everything for me, but you need to understand. So we had the discussions about three weeks until they agreed to, because they saw that I'm insisting, I want to play. And I did it in a good way. I didn't fight with West Ham. And in the end, they got the money that they asked. So it was good for both sides. And I thought to myself, look, I give up for money. I want the chance to play for a big club. I will try to prove myself. Because I did my head, if I would not be successful, still I would be able to find, because my year is at West Ham, I can go level down to play for another club, you know, if I would not be successful at Liverpool.
Yeah.
But I had a great first season. I think I scored 11 goals and 9 or 10 assists in my first season at Liverpool. And then I agreed a new contract with Liverpool, so I signed for four more years, so everything went perfect for me.
I think, you know, Yuzi, it's really difficult to turn down an offer from Liverpool Football Club.
Definitely.
Because of the prestige, the DNA. And I keep saying to the guys every time, signing for Liverpool is something, but playing for Liverpool, it's something different.
You know, I didn't know how special it is. I knew Liverpool. My father was a big fan of Liverpool in the early years, you know, with Kenny Delglish and the ex-players. But when I arrived to Liverpool and then my first time at Anfield, I was amazing. You know, I had a good mom. I went in the tunnel and I said, God, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to play. And I was very lucky to be there three years. And it was amazing,
you know. Some good moments at Liverpool. Obviously, Champions League hat-tricks. Scoring at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
We did.
Yeah. I'm just curious, when Liverpool went to the Bernabeu and obviously you scored to beat Real Madrid, was there that... actual belief? Because that was a very good Real Madrid team at the time. Did Rafa Benitez actually go there and actually think you guys could win when you won that game?
I will tell you, I think Liverpool, we were not in a good moment. And the rumours were, before that game, that Rafa is leaving. You know, in the dressing room, the press and everything, they said OK, they will lose also to Real Madrid and it will be the time to depart, you know, waves with Rafa. This was the... The mindset that we went to the game, but Rafa, of course. You know Rafa, when he concentrates the tactics, everything, he loves to work the tactics to prepare you well. He concentrates on that. I was lucky also to be when he picked me to the first XI, you know. And I think we worked really hard against a very good team. I don't know, you know, Raul, Ruben, Guti, Marcelo, Ramos. Really, really good team of Real Madrid. But I think we deserved the win. It was a very tight game, not many chances, but we stood well tactically. And I was lucky with the cross of Fabio Aurelio, seven minutes to the end, to score the winner. And personally, after this game, I think, I always believed in myself, but you know, the fans love me. But after this game, I think everyone believes in me more. And I felt it from the fans, from the press in England. Every game after, also, I played better and better. I scored a few goals even after this game. And from this moment, I felt really appreciated by everyone, you know. Because when I went to Liverpool, some of the players, even ex-players, you know, some of them of Liverpool said, why we need to bring Israeli player Yossi Benham from West Ham? What he can give to Liverpool, you know. And I can understand because big clubs, they want big names most of the time. Thanks. This is also something that gave me the drive to prove myself more. And I was happy that I proved. And even those players, I had some interviews after that said, Yossi surprised me very much. He well deserved to play. And suddenly, when I was not in the XI, they went to the press and said, we don't understand where Rafa is. Don't put him in the XI. So, you know, I won this battle, you know, personally. And it was great. It was really, really good. great three years to play for this wonderful club.
And you scored hat-tricks in FA Cup, Champions League and the FA Cup.
Yes, I was. I think the only Liverpool player was to do it.
Yeah. And as a midfielder, obviously you're listed as a midfielder. What was your kind of...
Yeah, midfielder, you know, exactly. This way, you know, everyone's surprised because... I played number 10, I played on the wing, but my game was always to look for the goal, even for the assist or to score. I looked for the dangerous area, always to be there, always to do something. The supporters are looking for this. I was lucky to score a lot of goals. But like you said, even if you look on the list today of the players who did it, I think there is not many, but Harry Kane, Aguero, Plaston, this level. Most of them are strikers. Yeah. And I'm not a striker. So I'm the only midfielder, I think, that leads the score. I was lucky to score Champions League, FA Cup, you know, and then the league. So, I don't know. This was my game also. Same with the national team. I have 24 goals. You can see I'm third in the history. But you can see the first 10 players, nine are strikers. And only me, midfielder. Yeah. So,
this was a...
important part of my game to look for the goal all the time it was your game it was my game trying to be dangerous yeah always in between the lines I just think from my memories of watching you playing if you asked me now where did he play I would have said I don't know you were always like out in the left coming in exactly I used to play come to play a lot from the left left wing yeah love to play but some games you know Rafa put me on the right sometimes number 10 Even when I went to loan in Arsenal, late in my career, always some games he put me number eight, number 10, you know, on the wing. So I used to play lots of free, all the positions in attack.
And is that something like Rafa or whoever would say to you, like, just go do your own thing, just be dangerous?
Rafa, it's more, he loves, as I told you, more the tactics. When he put me one game on the left, he told me, you'll see, I don't want the right back to be alone, even not once. So, you know, I need to walk like crazy to go with him all the time. But of course, in attack, he tells you, do what you know, go to the middle, do what you do all the time, you know. Sometimes if you want to change position, change, but you have to be responsible that someone else will be. So if I go to the middle, I need to tell to the guy, you have to be with the right back all the way, because if not, it's my fault. So it was very clear by Rafa. And also, more what you said, even if it was only for one year, it was Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He used to say to me, to Rosicky, to any other player, Walcott, it doesn't matter, or Arteta. I trust you. Okay, you start the position, but Yossi, I trust you. If you want to finish middle, left, right, I don't care. As long as someone else will be in the position. Do what you want. He'll give you more freedom.
If you're obviously a manager, would you give a guy like Yossi just free roam now? Because I think a lot of football is now very structured.
I think now you see less team playing with a number 10.
Yeah.
And I am from a generation... where I learned the football with a number 10.
Yeah.
You know, especially when we had like Zidane, you know, from France, you know, and, you know, Cruyff, Maradona, this type of player. And I think depending on what you are doing in terms of, you know, animation, with the ball, you know, in position, but the player like him, if I am the manager, I would play him as a number 10, a prop number 10 in between the lines. You know, of course, you need to adjust and to have, you know, the profile around him, you know, to defend. But I understand, of course, why Rafa told him to track the right back, because in England it's always an open game. You have to run a lot. But yeah, of course, that's why I said to you before the podcast, he was an unbelievable player technically, because he couldn't see the last pass, play the last ball, scoring goals, and to be like a magician. So, as a manager, I love this type of player. You remember me, I had a young boy last year, Igor. Igor, you know, and like an English-Polish guy, but really smart, you know, really elegant on the ball. And I love this type of player. So it's a big demand, eh? Yeah, of course. But I think it could be a big threat.
Yeah. Obviously, after Liverpool, you moved on to Chelsea. How did that come about? and What made it Chelsea? Was that the only team that was interested in you at that time?
No, I will tell you the truth. I never really wanted to leave Liverpool. I had a contract for a few more years and I had no intention to leave. But in the last few months, I felt me and Rafa didn't go as planned. You know, it was before. I didn't like the way he treated me in the last few months. I think I deserved much more credit. And I felt that always I'm the one who pays for his decisions. And I wanted to play, I wanted to enjoy, and I felt that with him it's impossible. So I was tricked. I was telling him that if he will stay, I prefer to move. And of course I got a big offer from Chelsea. But I was waiting because the rumors were that Rafa will leave. And the owner also told me to wait. So I was waiting. And Rafa told me, you know, we speak freely. And I called Rafa, tell me the truth, what it's going to be. And he told me, Yossi, look, I want you to stay. But I decided to stay for one more year. So I said, okay, thank you very much. So I had to go to sign for another club. And when I signed for Chelsea, a few days later, I think Rafa signed for Inter Milan. So he left. you He didn't really, I felt that he didn't say the truth really in the conversation. And this is why I was very disappointed. And I said it to the press when I'm not used to speak to the press. But I felt really, really disappointed, really angry. Although, you know, Chelsea is a big club, of course. And, you know, it was amazing also to know a coach like Ancelotti and Mr. Avramovic. And plus, it was also... Something you always have to remember for your career. But if it was 100% depending on me, I didn't want to leave Liverpool. I wanted to stay as long as possible. But it's the way football works, you know. I think if Rafa was straight with me and telling me, look, Yossi, I'm going to leave, it would take one month, two months, so I would stay. It didn't happen, so I had to leave. And I went to Chelsea. A year later, you know, I got injured in Chelsea. A year later, when I recovered, I wanted to go on loan. And I don't think even that nobody knows. In the end, I signed for Arsenal, but I was very close to signing for Liverpool. To go back to Liverpool, we agreed everything. In the last minute, I don't know, I was on the way to Liverpool in the car, and the agent told me, look, Yossi, I think they're going to sign in the last minute. Some other player, Craig Bellamy. So maybe it's not a good idea that you will drive to Liverpool and then we will stack. It was the last day of the transfer.
Yeah.
So I didn't want to take the risk. And Arsene Wenger called me and I went to sign for Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger. That's a legend of the game as well.
Yeah, of course. I had the privilege to play for Rafa, for Wenger, for Ancelotti, for Alan Pagio and Carbisley. So be cautious.
Different style of managers.
Different, yeah. Each one has his own mind, how you prepare a game, tactically different. But it was good.
And obviously, who would Ancelotti be the manager at Chelsea at that point? I was going to say, was it Mourinho? It wasn't Ancelotti. No,
no, Ancelotti. Chelsea just won a double, if I'm not wrong. And I just signed with them. We finished second and I think we lost in the Champions League against United, if I'm not wrong. And they decided to depart with Archelotti. And then Villas-Boas came and I decided to leave alone.
I've got a question for you. I've always wanted to ask someone who's involved at Chelsea. When you're at the club or negotiating your contract, how involved is Abramovich in these conversations? Is he a big part of that or was he a big part of that?
Of course he's the main man, but he doesn't speak too much, you know, a few words, but of course he's in all the meetings, but he had his own people, you know, Eugene and Marina, the world's strongest guys in Chelsea, they do sit with you about the contract, about everything, but Roman is there and gives the last okay, you know, all the time, yes or no, he's the boss. Like this or like that? For me, it's like that. Like this. He did that for me. It was great to know big players, Dress Room, Lampard, John Terry, Drogba, these kind of players. It was amazing also to share with them the Dress Room. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that because of my injury the first season, although Ancelotti told me I would play a lot for him. I played two games and then I did the injury for six months. Achilles the first and only injury of my career I came back end of the season but then they sacked Ancelotti and I felt I wanted to go to another club to play more and I signed for Arsenal you know I was lucky also that Wenger came for me yeah and who were the big names at Arsenal at that time? Robin van Persie Aaron Ramsey Rosicky Arteta we signed together me, Arteta you A few more players. If you remember, Arsenal lost 8-2, if I'm not wrong, at Otrath.
Oh, yeah,
Yeah, so we signed the day after or something like that. We had to sign a few players. They had to sign a few players. I was lucky. They called me, Arteta. A few more players and we did a great season. We finished third, you know, went straight to the Champions League. It was a good season and I enjoyed a lot. Rosicky, Walcott, you know, a lot of good players.
Yeah. And then you obviously went on loan again back to West Ham.
Yeah, for a short while. You know, of course, I wanted to play. I went and who was the coach there? You know, Sam Aronais. I didn't sign for him when I was at Bolton. You know, it was always nice to come back to West Ham. But almost before January or a few weeks before, they bad tackling at Newcastle and I had to go for treatment at Chelsea for a few weeks and we January arrived and who arrived to Liverpool? Rafa Benitez. Sorry, to Chelsea. Rafa Benitez.
Jeez.
And Rafa told me, look, I don't want you to go back to West Ham. I want you to stay for Chelsea and to play. And I didn't know in the beginning. I said, look, I want to play. He said, don't worry. Because I came back to train. He told me I'm good in training. He wants me to stay there. So I stayed with the Wichels in the end. You know, I played the many more games than I thought that you would let me play you know so it was good we won the Europa League I didn't play in the final but I played all the way in the groups and everything so it was also a good experience we won the Europa League with Chelsea when Rafa was the coach so another trophy another trophy in a bag yeah not bad after I missed the FA Cup final you know This was the trophy I felt already in my hands. But Stevie took it from me. Yeah.
No, that was a mad game, that. Yeah,
it was a mad game.
You stayed in London and went to QPR.
Yeah, actually, I finished the contract. I went back to Israel just for... And I was looking for an option. I had the offers from Spain. I almost agreed to move to Spain, but... Also because of my kids, they really wanted to come back to England. So I had to stay. I stayed a few months without the team. And my agent told me, Yossi, let's go to QPR. Ari Redknapp is a great coach. He's a friend of my agent. And I decided to go for a few months. We did well. The club went to the Premier League. And after that, you know, I had an offer from MLS in Israel. And I sat with my family and we decided to come back to the club. that I played before in Israel, Maccabi Haifa. And actually, I thought I would finish my career there, but I kept going to play for five more years. So I played five more years in Israel, and then I retired in a club that's called Beta Jerusalem, also a great club. So I was privileged also to play until I was 39. So it was really great for me.
Yeah. And how was the body holding up at 39?
It was really good, you know. I felt that I can continue. Also from Betal Jerusalem, from other clubs, they offered me also two more years contract to play until 41. But Jerusalem gave me an offer that I will be the sport director at the end of the season. And I decided this is the moment to step down as a player and take the club to another level. And I decided straight to do it. The day after I retired, I became the sport director.
Yeah.
I had to take this decision. I told myself, OK, I will play one more year. Maybe yes, maybe not. I don't know if I will have another offer to be straight sport director. So I took it and it was a good decision also for me.
Yeah. And you obviously want to touch on your international career as well. You obviously had 100 plus caps for...
102. I had the most caps as an Israeli player. Yeah.
Again... maybe You obviously won something at under-16 level as well, right? Yeah,
under-16. I was standing in Europe, the biggest achievement of Israel. And I was eight years the captain of the Israel national team. And where I grew up, I'm sure you've never heard about this, but it's a city called Dimona. Dimona is a very small city in the desert, in the middle of nowhere. So with the family, they didn't have any money. I didn't have any money for years, even to go to the bus. So I grew up from a place that, as I said, no one heard about this. And to think that I will one day be the Israeli captain, to go with the Hamban and with the national anthem and lead everyone, it's beyond your dreams. It's amazing to play for the national team, to get the chance to be the first team when I was 17, 18 years old. And since then, I didn't leave the national team until I was 39. I played over 20 years. And I think also I was the most... as I told you, most cars, but even the period of time, I think I was the player that played the war in the national team more than everyone, over 20 years. So it was amazing.
Unbelievable.
Massive story, big, unbelievable. That's why I told you we have to have him on the podcast.
Great, I scored. I tell you, in the last two years, I didn't speak even one word with the press. And I'm sure even they will hear something and they will know some headlines that I speak with you, they will kill me now. Why you don't speak with us? Every day they try. Let's do an interview. No, no.
The answer is really, really simple. Just say I spoke with Greg because he's a good friend of mine and a very honest guy.
What I was going to ask you was, obviously you played until you were 39. What was your training regime like? Obviously, you can't train at 39 the same way you were at 29, or did you? I'm just curious because...
I train every day the same. I train every day. I didn't make a discount. I train like everyone, but the only difference is your body, after a game, when you play 90 minutes, you need a little bit more treatment to recover, to take some things that you never take as a younger player, just to recover, because you felt it will take me a little bit more to be sharp again. One day, two more days. So in the training, I try to train, but day after or two days after, I keep myself a little bit just to get the feeling again that I'm not that stiff and heavy and I can play again the next game. But I tried every training, every game, I tried to give everything to run as long as possible, even in the games. I was 39 and we had the data of the GPS. I always was... First or second in the team, it doesn't matter if I play with 20 years old or 25. They put always the least. And, you know, the coach always said, give me as an example. Look, Yossi is almost 39, runs more than everyone, sprints more than everyone. You know, it was built in from England because I learned it in England. And you cannot, you know, it was in my mind to do it every game, every training to be successful.
Yeah. And your take that England is going to get the credit for that? Because obviously you played in Spain, you played in England, and obviously back home. Would you say England was the...
No, no, England is the best league in the world, the best culture in the world. For me, one of the best countries. You know, I love the people in England. But for me, it's the best league. After, you know, it was very difficult for me to be in the rhythm in the first two months, three months. But I understand what I need to do to be successful. I worked hard like everyone, you know, even harder. And this was, I think, this is why I became a better player. This is why I arrived to big clubs, only because I, you know, I came to England and I learned to work harder. You know, of course, in Israel, I went to Spain, I worked harder than I worked in Israel. But then I left to England. I understand that I need to work much harder than in Spain to be successful. So I think this is what made me a better player. Gave me the possibilities to play for big clubs.
And obviously you played with a lot of teams, but I've got some questions here. Who is the best player you ever played with? I know it's probably an unfair question. No,
it's easy for me. The answer is easy. I played with a lot of big, big players, big names. But the best player ever is Steven Gerrard. Because when you look at the player, he's a complete player. You know, he does everything. He will tackle on the 16-yard box and 10 seconds later, he will score a winner from 25 yards to the top corner. You know, when you need him, he's always there, left, right, head, to fight, to tackle. He was the complete player for me. And, of course, there were a lot of other players, you know, Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Drogba, Lampa. Evan Percy, I think he did his best season in Arsenal when I was there. He scored 30 goals in the league. So I was privileged to play with a lot of big players, but definitely Steven Gerrard is the best.
And who is the best one you played against?
I think you said the name before, Zinedine Zidane. I think I played against him with the national team a few times. I have his shirt, we changed shirts also. Zidane and Ronaldinho in Spain were at their best when I played against Barcelona. You can say Zidane and even Ronaldo, the Brazilian, number nine, he played in Real Madrid. You have two, three big, big top players.
Yeah, Ronaldinho was always my favourite. Yeah,
Ronaldinho was unbelievable, but Zidane was unbelievable.
I told him one day when I played against him, I said, Zidane. Gigi, could you walk away? Could you walk away from me, please? He was laughing.
It's better for you that he played for that.
Oh, what a player. He was unbelievable. Yeah, he was unbelievable. Unstoppable. Honestly. Technically, physically.
No, no. Physically, he was tall. He was strong. But what he did with the ball, it was like with a glue. The ball with glue to his legs. It's unbelievable. Yeah. I was lucky to play against him.
Yeah, no, he was a phenomenal player. Who was your funniest teammate? Obviously, you played again, but who was the funniest?
Easy, easy. Crouchy, Crouchy. Crouchy,
man.
Good job.
Yeah, he was the clown of the dressing room. Until today, you see.
In the
Legend game, Crouchy is the clown. Yeah, he's a DJ. Penalti was also funny, you know, but Crouchy was the funniest one for everyone, you know. Always a good atmosphere in the dressing room because of him.
Who was the biggest moaner?
Well, his coach. His coach now, you know, Riera. Albert Riera. I played with him also. We played in Liverpool. We played in the Legend Cup. But I don't know how he's the coach now. I think he's signed for Belgrade now. The Red Star.
Yeah, I spoke with him last week. He should be on the show with us. And he's a great candidate.
He likes to win anything. Why then? Why this? This is the area. He's a great guy, but...
Yeah,
definitely.
One for you, because obviously you were not the...
biggest built guy who was the strongest guy you come up against there must have been someone in that english premier league where you're like up me well to play against you know well when i play wheat also you know in the training was martin's character you know oh he he was very very strong it was unbelievable and when i played against it always was very difficult to play against rio ferdinand when he was uh you know as a center back he's quick he was strong he was top, top level, but in training, you know, Martin Skelter, always, like you said to Zidane, I always used to tell him, Martin, don't come to me, go to the other side, please. I'm here with the ball, don't touch me, you know. He's very strong. It's very dangerous to be around him. Again, great guy, but he plays so hard and, you know, strong tackles all the time.
And you played under a lot of different managers, all got their own things, as you mentioned earlier. Yeah. Who is the best manager for you?
He's very difficult. You know, I would have to take a little bit from each one, you know, because like the freedom that I told you and the confidence is Asen Wenger. Rafa prepared the team, I think, tactically better than anyone else. And combination also, one of the nicest men and also always give you a good feeling. And, you know, in training, what you are doing is the Ancelotti. You know, everyone loves Ancelotti, even the players who don't play. And it's very rare, you know, in football. Because when you don't play, a lot of times you moan about the coach, you know, why he don't play me. But with Ancelotti, it's always a different feeling. He gives you, to everyone, the same feeling. And it's not easy to keep a full dressing room happy. And, you know, they play for you, even if they don't start, they go in and give everything. So I think it's a little bit for Mirvan, Alain Pardieu. Gave me the confidence my first season at West Ham. I had the feeling he believed in me. Gave me the freedom also. So I appreciate, you know, for all of them. I cannot say one, you know, that is better than everyone.
Yeah. Oh, fair enough. Fair enough. Who was the most underrated player that you played with? Someone who maybe didn't get the coverage from the press?
It was... What? In the end, he's one of the biggest players in the world, yeah. But at the moment, when I was in Chelsea in the beginning, one of the young players who played with me was Kevin De Bruyne. And he didn't play. Even in training, no. I went to him, I remember I went to him. I said, look, I don't understand how we don't play. Okay, you are young. It doesn't matter. You need to play. So I think the first few years he was underrated until he proved himself. And if I need to think about someone else underrated, I don't really have someone. West Ham, I think they were a few pairs. You know, Bobby Zamora at West Ham, I think he was top, top striker. Maybe, you know, if it was in those years now, he played for big clubs because I never saw a striker with both legs the same, left, right, keep the ball. He was very strong. Maybe he was a little bit underrated, I think. Yeah.
Could be, yeah.
Bobby Zamora was,
yeah. Bobby Zamora was a good big player. I like big Bobby Zamora. And can you name a player who you would want most beside you in a fight? If you were going to battle, who would you want beside you?
Well, you know, I have to say from the football, one of my best friends till today is Fernando Torres. We are in a good connection. He's one of my best friends. And I had also great connection on the pitch. But also, off the pitch, he knows I will do everything for him and I'm sure he will do everything for me. So maybe him I will have to check. But I think both of us, in our back, we will need Martin Skelter with us. We need him behind to come, you know, that we will not have problems. Just to make sure.
And if you were going back through your... career, you'll say, where did you enjoy the most? I know you played most frequently in London, but staying in Liverpool, staying in London, if you had to pick again?
If I had to pick, I would live all my life, you know. I think you would be surprised. I would live in Liverpool.
Really? That does surprise me, man.
Yeah, I know it's a surprise because when I argue with my friends, they always ask me, how did you live in Liverpool, London? I say, no, no, no. For me, Liverpool. The people in Liverpool, I love the people in Liverpool. They're more, I don't know, to say, you know, they remind me a lot of people in Israel. Very, very simple, very honest, you know, very humble. You know, I like the people in Liverpool and I like the city. I love the atmosphere there. It's very calm. This is what I look, you know, for a family. I have my restaurants, you know, a cinema. I don't need more than that. But generally, I really, really love Liverpool.
That does. I was fully expecting London.
Everyone said London, but not me.
No, I get it. Because Glasgow is very like Liverpool as well, where it's just friendly people. The weather's not great, but...
Yeah, but generally in England, the weather is. So it doesn't matter. Weather is not great, but I think the people in Liverpool are really great and I really love the place.
And I'm just curious, Yossi. What do you do now? Obviously, you've had your career. You've done your sporting director stuff.
Yeah. I was the sporting director, as I told you, at Betelgeuse, where we did a great season and went to Europe. The club that almost went down here before. Then I signed for the national team. I was the sporting director of the national team.
Yeah.
And unfortunately, we were very close for the first time to qualify for the Euro. But unfortunately, you know... We started, I'm sure you heard about the 7th of October, you know, the war in Israel.
Yes.
And we got attacked on the 7th of October. So it was really just before the four games that we needed to host two of them in Israel. And we needed one win to be in the, you know, to beat Romania or Switzerland, one of them in Israel. And then we will qualify. But unfortunately, because of the war, we played away from Israel. We played Hungary in front of 500 people. instead of playing 50,000 or 40,000. And we drew with Switzerland and we lost 2-1 to Romania. So we also went to the Nation Cup semi-final and we lost to Iceland again in front of an empty stadium. So then I sat with the new chairman of the federation camp, not the one who signed me, and we decided to depart away. I did the... I took a break from football for almost two years. I did all my badges, I have a pro license as a coach, I have everything. But I was really concentrated on my kids, my family. And of course I went to see football around the world. Also with my kids, to see the youth clubs. Because one of my kids is very talented, he had some offers from Europe. So we went to Spain, we went to Portugal, I was in England. So I was traveling mainly. And now a lot of people try to put me back in football. I got a few offers from clubs in Israel. I'm thinking if to do it or not. Or still wait.
So when you go to the job, you give me a call and I coach your team.
As a director, of course.
Job's done, you see. It is done.
We just signed the contract and that's it. We're OK.
Oh, God. So would the jobs be sporting directors or do you fancy coaching?
Yeah, well, I did coach everything because I think if I leave Israel, you know, I'm thinking maybe to leave Israel, it will not be easy to get to the sporting director directly, you know. So this is why I did the badge. I'm thinking maybe even to coach you or to be, like you said, even when we spoke in the beginning, you said maybe you will be, you know, an assistant coach or something like this. I'm really open to this also way if I will find, you know, the right coach. to work for him, to start to build my career also as a coach. I think it will be also something interesting, even youth, youth players. So, because I think sport director, I will be only if I would sign in Israel because, you know, I have the name here in Israel. A lot of clubs wanted me, want me now as a sport director. But to get this job away from Israel now is very difficult. You need to prove yourself. You need to be there for a few years, and then I'm sure I can do it. So I'm open for the options.
Well, if anyone's listening.
Yeah, if anyone needs someone to help him improve.
I'm sure you will get offers. I'm not worried about this, for sure.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
But it has been a pleasure, Yossi.
Thank you for me too. Thank you very much. Thank you.
And yeah, hopefully you get a job.
Hopefully in England. Or Scotland. You can take us to Scotland. Scotland, England, I'm ready.
Have you been to Scotland before?
Well, I played a few times. You know, we played against strangers, even friendly with Liverpool. A few I played with the national team, but years ago, not in...
Recent years.
Not in recent years. So I need to organise a trip for you to come to watch Rangers.
Yeah, I come to watch. We organise a meeting with the club. You know, if they need assistance, I'm ready.
Perfect.
Thank you. Thank you very much. It was great. Thank you.
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Transcription
man here
Benayoun is calling for it it is Yossi Benayoun it's true and Vernon Parisa and Benayoun welcome to today's podcast where we Greg and I are joined by Yossi Benayoun an absolute pleasure to have you Yossi a legend of the game so I'm excited to to have you on thank you very much Thank you.
I'm happy to be here with you guys.
That's good. First things first, how do you two know each other?
First from the game, but of course from the Liverpool-Legend game. We have been lucky to play together. Yeah. But I was... I mean, Yussi was a beautiful player, you know? Yeah. So it was always nice to see him playing. Thank you very much. No, it's... I mean, for me, it's an honour today, but But yeah, and the Liverpool-Jean game, you know, now I'm like a family.
Yeah, but they're just two play against each other.
Yeah, but maybe you don't remember me because I'm too young.
No, of course I remember, of course. I have the privilege also, you know, of course we know from the football in general, but also we are lucky to be in the Liverpool-Jean. I think it's very interesting. We are always very happy to come, especially when it's in Anfield. to meet, enjoy the game, you know, with the full stadium, with the fans. So it's amazing for us.
Yeah. At this age,
it was deep play.
Yeah. And so, anyway, I want to go back to the start of your career, Yossi. Obviously, you started out in Israel, but there was a period of time, I believe, when you were with Ajax as a youngster, right?
Yes. I played with the Israel national team under 16 in the European Championship. And we achieved the best achievement until two years ago. We were third in Europe. And I was one of the main players. You know, I scored a few goals. And in this tournament, some scouts from Ajax came to speak with my coach. He wanted me to come for a week, for a trial. I went to Ajax and then I signed the contract. The difficulties for my family were too much, so I had to leave after eight months, nine months. Although the club offered me four years with the first team contract.
So
I decided when I was less than 17 to come back to Israel and wait for the next chance to go out to Europe. So, you know, in Israel, you need to do army between 18 to 21. If you want or even if you don't want, you have to do it. So I came back to Israel and when I finished, I went to Spain to play in Santander.
So when you were playing in Israel, you were doing military service as well?
Yeah, from 18 to 21. Because I was, well, when you are a very good player, not every player, if you are in a top, top level, so the military, they help you, they come. You don't do what anyone else will do, any soldier. We get a lot of breaks. We come only to do some other things. You know, I went to play some football, to teach football to some soldiers, you know, once in a while. They help you because they don't want to prevent you from being a successful player. But, well, now we changed the rules. But at my time, you couldn't leave Israel from 18 to 21 to side for other teams in Europe. You have to stay in Israel.
Jeez, I didn't know that.
But now soldiers, now in Israel, the last few years, they changed the rules. So you can go sign, even if you are in the army, they agree something, you do only on vacation, two, three weeks. So it's perfect. Because of that, we have a few youngsters that play, you know, we have a player who plays in Ajax. Now Israeli players, they sign also in Crystal Palace. So they are 2021, so they can leave Israel with no problem. So, but... At my time, it was a bit different. So I had to stay three years. Well, I think it helped me also to my career. I played with a big club, Maccabi Haifa. I took trophies, you know, I became one of the best in Israel, national team. And I was ready for my challenge in Europe. And I went for 12 years in a row in Europe and came back to Israel. Oh,
you've done all right. You've done all right.
Yeah, I did not bad. It was okay.
One question. If you had stayed at Ajax on the four-year contract, would you have got out of the military stuff? Would you have been exempt? Yeah.
Yeah, because I left before, you know, if I stayed there, so I had the right to stay and live in... in Holland without doing the military or or agree something to do you know one week two weeks every year just to get some service in Israel to help or to work with some children with people but I decided to leave because for me it was perfect but my family you know I was young I took my parents with me my brother it was difficult for them and I decided to put the family first and I came back to Israel and In my head, I believed in myself that the day will come and I will be more ready and I will go out to play another club in Europe. Although the press criticised and they said I would never be a good player because I gave up too quick. But I was lucky to prove differently at the end.
Yeah. So obviously you moved to Spain and established yourself at Santander. Obviously playing a lot of good games. How was that? Did you take your family out to Spain? Obviously, you were a young kid going to Holland, but what was different? Why did you stick it out in Spain?
It was different because, first of all, I was with my girlfriend. I was with my girlfriend since I was 15 and she's my wife. We live together now. We have five kids together. So we left to Spain alone, just me and my... I just got married. When I was 22, we finished the season. I won the championship in Israel. And we got married just one week after the league finished. And then I signed the contract in Spain. So I left only with my wife. So I was ready. You know, it was different without taking my family. They stayed here, my parents, you know, brothers. And I left alone with my wife. I was mature enough. I was ready. And it was easy for me. We learned also quick the language. Spanish was easy to learn. And I felt ready for the challenge, you know, and slowly, slowly, I built myself as a player. I improved. I felt that I'm improving every year. They believe in me and even they, you know, they choose me. Or even I think I was the first foreign captain in the last, in the third year. So, you know, it's built your confidence. But to tell you the truth, I never thought I would live to play in England because I played there. I had a few offers from big clubs in Spain. But the rule was, you know, only three foreigners can play. I didn't have a foreign passport. So I started the procedure to take out the passport. I agreed with one big club in Spain that I would sign for five years and I would stay one more year in Santander because I got a letter that I would get my passport in one year. And suddenly some offer came from West Ham, Bolton and West Ham actually together. And I don't know, my agent said, let's go meet with them. And when I had a meeting with West Ham, I decided this is the club I want to go, you know, from nowhere. I thought I would stay in Spain for the rest of my career. Everyone told me, England, it's not for you. Big guys, strong guys. And, you know, I'm not that strong, you know. I play with my head, not with my body. But it was also a great decision for me. So it was great.
What was it about West Ham though? What sucked you in there? Was it the fans? I don't know, the stadium?
No, first of all, I have to tell you the truth. The meeting with Alan Pardew was the coach. You know, when I came to England, my idea was Bolton. You know, I heard some West Ham, maybe, maybe yes, maybe not. And Bolton wanted me. So I had to stop in London just because my agent told me, look, the manager of West Ham wants a short meeting. And then we continued to Bolton. We drive to Bolton, you know. It was like this. I met with him in a hotel. Maybe we spoke 40, 45 minutes. We left. I told to my agent, I want to play for this guy. Like this. I want to play for him. I felt really the confidence. I had a good feeling in the conversation. Of course, I watched the club. I watched the fans. You know, it was really great. And on the way, you know, I went to Bolton. I think the story came also in the press. I started a medical test in Bolton. I agreed to him. And I started to run, you know, blood test, everything, you know. And in the middle, I decided to stop. I stopped. I took everything out. And I told him, look, I need to think. I feel something inside that I'm not sure I want to sign, you know. And it was difficult to tell them this at the moment. But we went to the room with the coach. Oh. I kept the name of the bot on the Big Sam He closed the room, he told me you don't go out if you don't sign the contract I know you have something else. I told him, look, I need to think. And I decided at that night to sign for West Ham.
I wouldn't like to say that to Big Sam.
Yeah, yeah, it's not easy.
So that's around 2005.
Yeah,
I played 2002-2005 in Spain. In 2005, I came to play for West Ham. And I had a great two years at West Ham. I think it was one of my best decisions, the best decision of my career. Because I enjoy with the fans. They give me a great feeling. I built myself in England. I proved that I can play in England, you know, even if it was different football from England. I knew I had to improve. I felt that I'm improving every day. And from there, you know, I got the offers from big clubs and I did all my career in England. It was really amazing. More than I dream of, you know. Even as a kid, I never dreamed to play for Liverpool, West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal. It was great.
Yeah. And obviously, you played in that crazy FA Cup final.
I told you myself, I hope you will not remind me this game.
Obviously, against Liverpool. Obviously, you went to Liverpool after that. Do you think, was it that game that maybe done something for you?
Definitely. Because... After, you know, my agent, well, two agents, they worked together, one Argentinian agent, he knew Rafa Benitez. And I play, I think he was one of my best games in the FA Cup final. I know Steven Gerrard scored last minute to 3-3 and we lost the penalties. And I think the commentator, even before the penalty, said that if Liverpool win, Steven Gerrard, man of the match, but if West Ham win the penalties, Yossi Benayoun will be man of the match. So I really had a great game. Of course, I was disappointed that we lost. But my agent called me straight after the game. He told me, look, Rafa spoke with me. And he said that Yossi improved unbelievably. It was great. And I'm thinking, you know, I'm thinking about him. And a year later, I signed for Liverpool. So definitely, this game was big, you know, important to the decision of Liverpool to take me as a player.
Yeah. And Boisereni? Anything stopping you from going to Liverpool? Or was that the next stage? Was your heart not attached to it? Because you mentioned that West Ham were the best.
It was a very, very hard decision. I just agreed. Five years, new contract with West Ham. You know, Alan Kerbyshley was the coach. I agreed for five years. And I really felt at home. And suddenly Liverpool came with an offer. And of course, you know, it's difficult, but you are thinking, how many times I will have the chance to play for a club like Liverpool? You know, I need to try to do this. And I had to give up 50% of my contract. I didn't go for money because Liverpool told me, look, we will not say the numbers, but we can pay only this. It was 50% from the new contract. And I went to West Ham and said, look, I don't care about the money. I want to achieve my dreams. I want to play for you. I know I love you very much. I know you did everything for me, but you need to understand. So we had the discussions about three weeks until they agreed to, because they saw that I'm insisting, I want to play. And I did it in a good way. I didn't fight with West Ham. And in the end, they got the money that they asked. So it was good for both sides. And I thought to myself, look, I give up for money. I want the chance to play for a big club. I will try to prove myself. Because I did my head, if I would not be successful, still I would be able to find, because my year is at West Ham, I can go level down to play for another club, you know, if I would not be successful at Liverpool.
Yeah.
But I had a great first season. I think I scored 11 goals and 9 or 10 assists in my first season at Liverpool. And then I agreed a new contract with Liverpool, so I signed for four more years, so everything went perfect for me.
I think, you know, Yuzi, it's really difficult to turn down an offer from Liverpool Football Club.
Definitely.
Because of the prestige, the DNA. And I keep saying to the guys every time, signing for Liverpool is something, but playing for Liverpool, it's something different.
You know, I didn't know how special it is. I knew Liverpool. My father was a big fan of Liverpool in the early years, you know, with Kenny Delglish and the ex-players. But when I arrived to Liverpool and then my first time at Anfield, I was amazing. You know, I had a good mom. I went in the tunnel and I said, God, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to play. And I was very lucky to be there three years. And it was amazing,
you know. Some good moments at Liverpool. Obviously, Champions League hat-tricks. Scoring at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
We did.
Yeah. I'm just curious, when Liverpool went to the Bernabeu and obviously you scored to beat Real Madrid, was there that... actual belief? Because that was a very good Real Madrid team at the time. Did Rafa Benitez actually go there and actually think you guys could win when you won that game?
I will tell you, I think Liverpool, we were not in a good moment. And the rumours were, before that game, that Rafa is leaving. You know, in the dressing room, the press and everything, they said OK, they will lose also to Real Madrid and it will be the time to depart, you know, waves with Rafa. This was the... The mindset that we went to the game, but Rafa, of course. You know Rafa, when he concentrates the tactics, everything, he loves to work the tactics to prepare you well. He concentrates on that. I was lucky also to be when he picked me to the first XI, you know. And I think we worked really hard against a very good team. I don't know, you know, Raul, Ruben, Guti, Marcelo, Ramos. Really, really good team of Real Madrid. But I think we deserved the win. It was a very tight game, not many chances, but we stood well tactically. And I was lucky with the cross of Fabio Aurelio, seven minutes to the end, to score the winner. And personally, after this game, I think, I always believed in myself, but you know, the fans love me. But after this game, I think everyone believes in me more. And I felt it from the fans, from the press in England. Every game after, also, I played better and better. I scored a few goals even after this game. And from this moment, I felt really appreciated by everyone, you know. Because when I went to Liverpool, some of the players, even ex-players, you know, some of them of Liverpool said, why we need to bring Israeli player Yossi Benham from West Ham? What he can give to Liverpool, you know. And I can understand because big clubs, they want big names most of the time. Thanks. This is also something that gave me the drive to prove myself more. And I was happy that I proved. And even those players, I had some interviews after that said, Yossi surprised me very much. He well deserved to play. And suddenly, when I was not in the XI, they went to the press and said, we don't understand where Rafa is. Don't put him in the XI. So, you know, I won this battle, you know, personally. And it was great. It was really, really good. great three years to play for this wonderful club.
And you scored hat-tricks in FA Cup, Champions League and the FA Cup.
Yes, I was. I think the only Liverpool player was to do it.
Yeah. And as a midfielder, obviously you're listed as a midfielder. What was your kind of...
Yeah, midfielder, you know, exactly. This way, you know, everyone's surprised because... I played number 10, I played on the wing, but my game was always to look for the goal, even for the assist or to score. I looked for the dangerous area, always to be there, always to do something. The supporters are looking for this. I was lucky to score a lot of goals. But like you said, even if you look on the list today of the players who did it, I think there is not many, but Harry Kane, Aguero, Plaston, this level. Most of them are strikers. Yeah. And I'm not a striker. So I'm the only midfielder, I think, that leads the score. I was lucky to score Champions League, FA Cup, you know, and then the league. So, I don't know. This was my game also. Same with the national team. I have 24 goals. You can see I'm third in the history. But you can see the first 10 players, nine are strikers. And only me, midfielder. Yeah. So,
this was a...
important part of my game to look for the goal all the time it was your game it was my game trying to be dangerous yeah always in between the lines I just think from my memories of watching you playing if you asked me now where did he play I would have said I don't know you were always like out in the left coming in exactly I used to play come to play a lot from the left left wing yeah love to play but some games you know Rafa put me on the right sometimes number 10 Even when I went to loan in Arsenal, late in my career, always some games he put me number eight, number 10, you know, on the wing. So I used to play lots of free, all the positions in attack.
And is that something like Rafa or whoever would say to you, like, just go do your own thing, just be dangerous?
Rafa, it's more, he loves, as I told you, more the tactics. When he put me one game on the left, he told me, you'll see, I don't want the right back to be alone, even not once. So, you know, I need to walk like crazy to go with him all the time. But of course, in attack, he tells you, do what you know, go to the middle, do what you do all the time, you know. Sometimes if you want to change position, change, but you have to be responsible that someone else will be. So if I go to the middle, I need to tell to the guy, you have to be with the right back all the way, because if not, it's my fault. So it was very clear by Rafa. And also, more what you said, even if it was only for one year, it was Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He used to say to me, to Rosicky, to any other player, Walcott, it doesn't matter, or Arteta. I trust you. Okay, you start the position, but Yossi, I trust you. If you want to finish middle, left, right, I don't care. As long as someone else will be in the position. Do what you want. He'll give you more freedom.
If you're obviously a manager, would you give a guy like Yossi just free roam now? Because I think a lot of football is now very structured.
I think now you see less team playing with a number 10.
Yeah.
And I am from a generation... where I learned the football with a number 10.
Yeah.
You know, especially when we had like Zidane, you know, from France, you know, and, you know, Cruyff, Maradona, this type of player. And I think depending on what you are doing in terms of, you know, animation, with the ball, you know, in position, but the player like him, if I am the manager, I would play him as a number 10, a prop number 10 in between the lines. You know, of course, you need to adjust and to have, you know, the profile around him, you know, to defend. But I understand, of course, why Rafa told him to track the right back, because in England it's always an open game. You have to run a lot. But yeah, of course, that's why I said to you before the podcast, he was an unbelievable player technically, because he couldn't see the last pass, play the last ball, scoring goals, and to be like a magician. So, as a manager, I love this type of player. You remember me, I had a young boy last year, Igor. Igor, you know, and like an English-Polish guy, but really smart, you know, really elegant on the ball. And I love this type of player. So it's a big demand, eh? Yeah, of course. But I think it could be a big threat.
Yeah. Obviously, after Liverpool, you moved on to Chelsea. How did that come about? and What made it Chelsea? Was that the only team that was interested in you at that time?
No, I will tell you the truth. I never really wanted to leave Liverpool. I had a contract for a few more years and I had no intention to leave. But in the last few months, I felt me and Rafa didn't go as planned. You know, it was before. I didn't like the way he treated me in the last few months. I think I deserved much more credit. And I felt that always I'm the one who pays for his decisions. And I wanted to play, I wanted to enjoy, and I felt that with him it's impossible. So I was tricked. I was telling him that if he will stay, I prefer to move. And of course I got a big offer from Chelsea. But I was waiting because the rumors were that Rafa will leave. And the owner also told me to wait. So I was waiting. And Rafa told me, you know, we speak freely. And I called Rafa, tell me the truth, what it's going to be. And he told me, Yossi, look, I want you to stay. But I decided to stay for one more year. So I said, okay, thank you very much. So I had to go to sign for another club. And when I signed for Chelsea, a few days later, I think Rafa signed for Inter Milan. So he left. you He didn't really, I felt that he didn't say the truth really in the conversation. And this is why I was very disappointed. And I said it to the press when I'm not used to speak to the press. But I felt really, really disappointed, really angry. Although, you know, Chelsea is a big club, of course. And, you know, it was amazing also to know a coach like Ancelotti and Mr. Avramovic. And plus, it was also... Something you always have to remember for your career. But if it was 100% depending on me, I didn't want to leave Liverpool. I wanted to stay as long as possible. But it's the way football works, you know. I think if Rafa was straight with me and telling me, look, Yossi, I'm going to leave, it would take one month, two months, so I would stay. It didn't happen, so I had to leave. And I went to Chelsea. A year later, you know, I got injured in Chelsea. A year later, when I recovered, I wanted to go on loan. And I don't think even that nobody knows. In the end, I signed for Arsenal, but I was very close to signing for Liverpool. To go back to Liverpool, we agreed everything. In the last minute, I don't know, I was on the way to Liverpool in the car, and the agent told me, look, Yossi, I think they're going to sign in the last minute. Some other player, Craig Bellamy. So maybe it's not a good idea that you will drive to Liverpool and then we will stack. It was the last day of the transfer.
Yeah.
So I didn't want to take the risk. And Arsene Wenger called me and I went to sign for Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger. That's a legend of the game as well.
Yeah, of course. I had the privilege to play for Rafa, for Wenger, for Ancelotti, for Alan Pagio and Carbisley. So be cautious.
Different style of managers.
Different, yeah. Each one has his own mind, how you prepare a game, tactically different. But it was good.
And obviously, who would Ancelotti be the manager at Chelsea at that point? I was going to say, was it Mourinho? It wasn't Ancelotti. No,
no, Ancelotti. Chelsea just won a double, if I'm not wrong. And I just signed with them. We finished second and I think we lost in the Champions League against United, if I'm not wrong. And they decided to depart with Archelotti. And then Villas-Boas came and I decided to leave alone.
I've got a question for you. I've always wanted to ask someone who's involved at Chelsea. When you're at the club or negotiating your contract, how involved is Abramovich in these conversations? Is he a big part of that or was he a big part of that?
Of course he's the main man, but he doesn't speak too much, you know, a few words, but of course he's in all the meetings, but he had his own people, you know, Eugene and Marina, the world's strongest guys in Chelsea, they do sit with you about the contract, about everything, but Roman is there and gives the last okay, you know, all the time, yes or no, he's the boss. Like this or like that? For me, it's like that. Like this. He did that for me. It was great to know big players, Dress Room, Lampard, John Terry, Drogba, these kind of players. It was amazing also to share with them the Dress Room. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that because of my injury the first season, although Ancelotti told me I would play a lot for him. I played two games and then I did the injury for six months. Achilles the first and only injury of my career I came back end of the season but then they sacked Ancelotti and I felt I wanted to go to another club to play more and I signed for Arsenal you know I was lucky also that Wenger came for me yeah and who were the big names at Arsenal at that time? Robin van Persie Aaron Ramsey Rosicky Arteta we signed together me, Arteta you A few more players. If you remember, Arsenal lost 8-2, if I'm not wrong, at Otrath.
Oh, yeah,
Yeah, so we signed the day after or something like that. We had to sign a few players. They had to sign a few players. I was lucky. They called me, Arteta. A few more players and we did a great season. We finished third, you know, went straight to the Champions League. It was a good season and I enjoyed a lot. Rosicky, Walcott, you know, a lot of good players.
Yeah. And then you obviously went on loan again back to West Ham.
Yeah, for a short while. You know, of course, I wanted to play. I went and who was the coach there? You know, Sam Aronais. I didn't sign for him when I was at Bolton. You know, it was always nice to come back to West Ham. But almost before January or a few weeks before, they bad tackling at Newcastle and I had to go for treatment at Chelsea for a few weeks and we January arrived and who arrived to Liverpool? Rafa Benitez. Sorry, to Chelsea. Rafa Benitez.
Jeez.
And Rafa told me, look, I don't want you to go back to West Ham. I want you to stay for Chelsea and to play. And I didn't know in the beginning. I said, look, I want to play. He said, don't worry. Because I came back to train. He told me I'm good in training. He wants me to stay there. So I stayed with the Wichels in the end. You know, I played the many more games than I thought that you would let me play you know so it was good we won the Europa League I didn't play in the final but I played all the way in the groups and everything so it was also a good experience we won the Europa League with Chelsea when Rafa was the coach so another trophy another trophy in a bag yeah not bad after I missed the FA Cup final you know This was the trophy I felt already in my hands. But Stevie took it from me. Yeah.
No, that was a mad game, that. Yeah,
it was a mad game.
You stayed in London and went to QPR.
Yeah, actually, I finished the contract. I went back to Israel just for... And I was looking for an option. I had the offers from Spain. I almost agreed to move to Spain, but... Also because of my kids, they really wanted to come back to England. So I had to stay. I stayed a few months without the team. And my agent told me, Yossi, let's go to QPR. Ari Redknapp is a great coach. He's a friend of my agent. And I decided to go for a few months. We did well. The club went to the Premier League. And after that, you know, I had an offer from MLS in Israel. And I sat with my family and we decided to come back to the club. that I played before in Israel, Maccabi Haifa. And actually, I thought I would finish my career there, but I kept going to play for five more years. So I played five more years in Israel, and then I retired in a club that's called Beta Jerusalem, also a great club. So I was privileged also to play until I was 39. So it was really great for me.
Yeah. And how was the body holding up at 39?
It was really good, you know. I felt that I can continue. Also from Betal Jerusalem, from other clubs, they offered me also two more years contract to play until 41. But Jerusalem gave me an offer that I will be the sport director at the end of the season. And I decided this is the moment to step down as a player and take the club to another level. And I decided straight to do it. The day after I retired, I became the sport director.
Yeah.
I had to take this decision. I told myself, OK, I will play one more year. Maybe yes, maybe not. I don't know if I will have another offer to be straight sport director. So I took it and it was a good decision also for me.
Yeah. And you obviously want to touch on your international career as well. You obviously had 100 plus caps for...
102. I had the most caps as an Israeli player. Yeah.
Again... maybe You obviously won something at under-16 level as well, right? Yeah,
under-16. I was standing in Europe, the biggest achievement of Israel. And I was eight years the captain of the Israel national team. And where I grew up, I'm sure you've never heard about this, but it's a city called Dimona. Dimona is a very small city in the desert, in the middle of nowhere. So with the family, they didn't have any money. I didn't have any money for years, even to go to the bus. So I grew up from a place that, as I said, no one heard about this. And to think that I will one day be the Israeli captain, to go with the Hamban and with the national anthem and lead everyone, it's beyond your dreams. It's amazing to play for the national team, to get the chance to be the first team when I was 17, 18 years old. And since then, I didn't leave the national team until I was 39. I played over 20 years. And I think also I was the most... as I told you, most cars, but even the period of time, I think I was the player that played the war in the national team more than everyone, over 20 years. So it was amazing.
Unbelievable.
Massive story, big, unbelievable. That's why I told you we have to have him on the podcast.
Great, I scored. I tell you, in the last two years, I didn't speak even one word with the press. And I'm sure even they will hear something and they will know some headlines that I speak with you, they will kill me now. Why you don't speak with us? Every day they try. Let's do an interview. No, no.
The answer is really, really simple. Just say I spoke with Greg because he's a good friend of mine and a very honest guy.
What I was going to ask you was, obviously you played until you were 39. What was your training regime like? Obviously, you can't train at 39 the same way you were at 29, or did you? I'm just curious because...
I train every day the same. I train every day. I didn't make a discount. I train like everyone, but the only difference is your body, after a game, when you play 90 minutes, you need a little bit more treatment to recover, to take some things that you never take as a younger player, just to recover, because you felt it will take me a little bit more to be sharp again. One day, two more days. So in the training, I try to train, but day after or two days after, I keep myself a little bit just to get the feeling again that I'm not that stiff and heavy and I can play again the next game. But I tried every training, every game, I tried to give everything to run as long as possible, even in the games. I was 39 and we had the data of the GPS. I always was... First or second in the team, it doesn't matter if I play with 20 years old or 25. They put always the least. And, you know, the coach always said, give me as an example. Look, Yossi is almost 39, runs more than everyone, sprints more than everyone. You know, it was built in from England because I learned it in England. And you cannot, you know, it was in my mind to do it every game, every training to be successful.
Yeah. And your take that England is going to get the credit for that? Because obviously you played in Spain, you played in England, and obviously back home. Would you say England was the...
No, no, England is the best league in the world, the best culture in the world. For me, one of the best countries. You know, I love the people in England. But for me, it's the best league. After, you know, it was very difficult for me to be in the rhythm in the first two months, three months. But I understand what I need to do to be successful. I worked hard like everyone, you know, even harder. And this was, I think, this is why I became a better player. This is why I arrived to big clubs, only because I, you know, I came to England and I learned to work harder. You know, of course, in Israel, I went to Spain, I worked harder than I worked in Israel. But then I left to England. I understand that I need to work much harder than in Spain to be successful. So I think this is what made me a better player. Gave me the possibilities to play for big clubs.
And obviously you played with a lot of teams, but I've got some questions here. Who is the best player you ever played with? I know it's probably an unfair question. No,
it's easy for me. The answer is easy. I played with a lot of big, big players, big names. But the best player ever is Steven Gerrard. Because when you look at the player, he's a complete player. You know, he does everything. He will tackle on the 16-yard box and 10 seconds later, he will score a winner from 25 yards to the top corner. You know, when you need him, he's always there, left, right, head, to fight, to tackle. He was the complete player for me. And, of course, there were a lot of other players, you know, Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Drogba, Lampa. Evan Percy, I think he did his best season in Arsenal when I was there. He scored 30 goals in the league. So I was privileged to play with a lot of big players, but definitely Steven Gerrard is the best.
And who is the best one you played against?
I think you said the name before, Zinedine Zidane. I think I played against him with the national team a few times. I have his shirt, we changed shirts also. Zidane and Ronaldinho in Spain were at their best when I played against Barcelona. You can say Zidane and even Ronaldo, the Brazilian, number nine, he played in Real Madrid. You have two, three big, big top players.
Yeah, Ronaldinho was always my favourite. Yeah,
Ronaldinho was unbelievable, but Zidane was unbelievable.
I told him one day when I played against him, I said, Zidane. Gigi, could you walk away? Could you walk away from me, please? He was laughing.
It's better for you that he played for that.
Oh, what a player. He was unbelievable. Yeah, he was unbelievable. Unstoppable. Honestly. Technically, physically.
No, no. Physically, he was tall. He was strong. But what he did with the ball, it was like with a glue. The ball with glue to his legs. It's unbelievable. Yeah. I was lucky to play against him.
Yeah, no, he was a phenomenal player. Who was your funniest teammate? Obviously, you played again, but who was the funniest?
Easy, easy. Crouchy, Crouchy. Crouchy,
man.
Good job.
Yeah, he was the clown of the dressing room. Until today, you see.
In the
Legend game, Crouchy is the clown. Yeah, he's a DJ. Penalti was also funny, you know, but Crouchy was the funniest one for everyone, you know. Always a good atmosphere in the dressing room because of him.
Who was the biggest moaner?
Well, his coach. His coach now, you know, Riera. Albert Riera. I played with him also. We played in Liverpool. We played in the Legend Cup. But I don't know how he's the coach now. I think he's signed for Belgrade now. The Red Star.
Yeah, I spoke with him last week. He should be on the show with us. And he's a great candidate.
He likes to win anything. Why then? Why this? This is the area. He's a great guy, but...
Yeah,
definitely.
One for you, because obviously you were not the...
biggest built guy who was the strongest guy you come up against there must have been someone in that english premier league where you're like up me well to play against you know well when i play wheat also you know in the training was martin's character you know oh he he was very very strong it was unbelievable and when i played against it always was very difficult to play against rio ferdinand when he was uh you know as a center back he's quick he was strong he was top, top level, but in training, you know, Martin Skelter, always, like you said to Zidane, I always used to tell him, Martin, don't come to me, go to the other side, please. I'm here with the ball, don't touch me, you know. He's very strong. It's very dangerous to be around him. Again, great guy, but he plays so hard and, you know, strong tackles all the time.
And you played under a lot of different managers, all got their own things, as you mentioned earlier. Yeah. Who is the best manager for you?
He's very difficult. You know, I would have to take a little bit from each one, you know, because like the freedom that I told you and the confidence is Asen Wenger. Rafa prepared the team, I think, tactically better than anyone else. And combination also, one of the nicest men and also always give you a good feeling. And, you know, in training, what you are doing is the Ancelotti. You know, everyone loves Ancelotti, even the players who don't play. And it's very rare, you know, in football. Because when you don't play, a lot of times you moan about the coach, you know, why he don't play me. But with Ancelotti, it's always a different feeling. He gives you, to everyone, the same feeling. And it's not easy to keep a full dressing room happy. And, you know, they play for you, even if they don't start, they go in and give everything. So I think it's a little bit for Mirvan, Alain Pardieu. Gave me the confidence my first season at West Ham. I had the feeling he believed in me. Gave me the freedom also. So I appreciate, you know, for all of them. I cannot say one, you know, that is better than everyone.
Yeah. Oh, fair enough. Fair enough. Who was the most underrated player that you played with? Someone who maybe didn't get the coverage from the press?
It was... What? In the end, he's one of the biggest players in the world, yeah. But at the moment, when I was in Chelsea in the beginning, one of the young players who played with me was Kevin De Bruyne. And he didn't play. Even in training, no. I went to him, I remember I went to him. I said, look, I don't understand how we don't play. Okay, you are young. It doesn't matter. You need to play. So I think the first few years he was underrated until he proved himself. And if I need to think about someone else underrated, I don't really have someone. West Ham, I think they were a few pairs. You know, Bobby Zamora at West Ham, I think he was top, top striker. Maybe, you know, if it was in those years now, he played for big clubs because I never saw a striker with both legs the same, left, right, keep the ball. He was very strong. Maybe he was a little bit underrated, I think. Yeah.
Could be, yeah.
Bobby Zamora was,
yeah. Bobby Zamora was a good big player. I like big Bobby Zamora. And can you name a player who you would want most beside you in a fight? If you were going to battle, who would you want beside you?
Well, you know, I have to say from the football, one of my best friends till today is Fernando Torres. We are in a good connection. He's one of my best friends. And I had also great connection on the pitch. But also, off the pitch, he knows I will do everything for him and I'm sure he will do everything for me. So maybe him I will have to check. But I think both of us, in our back, we will need Martin Skelter with us. We need him behind to come, you know, that we will not have problems. Just to make sure.
And if you were going back through your... career, you'll say, where did you enjoy the most? I know you played most frequently in London, but staying in Liverpool, staying in London, if you had to pick again?
If I had to pick, I would live all my life, you know. I think you would be surprised. I would live in Liverpool.
Really? That does surprise me, man.
Yeah, I know it's a surprise because when I argue with my friends, they always ask me, how did you live in Liverpool, London? I say, no, no, no. For me, Liverpool. The people in Liverpool, I love the people in Liverpool. They're more, I don't know, to say, you know, they remind me a lot of people in Israel. Very, very simple, very honest, you know, very humble. You know, I like the people in Liverpool and I like the city. I love the atmosphere there. It's very calm. This is what I look, you know, for a family. I have my restaurants, you know, a cinema. I don't need more than that. But generally, I really, really love Liverpool.
That does. I was fully expecting London.
Everyone said London, but not me.
No, I get it. Because Glasgow is very like Liverpool as well, where it's just friendly people. The weather's not great, but...
Yeah, but generally in England, the weather is. So it doesn't matter. Weather is not great, but I think the people in Liverpool are really great and I really love the place.
And I'm just curious, Yossi. What do you do now? Obviously, you've had your career. You've done your sporting director stuff.
Yeah. I was the sporting director, as I told you, at Betelgeuse, where we did a great season and went to Europe. The club that almost went down here before. Then I signed for the national team. I was the sporting director of the national team.
Yeah.
And unfortunately, we were very close for the first time to qualify for the Euro. But unfortunately, you know... We started, I'm sure you heard about the 7th of October, you know, the war in Israel.
Yes.
And we got attacked on the 7th of October. So it was really just before the four games that we needed to host two of them in Israel. And we needed one win to be in the, you know, to beat Romania or Switzerland, one of them in Israel. And then we will qualify. But unfortunately, because of the war, we played away from Israel. We played Hungary in front of 500 people. instead of playing 50,000 or 40,000. And we drew with Switzerland and we lost 2-1 to Romania. So we also went to the Nation Cup semi-final and we lost to Iceland again in front of an empty stadium. So then I sat with the new chairman of the federation camp, not the one who signed me, and we decided to depart away. I did the... I took a break from football for almost two years. I did all my badges, I have a pro license as a coach, I have everything. But I was really concentrated on my kids, my family. And of course I went to see football around the world. Also with my kids, to see the youth clubs. Because one of my kids is very talented, he had some offers from Europe. So we went to Spain, we went to Portugal, I was in England. So I was traveling mainly. And now a lot of people try to put me back in football. I got a few offers from clubs in Israel. I'm thinking if to do it or not. Or still wait.
So when you go to the job, you give me a call and I coach your team.
As a director, of course.
Job's done, you see. It is done.
We just signed the contract and that's it. We're OK.
Oh, God. So would the jobs be sporting directors or do you fancy coaching?
Yeah, well, I did coach everything because I think if I leave Israel, you know, I'm thinking maybe to leave Israel, it will not be easy to get to the sporting director directly, you know. So this is why I did the badge. I'm thinking maybe even to coach you or to be, like you said, even when we spoke in the beginning, you said maybe you will be, you know, an assistant coach or something like this. I'm really open to this also way if I will find, you know, the right coach. to work for him, to start to build my career also as a coach. I think it will be also something interesting, even youth, youth players. So, because I think sport director, I will be only if I would sign in Israel because, you know, I have the name here in Israel. A lot of clubs wanted me, want me now as a sport director. But to get this job away from Israel now is very difficult. You need to prove yourself. You need to be there for a few years, and then I'm sure I can do it. So I'm open for the options.
Well, if anyone's listening.
Yeah, if anyone needs someone to help him improve.
I'm sure you will get offers. I'm not worried about this, for sure.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
But it has been a pleasure, Yossi.
Thank you for me too. Thank you very much. Thank you.
And yeah, hopefully you get a job.
Hopefully in England. Or Scotland. You can take us to Scotland. Scotland, England, I'm ready.
Have you been to Scotland before?
Well, I played a few times. You know, we played against strangers, even friendly with Liverpool. A few I played with the national team, but years ago, not in...
Recent years.
Not in recent years. So I need to organise a trip for you to come to watch Rangers.
Yeah, I come to watch. We organise a meeting with the club. You know, if they need assistance, I'm ready.
Perfect.
Thank you. Thank you very much. It was great. Thank you.
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man here
Benayoun is calling for it it is Yossi Benayoun it's true and Vernon Parisa and Benayoun welcome to today's podcast where we Greg and I are joined by Yossi Benayoun an absolute pleasure to have you Yossi a legend of the game so I'm excited to to have you on thank you very much Thank you.
I'm happy to be here with you guys.
That's good. First things first, how do you two know each other?
First from the game, but of course from the Liverpool-Legend game. We have been lucky to play together. Yeah. But I was... I mean, Yussi was a beautiful player, you know? Yeah. So it was always nice to see him playing. Thank you very much. No, it's... I mean, for me, it's an honour today, but But yeah, and the Liverpool-Jean game, you know, now I'm like a family.
Yeah, but they're just two play against each other.
Yeah, but maybe you don't remember me because I'm too young.
No, of course I remember, of course. I have the privilege also, you know, of course we know from the football in general, but also we are lucky to be in the Liverpool-Jean. I think it's very interesting. We are always very happy to come, especially when it's in Anfield. to meet, enjoy the game, you know, with the full stadium, with the fans. So it's amazing for us.
Yeah. At this age,
it was deep play.
Yeah. And so, anyway, I want to go back to the start of your career, Yossi. Obviously, you started out in Israel, but there was a period of time, I believe, when you were with Ajax as a youngster, right?
Yes. I played with the Israel national team under 16 in the European Championship. And we achieved the best achievement until two years ago. We were third in Europe. And I was one of the main players. You know, I scored a few goals. And in this tournament, some scouts from Ajax came to speak with my coach. He wanted me to come for a week, for a trial. I went to Ajax and then I signed the contract. The difficulties for my family were too much, so I had to leave after eight months, nine months. Although the club offered me four years with the first team contract.
So
I decided when I was less than 17 to come back to Israel and wait for the next chance to go out to Europe. So, you know, in Israel, you need to do army between 18 to 21. If you want or even if you don't want, you have to do it. So I came back to Israel and when I finished, I went to Spain to play in Santander.
So when you were playing in Israel, you were doing military service as well?
Yeah, from 18 to 21. Because I was, well, when you are a very good player, not every player, if you are in a top, top level, so the military, they help you, they come. You don't do what anyone else will do, any soldier. We get a lot of breaks. We come only to do some other things. You know, I went to play some football, to teach football to some soldiers, you know, once in a while. They help you because they don't want to prevent you from being a successful player. But, well, now we changed the rules. But at my time, you couldn't leave Israel from 18 to 21 to side for other teams in Europe. You have to stay in Israel.
Jeez, I didn't know that.
But now soldiers, now in Israel, the last few years, they changed the rules. So you can go sign, even if you are in the army, they agree something, you do only on vacation, two, three weeks. So it's perfect. Because of that, we have a few youngsters that play, you know, we have a player who plays in Ajax. Now Israeli players, they sign also in Crystal Palace. So they are 2021, so they can leave Israel with no problem. So, but... At my time, it was a bit different. So I had to stay three years. Well, I think it helped me also to my career. I played with a big club, Maccabi Haifa. I took trophies, you know, I became one of the best in Israel, national team. And I was ready for my challenge in Europe. And I went for 12 years in a row in Europe and came back to Israel. Oh,
you've done all right. You've done all right.
Yeah, I did not bad. It was okay.
One question. If you had stayed at Ajax on the four-year contract, would you have got out of the military stuff? Would you have been exempt? Yeah.
Yeah, because I left before, you know, if I stayed there, so I had the right to stay and live in... in Holland without doing the military or or agree something to do you know one week two weeks every year just to get some service in Israel to help or to work with some children with people but I decided to leave because for me it was perfect but my family you know I was young I took my parents with me my brother it was difficult for them and I decided to put the family first and I came back to Israel and In my head, I believed in myself that the day will come and I will be more ready and I will go out to play another club in Europe. Although the press criticised and they said I would never be a good player because I gave up too quick. But I was lucky to prove differently at the end.
Yeah. So obviously you moved to Spain and established yourself at Santander. Obviously playing a lot of good games. How was that? Did you take your family out to Spain? Obviously, you were a young kid going to Holland, but what was different? Why did you stick it out in Spain?
It was different because, first of all, I was with my girlfriend. I was with my girlfriend since I was 15 and she's my wife. We live together now. We have five kids together. So we left to Spain alone, just me and my... I just got married. When I was 22, we finished the season. I won the championship in Israel. And we got married just one week after the league finished. And then I signed the contract in Spain. So I left only with my wife. So I was ready. You know, it was different without taking my family. They stayed here, my parents, you know, brothers. And I left alone with my wife. I was mature enough. I was ready. And it was easy for me. We learned also quick the language. Spanish was easy to learn. And I felt ready for the challenge, you know, and slowly, slowly, I built myself as a player. I improved. I felt that I'm improving every year. They believe in me and even they, you know, they choose me. Or even I think I was the first foreign captain in the last, in the third year. So, you know, it's built your confidence. But to tell you the truth, I never thought I would live to play in England because I played there. I had a few offers from big clubs in Spain. But the rule was, you know, only three foreigners can play. I didn't have a foreign passport. So I started the procedure to take out the passport. I agreed with one big club in Spain that I would sign for five years and I would stay one more year in Santander because I got a letter that I would get my passport in one year. And suddenly some offer came from West Ham, Bolton and West Ham actually together. And I don't know, my agent said, let's go meet with them. And when I had a meeting with West Ham, I decided this is the club I want to go, you know, from nowhere. I thought I would stay in Spain for the rest of my career. Everyone told me, England, it's not for you. Big guys, strong guys. And, you know, I'm not that strong, you know. I play with my head, not with my body. But it was also a great decision for me. So it was great.
What was it about West Ham though? What sucked you in there? Was it the fans? I don't know, the stadium?
No, first of all, I have to tell you the truth. The meeting with Alan Pardew was the coach. You know, when I came to England, my idea was Bolton. You know, I heard some West Ham, maybe, maybe yes, maybe not. And Bolton wanted me. So I had to stop in London just because my agent told me, look, the manager of West Ham wants a short meeting. And then we continued to Bolton. We drive to Bolton, you know. It was like this. I met with him in a hotel. Maybe we spoke 40, 45 minutes. We left. I told to my agent, I want to play for this guy. Like this. I want to play for him. I felt really the confidence. I had a good feeling in the conversation. Of course, I watched the club. I watched the fans. You know, it was really great. And on the way, you know, I went to Bolton. I think the story came also in the press. I started a medical test in Bolton. I agreed to him. And I started to run, you know, blood test, everything, you know. And in the middle, I decided to stop. I stopped. I took everything out. And I told him, look, I need to think. I feel something inside that I'm not sure I want to sign, you know. And it was difficult to tell them this at the moment. But we went to the room with the coach. Oh. I kept the name of the bot on the Big Sam He closed the room, he told me you don't go out if you don't sign the contract I know you have something else. I told him, look, I need to think. And I decided at that night to sign for West Ham.
I wouldn't like to say that to Big Sam.
Yeah, yeah, it's not easy.
So that's around 2005.
Yeah,
I played 2002-2005 in Spain. In 2005, I came to play for West Ham. And I had a great two years at West Ham. I think it was one of my best decisions, the best decision of my career. Because I enjoy with the fans. They give me a great feeling. I built myself in England. I proved that I can play in England, you know, even if it was different football from England. I knew I had to improve. I felt that I'm improving every day. And from there, you know, I got the offers from big clubs and I did all my career in England. It was really amazing. More than I dream of, you know. Even as a kid, I never dreamed to play for Liverpool, West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal. It was great.
Yeah. And obviously, you played in that crazy FA Cup final.
I told you myself, I hope you will not remind me this game.
Obviously, against Liverpool. Obviously, you went to Liverpool after that. Do you think, was it that game that maybe done something for you?
Definitely. Because... After, you know, my agent, well, two agents, they worked together, one Argentinian agent, he knew Rafa Benitez. And I play, I think he was one of my best games in the FA Cup final. I know Steven Gerrard scored last minute to 3-3 and we lost the penalties. And I think the commentator, even before the penalty, said that if Liverpool win, Steven Gerrard, man of the match, but if West Ham win the penalties, Yossi Benayoun will be man of the match. So I really had a great game. Of course, I was disappointed that we lost. But my agent called me straight after the game. He told me, look, Rafa spoke with me. And he said that Yossi improved unbelievably. It was great. And I'm thinking, you know, I'm thinking about him. And a year later, I signed for Liverpool. So definitely, this game was big, you know, important to the decision of Liverpool to take me as a player.
Yeah. And Boisereni? Anything stopping you from going to Liverpool? Or was that the next stage? Was your heart not attached to it? Because you mentioned that West Ham were the best.
It was a very, very hard decision. I just agreed. Five years, new contract with West Ham. You know, Alan Kerbyshley was the coach. I agreed for five years. And I really felt at home. And suddenly Liverpool came with an offer. And of course, you know, it's difficult, but you are thinking, how many times I will have the chance to play for a club like Liverpool? You know, I need to try to do this. And I had to give up 50% of my contract. I didn't go for money because Liverpool told me, look, we will not say the numbers, but we can pay only this. It was 50% from the new contract. And I went to West Ham and said, look, I don't care about the money. I want to achieve my dreams. I want to play for you. I know I love you very much. I know you did everything for me, but you need to understand. So we had the discussions about three weeks until they agreed to, because they saw that I'm insisting, I want to play. And I did it in a good way. I didn't fight with West Ham. And in the end, they got the money that they asked. So it was good for both sides. And I thought to myself, look, I give up for money. I want the chance to play for a big club. I will try to prove myself. Because I did my head, if I would not be successful, still I would be able to find, because my year is at West Ham, I can go level down to play for another club, you know, if I would not be successful at Liverpool.
Yeah.
But I had a great first season. I think I scored 11 goals and 9 or 10 assists in my first season at Liverpool. And then I agreed a new contract with Liverpool, so I signed for four more years, so everything went perfect for me.
I think, you know, Yuzi, it's really difficult to turn down an offer from Liverpool Football Club.
Definitely.
Because of the prestige, the DNA. And I keep saying to the guys every time, signing for Liverpool is something, but playing for Liverpool, it's something different.
You know, I didn't know how special it is. I knew Liverpool. My father was a big fan of Liverpool in the early years, you know, with Kenny Delglish and the ex-players. But when I arrived to Liverpool and then my first time at Anfield, I was amazing. You know, I had a good mom. I went in the tunnel and I said, God, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to play. And I was very lucky to be there three years. And it was amazing,
you know. Some good moments at Liverpool. Obviously, Champions League hat-tricks. Scoring at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
We did.
Yeah. I'm just curious, when Liverpool went to the Bernabeu and obviously you scored to beat Real Madrid, was there that... actual belief? Because that was a very good Real Madrid team at the time. Did Rafa Benitez actually go there and actually think you guys could win when you won that game?
I will tell you, I think Liverpool, we were not in a good moment. And the rumours were, before that game, that Rafa is leaving. You know, in the dressing room, the press and everything, they said OK, they will lose also to Real Madrid and it will be the time to depart, you know, waves with Rafa. This was the... The mindset that we went to the game, but Rafa, of course. You know Rafa, when he concentrates the tactics, everything, he loves to work the tactics to prepare you well. He concentrates on that. I was lucky also to be when he picked me to the first XI, you know. And I think we worked really hard against a very good team. I don't know, you know, Raul, Ruben, Guti, Marcelo, Ramos. Really, really good team of Real Madrid. But I think we deserved the win. It was a very tight game, not many chances, but we stood well tactically. And I was lucky with the cross of Fabio Aurelio, seven minutes to the end, to score the winner. And personally, after this game, I think, I always believed in myself, but you know, the fans love me. But after this game, I think everyone believes in me more. And I felt it from the fans, from the press in England. Every game after, also, I played better and better. I scored a few goals even after this game. And from this moment, I felt really appreciated by everyone, you know. Because when I went to Liverpool, some of the players, even ex-players, you know, some of them of Liverpool said, why we need to bring Israeli player Yossi Benham from West Ham? What he can give to Liverpool, you know. And I can understand because big clubs, they want big names most of the time. Thanks. This is also something that gave me the drive to prove myself more. And I was happy that I proved. And even those players, I had some interviews after that said, Yossi surprised me very much. He well deserved to play. And suddenly, when I was not in the XI, they went to the press and said, we don't understand where Rafa is. Don't put him in the XI. So, you know, I won this battle, you know, personally. And it was great. It was really, really good. great three years to play for this wonderful club.
And you scored hat-tricks in FA Cup, Champions League and the FA Cup.
Yes, I was. I think the only Liverpool player was to do it.
Yeah. And as a midfielder, obviously you're listed as a midfielder. What was your kind of...
Yeah, midfielder, you know, exactly. This way, you know, everyone's surprised because... I played number 10, I played on the wing, but my game was always to look for the goal, even for the assist or to score. I looked for the dangerous area, always to be there, always to do something. The supporters are looking for this. I was lucky to score a lot of goals. But like you said, even if you look on the list today of the players who did it, I think there is not many, but Harry Kane, Aguero, Plaston, this level. Most of them are strikers. Yeah. And I'm not a striker. So I'm the only midfielder, I think, that leads the score. I was lucky to score Champions League, FA Cup, you know, and then the league. So, I don't know. This was my game also. Same with the national team. I have 24 goals. You can see I'm third in the history. But you can see the first 10 players, nine are strikers. And only me, midfielder. Yeah. So,
this was a...
important part of my game to look for the goal all the time it was your game it was my game trying to be dangerous yeah always in between the lines I just think from my memories of watching you playing if you asked me now where did he play I would have said I don't know you were always like out in the left coming in exactly I used to play come to play a lot from the left left wing yeah love to play but some games you know Rafa put me on the right sometimes number 10 Even when I went to loan in Arsenal, late in my career, always some games he put me number eight, number 10, you know, on the wing. So I used to play lots of free, all the positions in attack.
And is that something like Rafa or whoever would say to you, like, just go do your own thing, just be dangerous?
Rafa, it's more, he loves, as I told you, more the tactics. When he put me one game on the left, he told me, you'll see, I don't want the right back to be alone, even not once. So, you know, I need to walk like crazy to go with him all the time. But of course, in attack, he tells you, do what you know, go to the middle, do what you do all the time, you know. Sometimes if you want to change position, change, but you have to be responsible that someone else will be. So if I go to the middle, I need to tell to the guy, you have to be with the right back all the way, because if not, it's my fault. So it was very clear by Rafa. And also, more what you said, even if it was only for one year, it was Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He used to say to me, to Rosicky, to any other player, Walcott, it doesn't matter, or Arteta. I trust you. Okay, you start the position, but Yossi, I trust you. If you want to finish middle, left, right, I don't care. As long as someone else will be in the position. Do what you want. He'll give you more freedom.
If you're obviously a manager, would you give a guy like Yossi just free roam now? Because I think a lot of football is now very structured.
I think now you see less team playing with a number 10.
Yeah.
And I am from a generation... where I learned the football with a number 10.
Yeah.
You know, especially when we had like Zidane, you know, from France, you know, and, you know, Cruyff, Maradona, this type of player. And I think depending on what you are doing in terms of, you know, animation, with the ball, you know, in position, but the player like him, if I am the manager, I would play him as a number 10, a prop number 10 in between the lines. You know, of course, you need to adjust and to have, you know, the profile around him, you know, to defend. But I understand, of course, why Rafa told him to track the right back, because in England it's always an open game. You have to run a lot. But yeah, of course, that's why I said to you before the podcast, he was an unbelievable player technically, because he couldn't see the last pass, play the last ball, scoring goals, and to be like a magician. So, as a manager, I love this type of player. You remember me, I had a young boy last year, Igor. Igor, you know, and like an English-Polish guy, but really smart, you know, really elegant on the ball. And I love this type of player. So it's a big demand, eh? Yeah, of course. But I think it could be a big threat.
Yeah. Obviously, after Liverpool, you moved on to Chelsea. How did that come about? and What made it Chelsea? Was that the only team that was interested in you at that time?
No, I will tell you the truth. I never really wanted to leave Liverpool. I had a contract for a few more years and I had no intention to leave. But in the last few months, I felt me and Rafa didn't go as planned. You know, it was before. I didn't like the way he treated me in the last few months. I think I deserved much more credit. And I felt that always I'm the one who pays for his decisions. And I wanted to play, I wanted to enjoy, and I felt that with him it's impossible. So I was tricked. I was telling him that if he will stay, I prefer to move. And of course I got a big offer from Chelsea. But I was waiting because the rumors were that Rafa will leave. And the owner also told me to wait. So I was waiting. And Rafa told me, you know, we speak freely. And I called Rafa, tell me the truth, what it's going to be. And he told me, Yossi, look, I want you to stay. But I decided to stay for one more year. So I said, okay, thank you very much. So I had to go to sign for another club. And when I signed for Chelsea, a few days later, I think Rafa signed for Inter Milan. So he left. you He didn't really, I felt that he didn't say the truth really in the conversation. And this is why I was very disappointed. And I said it to the press when I'm not used to speak to the press. But I felt really, really disappointed, really angry. Although, you know, Chelsea is a big club, of course. And, you know, it was amazing also to know a coach like Ancelotti and Mr. Avramovic. And plus, it was also... Something you always have to remember for your career. But if it was 100% depending on me, I didn't want to leave Liverpool. I wanted to stay as long as possible. But it's the way football works, you know. I think if Rafa was straight with me and telling me, look, Yossi, I'm going to leave, it would take one month, two months, so I would stay. It didn't happen, so I had to leave. And I went to Chelsea. A year later, you know, I got injured in Chelsea. A year later, when I recovered, I wanted to go on loan. And I don't think even that nobody knows. In the end, I signed for Arsenal, but I was very close to signing for Liverpool. To go back to Liverpool, we agreed everything. In the last minute, I don't know, I was on the way to Liverpool in the car, and the agent told me, look, Yossi, I think they're going to sign in the last minute. Some other player, Craig Bellamy. So maybe it's not a good idea that you will drive to Liverpool and then we will stack. It was the last day of the transfer.
Yeah.
So I didn't want to take the risk. And Arsene Wenger called me and I went to sign for Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger. That's a legend of the game as well.
Yeah, of course. I had the privilege to play for Rafa, for Wenger, for Ancelotti, for Alan Pagio and Carbisley. So be cautious.
Different style of managers.
Different, yeah. Each one has his own mind, how you prepare a game, tactically different. But it was good.
And obviously, who would Ancelotti be the manager at Chelsea at that point? I was going to say, was it Mourinho? It wasn't Ancelotti. No,
no, Ancelotti. Chelsea just won a double, if I'm not wrong. And I just signed with them. We finished second and I think we lost in the Champions League against United, if I'm not wrong. And they decided to depart with Archelotti. And then Villas-Boas came and I decided to leave alone.
I've got a question for you. I've always wanted to ask someone who's involved at Chelsea. When you're at the club or negotiating your contract, how involved is Abramovich in these conversations? Is he a big part of that or was he a big part of that?
Of course he's the main man, but he doesn't speak too much, you know, a few words, but of course he's in all the meetings, but he had his own people, you know, Eugene and Marina, the world's strongest guys in Chelsea, they do sit with you about the contract, about everything, but Roman is there and gives the last okay, you know, all the time, yes or no, he's the boss. Like this or like that? For me, it's like that. Like this. He did that for me. It was great to know big players, Dress Room, Lampard, John Terry, Drogba, these kind of players. It was amazing also to share with them the Dress Room. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that because of my injury the first season, although Ancelotti told me I would play a lot for him. I played two games and then I did the injury for six months. Achilles the first and only injury of my career I came back end of the season but then they sacked Ancelotti and I felt I wanted to go to another club to play more and I signed for Arsenal you know I was lucky also that Wenger came for me yeah and who were the big names at Arsenal at that time? Robin van Persie Aaron Ramsey Rosicky Arteta we signed together me, Arteta you A few more players. If you remember, Arsenal lost 8-2, if I'm not wrong, at Otrath.
Oh, yeah,
Yeah, so we signed the day after or something like that. We had to sign a few players. They had to sign a few players. I was lucky. They called me, Arteta. A few more players and we did a great season. We finished third, you know, went straight to the Champions League. It was a good season and I enjoyed a lot. Rosicky, Walcott, you know, a lot of good players.
Yeah. And then you obviously went on loan again back to West Ham.
Yeah, for a short while. You know, of course, I wanted to play. I went and who was the coach there? You know, Sam Aronais. I didn't sign for him when I was at Bolton. You know, it was always nice to come back to West Ham. But almost before January or a few weeks before, they bad tackling at Newcastle and I had to go for treatment at Chelsea for a few weeks and we January arrived and who arrived to Liverpool? Rafa Benitez. Sorry, to Chelsea. Rafa Benitez.
Jeez.
And Rafa told me, look, I don't want you to go back to West Ham. I want you to stay for Chelsea and to play. And I didn't know in the beginning. I said, look, I want to play. He said, don't worry. Because I came back to train. He told me I'm good in training. He wants me to stay there. So I stayed with the Wichels in the end. You know, I played the many more games than I thought that you would let me play you know so it was good we won the Europa League I didn't play in the final but I played all the way in the groups and everything so it was also a good experience we won the Europa League with Chelsea when Rafa was the coach so another trophy another trophy in a bag yeah not bad after I missed the FA Cup final you know This was the trophy I felt already in my hands. But Stevie took it from me. Yeah.
No, that was a mad game, that. Yeah,
it was a mad game.
You stayed in London and went to QPR.
Yeah, actually, I finished the contract. I went back to Israel just for... And I was looking for an option. I had the offers from Spain. I almost agreed to move to Spain, but... Also because of my kids, they really wanted to come back to England. So I had to stay. I stayed a few months without the team. And my agent told me, Yossi, let's go to QPR. Ari Redknapp is a great coach. He's a friend of my agent. And I decided to go for a few months. We did well. The club went to the Premier League. And after that, you know, I had an offer from MLS in Israel. And I sat with my family and we decided to come back to the club. that I played before in Israel, Maccabi Haifa. And actually, I thought I would finish my career there, but I kept going to play for five more years. So I played five more years in Israel, and then I retired in a club that's called Beta Jerusalem, also a great club. So I was privileged also to play until I was 39. So it was really great for me.
Yeah. And how was the body holding up at 39?
It was really good, you know. I felt that I can continue. Also from Betal Jerusalem, from other clubs, they offered me also two more years contract to play until 41. But Jerusalem gave me an offer that I will be the sport director at the end of the season. And I decided this is the moment to step down as a player and take the club to another level. And I decided straight to do it. The day after I retired, I became the sport director.
Yeah.
I had to take this decision. I told myself, OK, I will play one more year. Maybe yes, maybe not. I don't know if I will have another offer to be straight sport director. So I took it and it was a good decision also for me.
Yeah. And you obviously want to touch on your international career as well. You obviously had 100 plus caps for...
102. I had the most caps as an Israeli player. Yeah.
Again... maybe You obviously won something at under-16 level as well, right? Yeah,
under-16. I was standing in Europe, the biggest achievement of Israel. And I was eight years the captain of the Israel national team. And where I grew up, I'm sure you've never heard about this, but it's a city called Dimona. Dimona is a very small city in the desert, in the middle of nowhere. So with the family, they didn't have any money. I didn't have any money for years, even to go to the bus. So I grew up from a place that, as I said, no one heard about this. And to think that I will one day be the Israeli captain, to go with the Hamban and with the national anthem and lead everyone, it's beyond your dreams. It's amazing to play for the national team, to get the chance to be the first team when I was 17, 18 years old. And since then, I didn't leave the national team until I was 39. I played over 20 years. And I think also I was the most... as I told you, most cars, but even the period of time, I think I was the player that played the war in the national team more than everyone, over 20 years. So it was amazing.
Unbelievable.
Massive story, big, unbelievable. That's why I told you we have to have him on the podcast.
Great, I scored. I tell you, in the last two years, I didn't speak even one word with the press. And I'm sure even they will hear something and they will know some headlines that I speak with you, they will kill me now. Why you don't speak with us? Every day they try. Let's do an interview. No, no.
The answer is really, really simple. Just say I spoke with Greg because he's a good friend of mine and a very honest guy.
What I was going to ask you was, obviously you played until you were 39. What was your training regime like? Obviously, you can't train at 39 the same way you were at 29, or did you? I'm just curious because...
I train every day the same. I train every day. I didn't make a discount. I train like everyone, but the only difference is your body, after a game, when you play 90 minutes, you need a little bit more treatment to recover, to take some things that you never take as a younger player, just to recover, because you felt it will take me a little bit more to be sharp again. One day, two more days. So in the training, I try to train, but day after or two days after, I keep myself a little bit just to get the feeling again that I'm not that stiff and heavy and I can play again the next game. But I tried every training, every game, I tried to give everything to run as long as possible, even in the games. I was 39 and we had the data of the GPS. I always was... First or second in the team, it doesn't matter if I play with 20 years old or 25. They put always the least. And, you know, the coach always said, give me as an example. Look, Yossi is almost 39, runs more than everyone, sprints more than everyone. You know, it was built in from England because I learned it in England. And you cannot, you know, it was in my mind to do it every game, every training to be successful.
Yeah. And your take that England is going to get the credit for that? Because obviously you played in Spain, you played in England, and obviously back home. Would you say England was the...
No, no, England is the best league in the world, the best culture in the world. For me, one of the best countries. You know, I love the people in England. But for me, it's the best league. After, you know, it was very difficult for me to be in the rhythm in the first two months, three months. But I understand what I need to do to be successful. I worked hard like everyone, you know, even harder. And this was, I think, this is why I became a better player. This is why I arrived to big clubs, only because I, you know, I came to England and I learned to work harder. You know, of course, in Israel, I went to Spain, I worked harder than I worked in Israel. But then I left to England. I understand that I need to work much harder than in Spain to be successful. So I think this is what made me a better player. Gave me the possibilities to play for big clubs.
And obviously you played with a lot of teams, but I've got some questions here. Who is the best player you ever played with? I know it's probably an unfair question. No,
it's easy for me. The answer is easy. I played with a lot of big, big players, big names. But the best player ever is Steven Gerrard. Because when you look at the player, he's a complete player. You know, he does everything. He will tackle on the 16-yard box and 10 seconds later, he will score a winner from 25 yards to the top corner. You know, when you need him, he's always there, left, right, head, to fight, to tackle. He was the complete player for me. And, of course, there were a lot of other players, you know, Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Drogba, Lampa. Evan Percy, I think he did his best season in Arsenal when I was there. He scored 30 goals in the league. So I was privileged to play with a lot of big players, but definitely Steven Gerrard is the best.
And who is the best one you played against?
I think you said the name before, Zinedine Zidane. I think I played against him with the national team a few times. I have his shirt, we changed shirts also. Zidane and Ronaldinho in Spain were at their best when I played against Barcelona. You can say Zidane and even Ronaldo, the Brazilian, number nine, he played in Real Madrid. You have two, three big, big top players.
Yeah, Ronaldinho was always my favourite. Yeah,
Ronaldinho was unbelievable, but Zidane was unbelievable.
I told him one day when I played against him, I said, Zidane. Gigi, could you walk away? Could you walk away from me, please? He was laughing.
It's better for you that he played for that.
Oh, what a player. He was unbelievable. Yeah, he was unbelievable. Unstoppable. Honestly. Technically, physically.
No, no. Physically, he was tall. He was strong. But what he did with the ball, it was like with a glue. The ball with glue to his legs. It's unbelievable. Yeah. I was lucky to play against him.
Yeah, no, he was a phenomenal player. Who was your funniest teammate? Obviously, you played again, but who was the funniest?
Easy, easy. Crouchy, Crouchy. Crouchy,
man.
Good job.
Yeah, he was the clown of the dressing room. Until today, you see.
In the
Legend game, Crouchy is the clown. Yeah, he's a DJ. Penalti was also funny, you know, but Crouchy was the funniest one for everyone, you know. Always a good atmosphere in the dressing room because of him.
Who was the biggest moaner?
Well, his coach. His coach now, you know, Riera. Albert Riera. I played with him also. We played in Liverpool. We played in the Legend Cup. But I don't know how he's the coach now. I think he's signed for Belgrade now. The Red Star.
Yeah, I spoke with him last week. He should be on the show with us. And he's a great candidate.
He likes to win anything. Why then? Why this? This is the area. He's a great guy, but...
Yeah,
definitely.
One for you, because obviously you were not the...
biggest built guy who was the strongest guy you come up against there must have been someone in that english premier league where you're like up me well to play against you know well when i play wheat also you know in the training was martin's character you know oh he he was very very strong it was unbelievable and when i played against it always was very difficult to play against rio ferdinand when he was uh you know as a center back he's quick he was strong he was top, top level, but in training, you know, Martin Skelter, always, like you said to Zidane, I always used to tell him, Martin, don't come to me, go to the other side, please. I'm here with the ball, don't touch me, you know. He's very strong. It's very dangerous to be around him. Again, great guy, but he plays so hard and, you know, strong tackles all the time.
And you played under a lot of different managers, all got their own things, as you mentioned earlier. Yeah. Who is the best manager for you?
He's very difficult. You know, I would have to take a little bit from each one, you know, because like the freedom that I told you and the confidence is Asen Wenger. Rafa prepared the team, I think, tactically better than anyone else. And combination also, one of the nicest men and also always give you a good feeling. And, you know, in training, what you are doing is the Ancelotti. You know, everyone loves Ancelotti, even the players who don't play. And it's very rare, you know, in football. Because when you don't play, a lot of times you moan about the coach, you know, why he don't play me. But with Ancelotti, it's always a different feeling. He gives you, to everyone, the same feeling. And it's not easy to keep a full dressing room happy. And, you know, they play for you, even if they don't start, they go in and give everything. So I think it's a little bit for Mirvan, Alain Pardieu. Gave me the confidence my first season at West Ham. I had the feeling he believed in me. Gave me the freedom also. So I appreciate, you know, for all of them. I cannot say one, you know, that is better than everyone.
Yeah. Oh, fair enough. Fair enough. Who was the most underrated player that you played with? Someone who maybe didn't get the coverage from the press?
It was... What? In the end, he's one of the biggest players in the world, yeah. But at the moment, when I was in Chelsea in the beginning, one of the young players who played with me was Kevin De Bruyne. And he didn't play. Even in training, no. I went to him, I remember I went to him. I said, look, I don't understand how we don't play. Okay, you are young. It doesn't matter. You need to play. So I think the first few years he was underrated until he proved himself. And if I need to think about someone else underrated, I don't really have someone. West Ham, I think they were a few pairs. You know, Bobby Zamora at West Ham, I think he was top, top striker. Maybe, you know, if it was in those years now, he played for big clubs because I never saw a striker with both legs the same, left, right, keep the ball. He was very strong. Maybe he was a little bit underrated, I think. Yeah.
Could be, yeah.
Bobby Zamora was,
yeah. Bobby Zamora was a good big player. I like big Bobby Zamora. And can you name a player who you would want most beside you in a fight? If you were going to battle, who would you want beside you?
Well, you know, I have to say from the football, one of my best friends till today is Fernando Torres. We are in a good connection. He's one of my best friends. And I had also great connection on the pitch. But also, off the pitch, he knows I will do everything for him and I'm sure he will do everything for me. So maybe him I will have to check. But I think both of us, in our back, we will need Martin Skelter with us. We need him behind to come, you know, that we will not have problems. Just to make sure.
And if you were going back through your... career, you'll say, where did you enjoy the most? I know you played most frequently in London, but staying in Liverpool, staying in London, if you had to pick again?
If I had to pick, I would live all my life, you know. I think you would be surprised. I would live in Liverpool.
Really? That does surprise me, man.
Yeah, I know it's a surprise because when I argue with my friends, they always ask me, how did you live in Liverpool, London? I say, no, no, no. For me, Liverpool. The people in Liverpool, I love the people in Liverpool. They're more, I don't know, to say, you know, they remind me a lot of people in Israel. Very, very simple, very honest, you know, very humble. You know, I like the people in Liverpool and I like the city. I love the atmosphere there. It's very calm. This is what I look, you know, for a family. I have my restaurants, you know, a cinema. I don't need more than that. But generally, I really, really love Liverpool.
That does. I was fully expecting London.
Everyone said London, but not me.
No, I get it. Because Glasgow is very like Liverpool as well, where it's just friendly people. The weather's not great, but...
Yeah, but generally in England, the weather is. So it doesn't matter. Weather is not great, but I think the people in Liverpool are really great and I really love the place.
And I'm just curious, Yossi. What do you do now? Obviously, you've had your career. You've done your sporting director stuff.
Yeah. I was the sporting director, as I told you, at Betelgeuse, where we did a great season and went to Europe. The club that almost went down here before. Then I signed for the national team. I was the sporting director of the national team.
Yeah.
And unfortunately, we were very close for the first time to qualify for the Euro. But unfortunately, you know... We started, I'm sure you heard about the 7th of October, you know, the war in Israel.
Yes.
And we got attacked on the 7th of October. So it was really just before the four games that we needed to host two of them in Israel. And we needed one win to be in the, you know, to beat Romania or Switzerland, one of them in Israel. And then we will qualify. But unfortunately, because of the war, we played away from Israel. We played Hungary in front of 500 people. instead of playing 50,000 or 40,000. And we drew with Switzerland and we lost 2-1 to Romania. So we also went to the Nation Cup semi-final and we lost to Iceland again in front of an empty stadium. So then I sat with the new chairman of the federation camp, not the one who signed me, and we decided to depart away. I did the... I took a break from football for almost two years. I did all my badges, I have a pro license as a coach, I have everything. But I was really concentrated on my kids, my family. And of course I went to see football around the world. Also with my kids, to see the youth clubs. Because one of my kids is very talented, he had some offers from Europe. So we went to Spain, we went to Portugal, I was in England. So I was traveling mainly. And now a lot of people try to put me back in football. I got a few offers from clubs in Israel. I'm thinking if to do it or not. Or still wait.
So when you go to the job, you give me a call and I coach your team.
As a director, of course.
Job's done, you see. It is done.
We just signed the contract and that's it. We're OK.
Oh, God. So would the jobs be sporting directors or do you fancy coaching?
Yeah, well, I did coach everything because I think if I leave Israel, you know, I'm thinking maybe to leave Israel, it will not be easy to get to the sporting director directly, you know. So this is why I did the badge. I'm thinking maybe even to coach you or to be, like you said, even when we spoke in the beginning, you said maybe you will be, you know, an assistant coach or something like this. I'm really open to this also way if I will find, you know, the right coach. to work for him, to start to build my career also as a coach. I think it will be also something interesting, even youth, youth players. So, because I think sport director, I will be only if I would sign in Israel because, you know, I have the name here in Israel. A lot of clubs wanted me, want me now as a sport director. But to get this job away from Israel now is very difficult. You need to prove yourself. You need to be there for a few years, and then I'm sure I can do it. So I'm open for the options.
Well, if anyone's listening.
Yeah, if anyone needs someone to help him improve.
I'm sure you will get offers. I'm not worried about this, for sure.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
But it has been a pleasure, Yossi.
Thank you for me too. Thank you very much. Thank you.
And yeah, hopefully you get a job.
Hopefully in England. Or Scotland. You can take us to Scotland. Scotland, England, I'm ready.
Have you been to Scotland before?
Well, I played a few times. You know, we played against strangers, even friendly with Liverpool. A few I played with the national team, but years ago, not in...
Recent years.
Not in recent years. So I need to organise a trip for you to come to watch Rangers.
Yeah, I come to watch. We organise a meeting with the club. You know, if they need assistance, I'm ready.
Perfect.
Thank you. Thank you very much. It was great. Thank you.
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