Soccer Stars Sign Big
Galaxy superstar David Beckham wasn’t the only one to don a new jersey in Los Angeles last Saturday; Israeli defenseman Tal Ben Haim started one of his first games for the opposing club, Chelsea, before being substituted out of the exhibition match at the end of the first half. In one of the highlights of Chelsea’s 1-0 victory, 25-year-old Ben Haim set up teammate Ricardo Carvalho with a beautiful give-and-go for a near goal that rocketed off the outside of the net.
Chelsea, an English Premiership club owned by Russian Jewish oil billionaire Roman Abramovich, acquired Ben Haim from the Bolton Wanderers on June 14 for four years. Ben Haim, whom manager José Mourinho had been trying to land since January, will help the club defend its FA Cup and League Cup championships. He also will try to help Chelsea win the Champion’s League, club soccer’s top prize. Last season, bitter rival Liverpool defeated Chelsea in the semifinals before bowing out to champion A.C. Milan.
Not to be outdone, Liverpool has also signed its own Israeli star. Earlier this month, it acquired 27-year-old midfielder Yossi Benayoun from West Ham United for four years for $10.3 million. The playmaker recorded four goals and three assists last year for West Ham in Premier League play.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
