Israeli Soccer Legend Avi Cohen Declared Brain Dead

By Haaretz Service December 28, 2010

Israeli soccer legend Avi Cohen was declared brain dead on Tuesday by the medical committee at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital.

Cohen, 54, was critically hurt in a traffic accident in Ramat Gan on December 20. The former soccer player was riding his motorcycle when he was reportedly hit by a car near the Diamond Exchange. He was brought to Ichilov Hospital where he underwent immediate surgery and from there was placed in intensive care. Former Israel and Liverpool defender Avi Cohen

Cohen is considered one of the greatest Israeli soccer players of all time. He was born in Cairo and began his career with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1975. Within a year was a regular member of the Israeli national team. He quickly caught the eye of several clubs, including Liverpool, which, at the time, was the dominant force in English soccer.

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