Eran Zahavi

Eran Zahavi (or Zehavi,[2] Hebrew: ערן זהבי‎; born 25 July 1987) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or as a striker for PSV Eindhoven and the Israel national football team.

Eran Zahavi
Zahavi celebrating a goal for Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Tel Aviv derby in 2014
Personal information
Full name Eran Zahavi
Date of birth (1987-07-25) 25 July 1987[1]
Place of birth Rishon LeZion, Israel
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, striker
Club information
Current team
 PSV Eindhoven
Number 7
Youth career
1993–2003 Hapoel Tel Aviv
2003–2005 Ironi Rishon LeZion
2005–2006 Hapoel Tel Aviv
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 Hapoel Tel Aviv 94 (27)
2007–2008 → Ironi Ramat HaSharon (loan) 45 (9)
2011–2013 Palermo 23 (2)
2013–2016 Maccabi Tel Aviv 119 (98)
2016–2020 Guangzhou R&F 106 (91)
2020– PSV Eindhoven 13 (6)
National team‡
2008 Israel U21 1 (0)
2010– Israel 59 (24)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2020

Zahavi has been named the Israeli Footballer of the Year twice (2013 and 2014), and finished as the top goalscorer three seasons in a row in the Israeli Premier League, in 2013–14 (29 goals, all-time club record), in 2014–15 (27 goals), and in 2015–16 (35 goals, all-time club and league record). In December 2014, Zahavi broke the Israeli Premier League record for scoring in consecutive appearances after he scored for the 18th game in a row. In 2016, he broke the Israeli league six-decade-old season scoring record, beating the 1954–55 record.[3] He was named the 2017 Chinese Super League MVP, and broke the league's single-season scoring record in 2019. Zahavi has been a senior international since 2010, earning 59 caps.

Early life

Eran Zahavi was born in Rishon LeZion, Israel, to Jewish parents.[4][5][6][7] He has served in the Israel Defense Forces to complete his mandatory military service.[8]

He also holds a French passport, on account of his French-born father.[9]

Club career

Zahavi started his youth career with Hapoel Tel Aviv. At the age of 16 he went to Ironi Rishon LeZion, in his hometown. Two years later, in 2005 he returned to Hapoel. He managed to get to the state cup final with his team but lost to Beitar Jerusalem after a penalty shootout; he scored the equaliser that led to extra time.

Hapoel Tel Aviv
Zahavi playing for Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2010

A Hapoel Tel Aviv youth product, Zahavi was promoted to its senior team in 2006, where he won the Israel State Cup, and the championship title after a dramatic match against the fierce rival Beitar Jerusalem in which he scored at the 92nd minute of extra time. Zahavi was reported to have garnered interest from clubs in Belgium during the 2009–10 season.[10]

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

Palermo

Zahavi signed a five-year deal with the Italian Serie A club, Palermo, before the beginning of the 2011–12 Serie A season.[12] He capped two seasons with 23 appearances in the top league in Italy, scoring two goals versus Bologna and Cagliari.[13]

Maccabi Tel Aviv
Zahavi playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2015–16 Champions League match versus Chelsea

In December 2012, towards the winter transfers window opening, Zahavi showed signs of returning to Israel.[14] Following an agreement made by Palermo and Maccabi Tel Aviv, his former club Hapoel Tel Aviv was given seven days to make a bid on him due to a first-option clause in his contract,[15] but it was not exploited. On 21 January 2013, after over a month of speculation in the media, Maccabi Tel Aviv announced his arrival, signing him on a three-and-a-half year contract[16] for €250,000.[17]

At the Tel Aviv derby on 3 November 2014, Zahavi scored a penalty to equalise the score at 1–1 in the first half but was then attacked by a pitch invader. On retaliating, he was sent off, prompting more pitch invasions which led to the match being abandoned.[18]

In the beginning of the 2015–16 season, Zahavi was appointed as Maccabi's new captain after former captain Sheran Yeini signed at Dutch football club Vitesse. On 5 August 2015, Zahavi scored two goals against Czech team Viktoria Plzeň in a 2–0 away victory in the second leg of the third qualifying round after Maccabi lost at home 2–1. On 19 August 2015, Zahavi scored a brace, including a 96th-minute equaliser, in a 2–2 draw against Swiss side Basel at St. Jakob-Park in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs.[19] On 25 August, during the second leg at Bloomfield, he scored a 24th-minute equaliser as the match ended 1–1, a result that sent Maccabi to the Champions League group stage due to the away goals rule.[20] Zahavi finished the Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round as the top goalscorer with 7 goals in 5 games.[21] During the season Zahavi scored 35 league goals, in 36 league games, and set a new Israeli record for league goals in single season. The previous record was set by the striker Nissim Elmaliach, who scored 30 goals in 26 league games during the 1954–55 season.[22]

Guangzhou R&F

On 29 June 2016, Zahavi joined Guangzhou R&F of the Chinese Football League, making him the second Israeli player in China after Liron Zarko.[23] The transfer deal paid Zahavi a reported $12.5 million over two-and-a-half years.[24] On 2 July, Zahavi made his debut coming on from the bench at the 60th minute playing against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright with the score a 1–1 draw. 15 minutes later he scored his first goal, and later on he added an assist to lead his team to a 4–2 victory.[25]

On 13 July, Zahavi scored a hat-trick in 19 minutes in the Chinese FA Cup match against Hebei China Fortune, coming on from the bench in the second half and helping R&F to a 3–0 win.[26] On 18 October, during a league match against Hangzhou Greentown, Zahavi netted his second hat trick in an R&F jersey, propelling them to a 5–2 victory. He found the net in the 33rd, 55th, and 67th minutes of the match. Those goals gave him 16 goals in as many games for R&F, across all competitions. These scoring exploits quickly earned him the nickname "the King of Yuexiushan".[27]

Zahavi finished his first half season for Guangzhou R&F with six goals in four Chinese FA Cup games, and 11 league goals in 15 appearances. In December 2016, according to media reports, Chinese club Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C. offered $20 million for Zahavi, the highest transfer fee ever offered for an Israeli footballer.[28] On 24 January 2017, Zahavi signed a renewed contract with Guangzhou R&F until the end of the 2020 season, for an estimated $7 million per season.[29] On 23 July, in the league match against Yanbian Funde he scored four goals and Guangzhou won 6–2. Zahavi finished the 2017 season with 27 league goals (one short of the league record) to win the CSL Golden Boot Award.[30][31] He was also named the Most Valuable Player in the Chinese Super League, and selected in the CSL team of the year.[32][33]

After Shanghai Greenland Shenhua failed to sign Zahavi in September 2017 for a transfer fee of $25 million,[34] Zahavi renewed his contract with Guangzhou R&F in February 2018 for an estimated $10 million per season on a three-year contract.[35][36] On 2 March, during round 1 of the 2018 CSL season, Zahavi scored a hat-trick and assisted one goal in the 5–4 away win against reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao.[37]

In November 2019, Zahavi broke the CSL single-season scoring record after scoring his 29th goal of the season, surpassing the previous record set by Elkeson in 2014.[38]

PSV Eindhoven

On 20 September 2020, Zahavi signed a two-year deal with PSV Eindhoven.[39] He made his debut for the Dutch side on 1 October 2020 in the UEFA Europa League play-offs against Rosenborg, contributing to the win with a goal and an assist.[40]

International career
Zahavi playing for Israel in the 2016 Euro Qualifiers match versus Andorra

Zahavi made his international debut on 2 September 2010 against Malta in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match. He scored his first goal for the national team on 10 September 2013 against Russia.[41] On 24 March 2019, he scored a hat-trick against Austria in a 4–2 home win during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying.[42] On 7 June 2019, Zahavi scored a back-to-back hat-trick against Latvia in a 3–0 away win.[43]

In the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League match against Slovakia, Zahavi scored three goals in the space of 20 minutes to bring Israel from 0–2 behind to a 3–2 win.[44]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 6 February 2021[13][45]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hapoel Tel Aviv 2006–07 Israeli Premier League 000020——20
2008–09 Israeli Premier League 28710746[lower-alpha 1]1—4212
2009–10 Israeli Premier League 3311516111[lower-alpha 2]0—5513
2010–11 Israeli Premier League 339421112[lower-alpha 3]5—5017
Total 9427103166296—14942
Ironi Ramat HaSharon
(loan)		 2006–07 Liga Leumit 17210———182
2007–08 Liga Leumit 2872122——3210
Total 4593122——5012
Palermo 2011–12 Serie A 20200—20—222
2012–13 Serie A 3010———40
Total 23210—20—262
Maccabi Tel Aviv 2012–13 Israeli Premier League 16721—00—188
2013–14 Israeli Premier League 342911—11[lower-alpha 4]5—4635
2014–15 Israeli Premier League 332755416[lower-alpha 5]2—4835
2015–16 Israeli Premier League 3635632111[lower-alpha 3]81[lower-alpha 6]25649
Total 11998141062281512168127
Guangzhou R&F 2016 Chinese Super League 151146———1917
2017 Chinese Super League 302744———3431
2018 Chinese Super League 262032———2922
2019 Chinese Super League 282900———2829
2020 Chinese Super League 7400———74
Total 106911112———117103
PSV Eindhoven 2020–21 Eredivisie 13610—4[lower-alpha 2]2—188
Career total 40023340262410632312528294
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. Four appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League and seven appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League
  5. Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League and two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  6. Appearance in Israeli Super Cup

International goals
Scores and results list Israel's goal tally first.[13][46]
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.10 September 2013Petrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia15 Russia1–31–32014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.1 June 2014BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States20 Honduras1–04–2Friendly
3.16 November 2014Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel23 Bosnia and Herzegovina3–03–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
4.3 September 201527 Andorra1–04–0
5.31 May 2016Karađorđe Stadium, Novi Sad, Serbia31 Serbia1–11–3Friendly
6.12 November 2016Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania32 Albania1–03–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.15 November 2018Netanya Stadium, Netanya, Israel41 Guatemala1–07–0Friendly
8.20 November 2018Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland42 Scotland2–32–32018–19 UEFA Nations League C
9.21 March 2019Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel43 Slovenia1–11–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
10.24 March 201944 Austria1–14–2
11.2–1
12.3–1
13.7 June 2019Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia45 Latvia1–03–0
14.2–0
15.3–0
16.5 September 2019Turner Stadium, Beersheba, Israel47 North Macedonia1–01–1
17.9 September 2019Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia48 Slovenia2–12–3
18.10 October 2019Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria49 Austria1–01–3
19.15 October 2019Turner Stadium, Beersheba, Israel50 Latvia2–03–1
20.4 September 2020Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland53 Scotland1–11–12020–21 UEFA Nations League B
21.11 October 2020Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel56 Czech Republic1–21–2
22.14 October 2020Anton Malatinský Stadium, Trnava, Slovakia57 Slovakia1–23–2
23.2–2
24.3–2

Honours

Club

Hapoel Tel Aviv[13]

Maccabi Tel Aviv[13]

Individual

See also

References
  1. "Eran Zahavi – Israel – UEFA Nations League". UEFA.com. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  2. "Sheran Yeini: "Eran Zehavi's a true winner"". 24 March 2015.
  3. Lewis, Ori (11 April 2016). "Maccabi Tel Aviv's Zahavi breaks six-decade Israeli league record". Reuters. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  4. "Israeli Sports", Jewish Sports Review, Vol. 9, No. 11, Issue 107, p. 21, January/February 2015.
  5. "Eran Zahavi". Yahoo Eurosport UK.
  6. "The Jews and the Chinese: A connection between 'the world's most ancient people'". Ynetnews. 20 February 2017.
  7. "Israel's Jewish player Eran Zahavi and Muslim player Beram Kayal pray..." Getty Images.
  8. "ליגת העל: ערן זהבי הפך לבורג חשוב בהפועל ת"א". www.haaretz.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  9. "אבא של ערן זהבי בראיון בלעדי: "ערן פגע בי. הפעם זה צריך להיעצר"". www.maariv.co.il (in Hebrew). 19 May 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  10. Gladstone, Roy (11 February 2010). קבוצה בכירה מהליגה הבלגית הציעה חוזה לערן זהבי [A Leading Club From The Belgian League Offers Contract To Eran Zahavi] (in Hebrew). One. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  11. 2010/11 IPL top assisters on one.co.il (in Hebrew)
  12. "Palermo is strengthen, here is the initial balance". US Città di Palermo (in Italian). www.ilpalermocalcio.it. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  13. Eran Zahavi at Soccerway
  14. Eran Zahavi claims return to Israel, nrg, 14 December 2012
  15. "Palermo: Hapoel Tel Aviv got a first-option on Eran Zahavi", ynet, 2 January 2013
  16. "Zahavi agrees 3.5 years deal". Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. 21 January 2013. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  17. Eran Zahavi moves to Maccabi Tel Aviv, walla!, 21 January 2013
  18. "Tel Aviv derby abandoned after player and fan clash". BBC Sport. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  19. "Zahavi header ensures Maccabi deny Basel". UEFA. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  20. "Zahavi strike ensures Maccabi edge out Basel". UEFA. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  21. "Eran Zahavi profile". UEFA. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  22. Halickman, Josh (29 June 2016). "3.5 Years in Yellow & Blue: Zahavi's Stats".
  23. "以色列球星1250万美元加盟广州富力".
  24. "Israeli soccer star Eran Zahavi completes record transfer to Chinese club - Israel News". Jerusalem Post.
  25. ""Zahavi shines in debut as Guangzhou R&F beat Shijiazhaung Everbright"". xinhuanet.com.
  26. "לא עוצר: ערן זהבי נכנס כמחליף וכבש שלושער לזכות גוואנגז'ו R&F [Doesn't stop: Eran Zahavi came on as a substitute and scored a hat-trick for Guangzhou R&F]" (in Hebrew). Walla!. 13 July 2016.
  27. "Yuexiushan: The cradle of Cantonese football, part two". Wild East Football. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  28. דיווחים: שנדונג הציעה 20 מיליון דולר על ערן זהבי [Reports: Shandong offered $20 million for Zahavi]. Sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). 24 December 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  29. חוזה המדינה: זהבי ירוויח כשבעה מיליון דולר לעונה [Zahavi to earn approximately $7 million per season]. Sport5.co.il (in Hebrew). 24 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  30. "Chinese Super League MVP: Who is Eran Zahavi?". 14 November 2017.
  31. "中超颁奖富力成最大赢家 球员球迷携手斩4项大奖". sports.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  32. "Cannavaro wins gold again a decade on". MARCA. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  33. staff, T. O. I. "Israeli soccer star named China's player of the year". www.timesofisrael.com.
  34. שנגחאי שנואה הציעה על זהבי 25 מיליון דולר [Shanghai Shenhua has offered 25 million dollars for Zahavi]. ONE (in Hebrew). 21 September 2017.
  35. Allon Sinai, Israel’s Zahavi signs mega-extension with Chinese club, The Jerusalem Post, 27 February 2018
  36. Michael Church, Eran Zahavi signs new three-year contract at Guangzhou R&F, ESPN, 26 February 2018
  37. "Chinese Super League 2017: Guangzhou Evergrande vs Guangzhou R&F, Preview, Prediction & Predicted Lineup". Chinatopix. 7 April 2017.
  38. "Eran Zahavi sets Chinese Super League record with 29th goal of season, reportedly earning US$1 million". South China Morning Post. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  39. "Eran Zahavi joins PSV". psv.nl. 20 September 2020.
  40. "Rosenborg–PSV | UEFA Europa League". UEFA. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  41. Sinai, Allon (11 September 2013). "Downtrodden Israel decisively defeated". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  42. "Zahavi seals hat-trick with stunner". Sky Sports. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  43. "Poland make it three wins in a row, Zahavi gets hat-trick for Israel". euronews.com. 7 June 2019.
  44. "Slovakia 2–3 Israel". UEFA. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  45. "ערן זהבי". www.football.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  46. "Eran Zahavi". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  47. 新浪体育 (11 November 2017). "扎哈维当选2017中超MVP 拉维奇冯潇霆遗憾落选". sports.sina.com.cn.
  48. "2017中超颁奖典礼:扎哈维MVP+金靴 卡帅最佳教练". sports.sina.com.cn. 11 November 2017.
  49. "Paulinho wins MVP, Li takes best coach at Chinese Super League awards ceremony". Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  50. "中超最佳阵容:武磊领衔上港4将 富力恒大各3人". sports.sina.com.cn. 11 November 2017.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Sheran Yeini		 Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. captain
2015–2016		 Succeeded by
Gal Alberman
Preceded by
Tal Ben Haim		 Israel national football team captain
2016–2017		 Succeeded by
Bibras Natkho
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