Tal Ben Haim facts for kids
Ben Haim warming-up for Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2015
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tal Ben Haim | ||
| Date of birth | 31 March 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Rishon LeZion, Israel | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back / Right back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2001 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2004 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 85 | (2) |
| 2004–2007 | Bolton Wanderers | 87 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | Chelsea | 13 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Manchester City | 9 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Sunderland (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Portsmouth | 55 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → West Ham United (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2013 | Queens Park Rangers | 3 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Standard Liège | 10 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Charlton Athletic | 37 | (0) |
| 2015–2018 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 63 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Beitar Jerusalem | 58 | (0) |
| Total | 433 | (3) | |
| International career | |||
| 2001–2002 | Israel U21 | 6 | (0) |
| 2002–2017 | Israel | 96 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2021 | |||
Tal Ben Haim (born on March 31, 1982) is a former professional footballer from Israel. He played as a defender, usually in the centre back or right back positions. Throughout his career, he played for many well-known clubs, including Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, and Manchester City.
Contents
- Early Life and Start in Football
- Club Career Highlights
- International Career
- Personal Life
- Honours
- See also
Early Life and Start in Football
Tal Ben Haim was born in Rishon LeZion, Israel. He grew up in a Jewish family.
Club Career Highlights
Playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv
Ben Haim joined the senior team of Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1998. He made his first league appearance in April 2001. He was known for being able to play both as a right back and a centre-back. He helped Maccabi win the Israeli Premier League title in the 2002–03 season. The next season, he became the team captain.
Time at Bolton Wanderers
In 2004, Ben Haim moved to Bolton Wanderers in England. He signed a three-year deal after a successful trial. His first season was good, as he played in 27 matches.
On February 1, 2005, he scored his only goal for Bolton. It was a header from a free-kick in a 3–1 win against Tottenham Hotspur. In October 2005, he even wore the captain's armband for Bolton in a UEFA Cup match.
Joining Chelsea
In June 2007, Ben Haim signed with Chelsea on a free transfer. He was excited to join "one of the greatest clubs in the world." He made his first game for Chelsea against Manchester United.
At first, he played regularly because other defenders were injured. However, once the main defenders returned, he played less often. He made 13 league appearances for Chelsea before moving to another club.
Moving to Manchester City
In July 2008, Ben Haim joined Manchester City. He chose to wear the number 26 jersey, which he had worn at most of his previous clubs. He made his debut for City in a UEFA Cup qualifier.
However, he found it hard to get a regular spot in the starting team. After a loan spell, it became clear he was not needed by the club.
Loan to Sunderland
In February 2009, Ben Haim went on loan to Sunderland until the end of the season. He played only 5 times for Sunderland before returning to Manchester City.
Playing for Portsmouth
On August 31, 2009, Ben Haim signed a four-year deal with Portsmouth. He quickly became a key defender for the team. He suffered an injury that kept him out of the FA Cup final in 2010, which Portsmouth lost to Chelsea.
Even though Portsmouth was relegated, Ben Haim chose to stay with the club. He played one season, making 24 appearances. The club faced financial problems, and there were discussions about his contract.
Loan to West Ham United
In August 2010, Ben Haim joined West Ham United on loan. He made his first appearance for West Ham in a League Cup match. He also played in a league game against his former club, Chelsea. His loan ended in January 2011.
Return to Portsmouth and Contract Issues
After his loan, Ben Haim returned to Portsmouth. He had a disagreement with the club about unpaid wages. This issue meant he could not play for the team for a while. Eventually, an agreement was reached.
He started playing for Portsmouth again in the 2011–12 season. However, Portsmouth faced more financial troubles and was relegated again. Ben Haim left the club in August 2012.
Short Stays at Other Clubs
Queens Park Rangers
In January 2013, Ben Haim joined Queens Park Rangers on a short contract. He made his debut in an FA Cup match. He was released by the club at the end of the 2012–13 season.
Standard Liège
In July 2013, Ben Haim signed a two-year contract with Standard Liège in Belgium. He made ten appearances for the club.
Charlton Athletic
In July 2014, Ben Haim signed a one-year deal with Charlton Athletic. This was his eighth English club. He played in the opening game of the season. He was released in May 2015 when his contract ended.
Second Return to Maccabi Tel Aviv
On June 3, 2015, Ben Haim signed a two-year contract to return to his first club, Maccabi Tel Aviv. He helped Maccabi qualify for the Champions League group stage. In a Champions League match against his former club Chelsea, he received a red card.
Playing for Beitar Jerusalem
On August 7, 2018, Ben Haim signed a two-year contract with Beitar Jerusalem F.C. He played many games for the club and extended his contract for another year in August 2020. He retired from professional football in 2021.
International Career
Tal Ben Haim made his debut for the Israel national team on February 13, 2002, in a friendly match against Germany. He scored his first goal for Israel from a penalty kick in a 2–1 win against Latvia on June 4, 2011. He played 96 times for his country.
Personal Life
There is another footballer named Tal Ben Haim, who was born in 1989. To tell them apart, the older Tal Ben Haim (this article's subject) is sometimes called Tal Ben Haim I. The younger player sometimes spells his last name as Ben Chaim on his jersey.
Honours
Portsmouth
- FA Cup Runner-up: 2010
See also
In Spanish: Tal Ben Haim para niños
- List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players
