| Yossi Benayoun | |
|---|---|
| |
| Personal information | |
| Date of Birth |
May 5, 1980 |
| Place of Birth |
Dimona, Israel |
| Height |
1.73m (5'8") |
| Position |
Midfielder |
| Liverpool statistics | |
| Years |
2007-2010 |
| Appearances |
134 |
| Goals |
29 |
Yosef Shai "Yossi" Benayoun (born May 5, 1980) is an Israeli footballer who played for Liverpool from 2007 to 2010 before moving to Chelsea.
Liverpool career[]
Benayoun agreed a new five-year deal with West Ham in May 2007 but had not signed it when Liverpool confirmed in July 2007 that they had made an approach for him. West Ham rejected a £3 million bid from Liverpool, but Liverpool made an increased offer of £4.5 million. On 10 July, Israeli media reported that Benayoun's manager, Ronen Katsav, had agreed a deal with Liverpool which would mean Benayoun taking a lower pay than the £50,000 a week offered by West Ham in May. The BBC reported that West Ham had agreed a fee of £4 million with Liverpool and that the transfer was expected to be finalised on July 11. On 12th July, Liverpool FC reported on their official website that the signing of Yossi Benayoun had been completed. He had signed a four-year contract in a reported £5 million deal. Benayoun was introduced as a Liverpool player along with Ryan Babel on July 13, and was given the number 11 shirt.
He made his first competitive start for Liverpool against Toulouse FC in the Champions League qualifier 3rd round 1st leg. He then came on as a substitute against Derby County in a 6-0 win. His first goal for Liverpool came on the 25th September 2007 when he scored against Reading in the Carling Cup with a wonderful solo effort. Then in his next match he scored his first Premiership goal for Liverpool with another stunning effort. After receiving a through ball from Jermaine Pennant, he took on his man and slid the ball past the Wigan goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland. On November 6, 2007 Benayoun scored an in-a-row hat-trick to go along with two assists against Beşiktaş J.K. in the Champions League. Liverpool went on to beat Beşiktaş J.K. 8-0, which set the record for margin of victory in a Champions League match. Benayoun made history by scoring the 500th goal in Liverpool Champions League history. Yossi scored a second hat trick against a mismatched opponent in his first season against non-league side Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup, a team 122 places behind Liverpool on the league pyramid.
Honours[]
Individual[]
- No. 71 on 100 Players Who Shook The Kop (2013)
Stats[]
| Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 2007-08 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 11 |
| 2008-09 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 9 |
| 2009-10 | 30 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 9 |
| Total | 92 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 134 | 29 |
External links[]
- Yossi Benayoun career stats at Soccerbase