Benayoun out at Israel National Team; Bachar to take over from Hazan as coach?

The Israel Football Association announced on Tuesday night that longtime Israel soccer star Yossi Benayoun will not remain as general manager of the National Team. The decision follows Israel’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2024 after losing to Iceland 4-1 in Budapest in the qualifying play-off semifinals last week.

The 43-year-old Benayoun, who played as a midfielder for top clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal, joined the blue-and-white squad in March 2022 on a two-year contract with an option for two more. However, due to the loss, the IFA informed Benayoun about the decision not to exercise the extension.

Benayoun's legendary career

The fan-favorite “Diamond of Dimona,” Benayoun enjoyed a 20-year international career from 1998 to 2018 and is Israel’s most-capped player of all time with 102 caps and its joint-third top scorer with 24 international goals. In addition to his club play abroad, Benayoun also had stints with Hapoel Beersheba, Maccabi Haifa (twice), Beitar Jerusalem (twice), Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Maccabi Petah Tikva before hanging up his cleats in 2019.

Israel’s Sport5 reported that the IFA will also part ways with the team’s head coach, Alon Hazan, and appoint Barak Bachar as the successor. Bachar, 44, won six Israeli Premier League titles between 2016 and 2023 with both Hapoel Beersheba and Maccabi Haifa.

He started the current season as head coach of Serbian champion Red Star Belgrade but was fired in late December.Israel’s next campaign will be between September and November in League A of the UEFA Nations League, where they will play against France, Belgium, and Italy.