The quality of foreign talents in Israeli soccer has steadily declined in recent years. Our league is on the periphery of the European league, attracting lower-profile foreigners who hope to make the leap toward more prominent clubs. The war that erupted last year only exacerbated the issue, with Israeli clubs struggling to draft foreign soccer players, especially professional ones.
Israeli basketball, on the other hand, has been revigorated with two tycoons entering the fray, spending money and drafting quality players from abroad. Businessman Ofer Yannay is transforming Hapoel Tel Aviv and Matan Adelson is building Hapoel Jerusalem in an attempt to beat Maccabi Tel Aviv.
When introduced to the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team, Adelson said in his remarks: "Today is a truly exciting day for me personally, for Israeli basketball for the beautiful city of Jerusalem and especially for Hapoel. We are at the dawn of a new era both for the club and for myself, and I couldn’t be more thrilled and more confident as we embark on this next chapter."
Meanwhile, the Israeli soccer clubs' interim solution involves turning to foreign players who are already playing in Israel, and recruiting players from lower-tier leagues like Armenia and Cyprus.
As usual, the top teams are the ones who set the tone. Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa are having trouble bringing in players even though the season officially opens this week.
"It is very difficult to land foreigners here," said agent and former Maccabi Tel Aviv player Avi Nimni. "Israel's situation is felt everywhere, so obviously in sports as well. I was recently in Portugal and it is not difficult to understand our situation. Despite this, I believe that, in the end, money matters, and if we make significant offers to the players it will be easier."
Professional managers and coaches in the Premier League also share their difficulty in bringing foreign soccer talents, who simply do not want to come and play in Israel. The teams offer them a higher salary, and invite them to come to Israel to see with their own eyes that the situation is calmer than what is portrayed in the media. Refusals to come to Israel force the teams to be flexible and explore the African, South American and Balkan players, which, brought Serbian coach Jarko Lazetic to Israel as Maccabi Tel Aviv's coach.
Beitar Jerusalem kept three of its foreign players from last season (Ismaila Soro, Miguel Silva and Mayron George) and is trying to land three more, but has been met with refusals so far. Other teams reported partial success in the foreign players market. Hapoel Haifa landed Dramane Salou from Burkina Faso, Maccabi Netanya brought in Portuguese player Heriberto Tavares, and Hapoel Hadera signed French striker Ibrahim Sangare.