June 23, 2010 | 8:05 am

Yossi Benayoun - “The Kid” Can Play

Posted by Jeremy Fine

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So I need to honest with everyone who reads this. I am not a soccer fan. For the most part I find it boring. I would rather play ping pong, swim laps, or work on my basketball skills than play soccer. Maybe its my bad ankles or maybe its because a high scoring game is 3-2, I just can’t really get into soccer. But recently I got an email from an old friend, Justin Ziemba (Sir Yes Sir), about an Israeli soccer player named Yossi Benayoun. Apparently, he is really good and as Justin put it “Right now, one of the hottest players is Yossi Benayoun.” So if that is true TGR feels it is our job to give you the scoop of the Israeli soccer phenom.

Originally from Dimona Israel Benayuon was nicknamed “The Kid” because he started his career at age 9 playing for Hapoel Be’er Sheva. By age 11 Benayoun was already considered a soccer star landing on the cover of magazines. Soon Benyoun moved on and began playing for Maccabi Haifa. In 2002 he left Israel and began playing all over the world. Now he plays for Liverpool as an attacking midfiedler. He is signed to play their through 2013. Since moving over to the premeir league he has a total of 23 goals, not bad for a middle infielder. But what is so impressive are how crucial the goals and assists he scores/dishes out are.

Benayoun is still drawn to his Israeli roots and serves as the captain of the Israeli Nathional Team. By Israelis he is known as the kind of player who puts his body on the line. In 2001 he won the Israeli Premeir League MVP and Maccabi Haifa won its first of back to back titles.

Well I repeat I am not a big soccer kind of guy. But if there was anyone worth following it would be Yossi Benayoun. Jewish. Israeli. And straight up good.

And Let Us Say…Amen.
-Jeremy Fine
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