Yossi Benayoun, captain of Israel's
national soccer team has become the highest paid Israeli sportsman ever Friday, after signing a new contract with England's West Ham United.
Forever known as "the kid from Dimona", Benayoun, 27, has certainly grown up. He now has a five-year contract grossing him about $4.5 million a year. Benayoun's net worth? About $3 million a year.
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| Benayoun to sign 5-year deal in West Ham / Reuters |
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Israel captain was linked with a move to Liverpool, Arsenal in the close season |
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The deal with West Ham is supposed to be finalized on Tuesday, cementing Benayoun's status as the most successful Israeli sportsman of all time. This title was previously held by Eyal Berkovitz, who got his big break at Manchester City.
"If someone would have told me, back when I was playing in Israel, that this is the way my career would be going, I would have believed them immediately… I've had a lot of dreams come true. This is one of them," said Benayoun Saturday.
"I'm happy, the kids that see me play do so for the game, not for the money I make," he added.
Benayoun is Israeli soccer's biggest success story, and was marked as "the next big thing" back when he was just starting out, at Hapoel Beersheba. When he enlisted in the IDF, Benayoun signed with Maccabi Haifa, where he was guaranteed a $200,000 signing bonus upon his release from the service from the army.
In 2002 Benayoun joined Spain's Racing Santander, but he never forgot his childhood dream – to play in the English Premier League. Two years ago his dream came true, when he joined West Ham United
Everything went well his first season with West Ham, but things took a turn for the worst this season after he suffered three injuries, limiting his performances on the field. But Benayoun bounced back in the season's final game, and West Ham wasted no time in offering him a new contract
"I've always had people doubt me," he said, "but I only have one person to prove myself to – me," he said Saturday. "I believe I can make it even further. My dreams are far from over."
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