Tal Ben Haim

Tal Ben Haim (, born March 31, 1982 in Rishon LeZion, Israel) is an Israeli professional football (soccer) player. Ben Haim plays both centre back and right back, and is currently contracted to Chelsea F.C. in the Barclays Premier League and is a member of the Israel national football team.

Club career

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Ben Haim joined Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. in 1998 as a reserve player, breaking into the first team some time later. From 2000 to 2002, he served in the IDF. Upon completing his term and returning to the team, Ben Haim played a significant part in Maccabi's Ligat ha'Al win in the Ligat ha'Al 2002/03.

Bolton Wanderers

After a two week trial with Bolton Wanderers F.C. in the summer of 2004, Sam Allardyce secured the services of Ben Haim on a three-year deal for a fee believed to be in the region of £150,000. Although Allardyce did not believe Haim would be ready for the rigours of the Premier League immediately, he was confident that, given time, Ben Haim would have as big an impact on the English game as illustrious fellow countryman Eyal Berkovic.

His first season at the Reebok Stadium was a successful one as he made 27 appearances and scored his first goal for Bolton in a 3-1 home victory against Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. The only thing that hampered his campaign a little was a clash with Wayne Rooney in a league match when Rooney appeared to shove him in the face. Ben Haim, it was claimed, went down too easily and made too much of it and was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association, but was later cleared of charges.

On October 20, 2005 while playing for Bolton Wanderers in the UEFA cup match, away at Beşiktaş J.K., Tal Ben Haim wore the captain's arm band and was praised by the regular team captain Jay Jay Okocha.

Ben Haim's impressive defensive displays in his following seasons at Bolton had attracted the interests of many clubs including Chelsea F.C., West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur. In January 2007, Chelsea confirmed that talks to sign Ben Haim from Bolton were unsuccessful.

Following the end of the Premier League 2006-07, Ben Haim's contract with Bolton had expired and his future at Bolton was in doubt with media reports linking him with a move to Chelsea and Newcastle United, ex-Bolton boss Sam Allardyce admitting that he was ready to make an offer to his former charge to bring him to Newcastle.

His transfer from Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. to Bolton Wanderers F.C. in July 2004 is one of those about which the 2006_allegations_of_corruption_in_English_football Stevens_report report in June 2007 expressed concerns because of the apparent conflict of interest between agent Craig Allardyce, his father Sam Allardyce - the then manager at Bolton - and the club itself.

Chelsea

On June 14 2007, Chelsea officially announced the signing of Ben Haim on a Bosman transfer after he had passed his medical at Stamford Bridge and agreed on personal terms to join the club on a four-year deal. Ben Haim told the exclusively: "I am very happy to join one of the greatest clubs in the world. I needed a new challenge. I will play in any position Jose Mourinho wants me to play. I am looking forward to starting the new season with Champions League football."
He made his competitive debut for Chelsea F.C] against Manchester United in the FA Community Shield.

International career

Ben Haim has been a regular for the Israel national football team. He has proven to be of extreme importance in Israel's success in Israel's Football World Cup 2006 - European Qualification Groups campaign. During the Israel vs. France match in World Cup 2006 qualifying, David Trézéguet took exception to a Ben Haim tackle and headbutted the Israeli at the cost of a red card. Israel went on to draw the game 1-1 against ten man France.

Ben Haim has been called up by Israel for the UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying.

Trivia

- Tal means Dew in Hebrew. Literally, Ben Haim means Son of Life. However, the Hebrew word "Ben" also has several borrowed meanings, such as "one who has", "one who belongs to", etc. So a more precise translation would be "Belongs to Life", or "Has the virtue of living".
- On 17/6/2007 he married Michal Hemo in Israel, guests included FA Premiership footballers.