Yossi Benayoun, Israel footballer: Profile, Career, News & Videos

Yossi Benayoun is an Israeli former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He spent most of his career in Israel and England and captained the Israel national team. Born in Dimona, he is sometimes nicknamed \"The Diamond from Dimona\" in Israel. As of 2023, he has been the sporting director of the Israel national team.

Benayoun played for Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Maccabi Haifa before moving to Racing Santander in Spain. Three years later he moved to the Premier League with West Ham United, and later Liverpool. In 2010, he signed for Chelsea, where he was used rarely, being loaned to Arsenal and back to West Ham, but nonetheless won the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League. After that, he was released by the club and spent a season in the Football League Championship with Queens Park Rangers before returning to Maccabi Haifa.

A full international for twenty years from 1998 to 2018, Benayoun is Israel's most capped player of all time with 101 appearances, and their joint-third top scorer with 23 international goals.

Benayoun holds the position of sporting director for Beitar Jerusalem, the club that he last played for.