Alex Zahavi

Alexander "Alex" Abraham Zahavi (born 21 January 1991) is a former professional footballer who played as a winger or forward.

Alex Zahavi
Personal information
Full name Alexander Abraham Zahavi
Date of birth (1991-01-21) 21 January 1991
Place of birth Los Angeles, California, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Winger, forward
Youth career
1998–1999 Hapoel Haifa
1999–2002 Benfica
2002–2004 Arsenal
2005–2007 Barcelona
2007–2010 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Maccabi Haifa 0 (0)
2011 → Hapoel Acre (loan) 10 (0)
2011–2012 → Vitória Setúbal (loan) 1 (0)
2012–2013 → Olhanense (loan) 0 (0)
International career
Portugal U16 7 (0)
2007 Portugal U17 8 (3)
Portugal U18 9 (2)
Portugal U19 3 (0)
2010 United States U20 2 (1)
2011 Israel U21 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zahavi was born in the United States, the son of a Portuguese mother and Israeli father. He has represented Portugal at youth levels but considered switching federations so he can represent the United States.[1] He is the great nephew of football agent Pini Zahavi. Zahavi is a winger who plays on the left side of midfield, even though he is right-footed.

Club career

On 16 July 2010, Zahavi joined Maccabi Haifa on trial trying to impress Elisha Levy. On 26 July he was presented as a Maccabi Haifa player after he signed a contract with the club.

Zahavi joined Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Acre in February 2011 on loan for the remainder of the 2010–11 season.[2]

On 7 July, Maccabi Haifa announced that they extended Zahavi's contract through the 2015 season, and are loaning him to Primeira Liga team Vitória de Setúbal for the 2011–12 season.[3] Zahavi joined Portuguese top-flight side S.C. Olhanense for the 2012–13 season.[4]

International career

Zahavi represented Portugal at various youth levels but was never called into the senior team. Because he played in an official UEFA U17[5] qualifying tournament for Portugal, he was cap tied to their national team under FIFA eligibility rules.[6] However, since he is also eligible to play for Israel or the United States, he was allowed to file for a one-time only switch with FIFA.[7]

Zahavi was called up to the United States U-20's team in November 2010 for the Torneo de las Americas.[8]

On 20 February 2011, Zahavi was called in for his first Israel U-21 camp.[9] Three days later Zahavi played in a friendly with the under-21 side against FC Arsenal Kyiv.[10] In March 2011, Zahavi was brought in for another training camp.[11] On 17 March 2011 Zahavi was named to the under-21 side for a tournament in Austria.[12] Zahavi made his debut for the side in a friendly against Georgia on 23 March 2011.[13] Zahavi scored his first goal for the under-21 side in a friendly against Romania on 26 March 2011 in Austria.[14] Zahavi floated the ball over the Romanian goalkeeper from 35 metres out after exchanging passes with Nes Zamir.[14]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[15]
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Maccabi Haifa 2010–11 Israeli Premier League 00005050
Hapoel Acre (loan) 2010–11 Israeli Premier League 1000000100
Vitoria 2011–12 Primeira Liga 10000010
Olhanense 2012–13 Primeira Liga 00000000
Career total 1100050170
  1. Includes Israel State Cup, Taca de Portugal.
  2. Includes Toto Cup, Taça da Liga.

References
  1. Garza Discusses Sporting and US U20 Future[Usurped!]
  2. Sciaretta, Brian (10 February 2011). "ZAHAVI EXCITED FOR HAPOEL ACRE LOAN". Yanks Abroad. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
  3. "American Exports: US youth int'l Zahavi heads to Portugal | MLSsoccer.com". Archived from the original on 10 July 2011.
  4. "Desperate times at Olhanense - the Portugal News". Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  5. "The official website for European football – UEFA.com".
  6. Zahavi Close to US Switch[Usurped!]
  7. FIFA Amends International Eligibility Rule[Usurped!]
  8. "Private Site". Archived from the original on 9 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  9. סגל הנבחרת הצעירה למשחק מול ארסנל קייב [Squad For Under-21 Friendly Against Arsenal Kyiv] (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  10. הנבחרת הצעירה הפסידה 3:0 לארסנל קייב [The Under-21s Lose To Arsenal Kyiv 3:0] (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  11. מחנה אימונים לנבחרת הצעירה [Training Camp For Under-21s] (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  12. סגל הנבחרת הצעירה לטורניר באוסטריה [Under-21 Side For Tournament In Austria] (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  13. הנבחרת הצעירה ניצחה 0:2 את גיאורגיה [The National Under-21s defeat Georgia 2:0] (in Hebrew). Israel Football Association. 23 March 2011. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  14. Bahat, Dana (26 March 2011). "1:1 לצעירה עם רומניה, נס זמיר: זה עוזר להתחבר" [1-1 For The Under-21 With Romania, Nes Zamir: This Helps Our Connecting] (in Hebrew). One.co.il. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  15. Alex Zahavi at Soccerway
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