Hapoel Hadera's Ari Cohen Tops Israeli Premier League Speed Rankings
A new analysis of player speed in Israel's Premier League has revealed Ari Cohen of Hapoel Hadera as the fastest player, reaching a maximum speed of 36.2 km/h. The data, compiled by SofaScore using Opta tracking cameras over the past two seasons, surprisingly omits several prominent players from the top ten.
Other players in the top ten include Klay of Hapoel Petah Tikva (36.1 km/h), Vitali Damescan of Hapoel Jerusalem (36.0 km/h), and Nemanja Ljubisavljevic of Kiryat Shmona (35.9 km/h). Notably, some players from larger clubs, like Douglas Owusu of Hapoel Tel Aviv, did not make the top ten despite being considered fast.
The article notes that while maximum speed is a valuable asset, especially in Israeli football's emphasis on quick transitions and one-on-one situations, it's not the sole determinant of a player's effectiveness. Examples like Dor Peretz, who has a lower top speed but excels due to his positioning and acceleration, are cited.
Experts suggest that a more comprehensive measure of speed in football would incorporate acceleration and change of direction, data not yet publicly available. While Ari Cohen holds the top spot for raw speed, the article concludes that the 'fastest' player in a broader sense is subjective and could include others like Matheus Dabo, Silva Kani, Nana Antwi, Owusu, Yanick Lellindell, or Klay, depending on the criteria used.
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