From Benchwarmer to Key Player, Eliel Peretz Leads Hapoel Be'er Sheva's Charge
Eliel Peretz has transformed from a fringe player to a crucial asset for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, becoming the team's most significant player in the current season. Initially overlooked and starting on the bench for European qualifiers against Víkingur in Iceland, Peretz has since cemented his place in the starting lineup. His resurgence has been instrumental in Be'er Sheva remaining Israel's sole representative in European competitions and in their pursuit of a second consecutive league title.
Peretz's journey back into favor began after a disciplinary incident during the Champions of Champions match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, where his frustration led to him kicking a bottle after being substituted. Coach Ran Kochav responded by benching him for the first leg against Víkingur. However, Peretz entered the second leg at halftime, contributing to the team's comeback victory and securing their advancement.
Following the departure of key midfielder Kanga, Peretz stepped into a more advanced midfield role alongside Lucas Ventura and Niv Yehoshua. This new midfield trio proved highly effective, notably in their matches against Red Star Belgrade and in the Europa Conference League playoff against Qarabag. Peretz delivered standout performances, including an assist in the first leg against Qarabag and the winning assist in the second leg, despite receiving a red card late in that game.
His strong form has continued in the domestic league, where he has scored crucial goals, including a dramatic free-kick winner against Hapoel Ramat Gan and another goal against Hapoel Haifa. With two goals so far this season, he is on pace to surpass his previous league tallies of six goals in each of his last two seasons.
As Peretz enters the final year of his contract, negotiations for an extension are ongoing but have not yet yielded significant progress. The 29-year-old midfielder is seeking a contract that will secure his financial future, and with his current form, he is positioning himself as one of the league's top earners. Be'er Sheva aims to retain him, especially with the potential departures of other key players like Ventura, but Peretz will be free to negotiate with other clubs starting in January.
