Israeli Soccer League Attracts International Stars Past Their Prime

Israeli Premier League clubs have a history of signing prominent international footballers late in their careers, adding a "star dust" element to the domestic competition. The latest notable arrival is James Tavernier, the 34-year-old captain of Rangers, who has signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Tavernier, a prolific right-back known for his free-kick prowess, scored 153 goals and provided 161 assists during his time in Scotland.

This trend of attracting well-known foreign players is not new. In 2008, Uruguayan striker Sebastián Abreu joined Hapoel Tel Aviv directly from River Plate, having scored 26 goals for his national team. However, he left without playing a league game after the club's elimination from Champions League qualifiers.

Other significant signings include": Bosnian forward Mehmed Baždarević (who played for Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2000-01), who scored 9 goals in 32 appearances for Barcelona. Cameroonian midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba, formerly of Manchester United and Aston Villa, played for Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2012-13. French winger Jérôme Rothen, who had over 150 appearances for PSG, joined Beitar Jerusalem in 2006.

Chilean talent Sebastián Rozental, once considered a top prospect and the first South American player for Rangers, had his career hampered by injury after joining Maccabi Petah Tikva and Maccabi Netanya in 2007-08. Spanish winger Isaac Cuenca, who played for Barcelona's first team under Pep Guardiola and assisted a goal in a Champions League semi-final, joined Hapoel Be'er Sheva in 2017-18.

Real Madrid youth academy product José Rodríguez played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, and Hapoel Tel Aviv between 2017 and 2024, and previously held a Real Madrid record for youngest Champions League debutant. Soviet goalkeeper Viktor Chanov, a Dynamo Kyiv legend and Soviet international, played for Maccabi Haifa from 1990-1993, having won the Cup Winners' Cup and multiple Soviet league titles.

Russian star Andrei Tikhonov, a symbol of Spartak Moscow, joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2000-01 after winning numerous Russian league titles and being named Russian Footballer of the Year. Welsh striker Robert Earnshaw, known for scoring hat-tricks across multiple English leagues and for Wales, had a stint with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2012. Yugoslav midfielder Zlatko Čajkovski, a former Partizan Belgrade and Köln player with 55 caps for Yugoslavia and two Olympic silver medals, played for Hapoel Haifa from 1958-1960.