Austrian Player's Homesickness Led to Carlos Cuellar's Arrival in Israel
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Former Maccabi Petah Tikva assistant coach Nimrod Kostika revealed that the team signed Carlos Cuellar in 2016 after their expensive Austrian defender became homesick and asked to leave. The Austrian player performed poorly, scoring three own goals in one match, leading to his contract being terminated within hours. Cuellar, who had a notable career in Europe, subsequently joined other Israeli clubs and won a cup with Bnei Yehuda.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Carlos Cuellar joined Maccabi Petah Tikva in 2016 after an Austrian player's homesickness led to his contract termination.
- The Austrian defender was signed for 100,000 euros plus a bonus but scored three own goals in his first practice match.
- The Austrian player expressed distress over missing his dog and nephew, prompting the club to release him.
- Avi Luzon, a club official, was initially furious about the Austrian signing but celebrated his departure.
- Carlos Cuellar had a significant career in Europe before playing for several Israeli teams, winning a cup with Bnei Yehuda.
An unusual turn of events in 2016 led to the arrival of Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar in Israel, according to Nimrod Kostika, who was an assistant coach at Maccabi Petah Tikva.
Kostika recounted on the Walla Sport podcast "Lo Leפרסום" that the team was searching for a central defender to play alongside Allison Dos Santos. They were offered an Austrian player who had performed well in Austria, including a strong showing against Salzburg where he effectively neutralized Omer Damari. The Austrian player was expensive, costing the club 100,000 euros plus a 10,000 euro bonus.
However, the Austrian defender's performance was disastrous. In a practice match against Kiryat Shmona, Maccabi Petah Tikva lost 4-0, with the new signing scoring three own goals. Club official Avi Luzon was furious, lamenting his decision to sign the player. The next game against Hapoel Haifa saw the defender score two more own goals, seemingly sealing his fate.
During a training camp in Austria, Kostika, coach Kobi Refua, Omer Golan, and Morad Magmadov were discussing the team's predicament when the Austrian defender knocked on their door. He entered crying, expressing that he missed his dog and nephew and did not want to stay. Recognizing his distress, the coaches contacted his parents to arrange for documentation to terminate his contract. The contract was dissolved within two hours, despite the player's initial request to wait for his agent.
The following morning, Avi Luzon, seeing the coaches in good spirits, was initially upset, believing they had caused him financial ruin. Upon learning that the problematic defender had been released, Luzon's demeanor changed dramatically, and he ordered celebratory cakes and sweets for the staff.
When asked who replaced the Austrian player, Kostika identified the "legendary Carlos Cuellar." Cuellar, a Spanish player with an impressive resume including stints at Osasuna, Aston Villa, and Rangers, where he played in the 2008 UEFA Cup final, went on to play for Kiryat Shmona, was signed and released by Beitar Jerusalem without playing, and then won the State Cup with Bnei Yehuda in 2019. The podcast panel concluded that without the Austrian player's homesickness, the "legendary Carlos Cuellar" might never have come to Israel.