Jose Rodriguez Recounts 'Hell' During Israel War, Praises Life in Israel
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Former Israeli league midfielder Jose Rodriguez described the period after October 7th as "hell" but praised life in Israel overall, calling it an "amazing country." He recounted the fear of evacuating his family during the war and his deep affection for the nation, despite the traumatic events. Rodriguez also reflected on his successful career in Israel, including winning championships with Maccabi Haifa and his positive experiences with fans and club officials. He ultimately left Israel for Turkey in early 2024.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Jose Rodriguez described the period after October 7th as "hell" but praised life in Israel.
- Rodriguez called Israel an "amazing country" and rated life there "ten out of ten."
- He recounted the fear and difficulty of evacuating his family during the war.
- Rodriguez won two league championships with Maccabi Haifa, calling it the "best decision of my career."
- He rejected a lucrative offer from Thailand to stay in Israel, influenced by his wife.
- Rodriguez left Israel for Turkey in February 2024 after a stint with Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Spanish midfielder Jose Rodriguez, who previously played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, and Hapoel Tel Aviv, shared his experiences in Israel during a podcast interview. Rodriguez described the period following the October 7th Hamas attack as "hell," recounting the fear and difficulty of trying to evacuate his family. He stated, "If we have to die, it's better that two die and not all of us," referring to a desperate offer he made to his wife to leave with the children without him.
Despite the traumatic experience of the war, Rodriguez expressed a deep affection for Israel, calling it an "amazing country" and rating life there "ten out of ten." He highlighted the positive reception he and his family received from Israelis, noting instances of being invited everywhere and not having to pay in restaurants. He also praised the support provided by Maccabi Haifa's sporting director, Gal Alberman, who ensured his family felt comfortable and cared for.
Rodriguez reflected on his successful tenure at Maccabi Haifa, where he won two league championships, calling it the "best decision of my career." He also discussed his time at Maccabi Tel Aviv, crediting Jordi Cruyff for convincing him to join and mentioning his struggles with injuries and learning English during that period. He revealed he rejected a lucrative offer exceeding one million euros per season from a Thai club to remain in Israel, a decision influenced by his wife's desire to stay.
Looking back, Rodriguez acknowledged a contract dispute with Maccabi Haifa that led to his departure in 2022, feeling he deserved an upgraded contract after his contributions. He also shared a touching anecdote about meeting his former Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho, before a Europa League match, where Mourinho's primary concern was Rodriguez's personal and financial well-being, not football.
Rodriguez's most recent stint in Israel was with Hapoel Tel Aviv, which began positively before the outbreak of war. He eventually moved to Turkish club Adana Demirspor in February 2024, but reiterated his strong positive feelings about Israel as a place to live and his happiest years in football were spent there.
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