Bnei Yehuda Team Doctor Dr. Avraham Bein Retires at 72 After Decades of Service

Dr. Avraham Bein, the longtime team doctor for Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv football club, has announced his retirement at age 72. Bein's involvement with the club began in 1994 when he treated the legendary chairman Gad Sulami, who had a severe heel injury before a critical youth team match in Germany. After successfully operating on Sulami, Bein was invited to become the club's chief physician, a role he accepted without a formal contract, viewing Bnei Yehuda as family rather than a job.

Throughout his career, Bein also served as a doctor for the Israeli national handball team and several football clubs including Hapoel Rishon LeZion, Kfar Shalem, and Hapoel Petah Tikva. Despite these roles, he prioritized Bnei Yehuda, the club that chose him at age 38. Bein specialized in sports medicine after training in orthopedics at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center under Professor Nahum Halperin and graduated with honors from medical school in Padua, Italy.

Bein treated many prominent players, including Eliran Atar, who recovered from a severe foot fracture, and Morad Magamadov, whose pain was alleviated through Bein’s precise diagnosis. He also helped Hazzi Shirazi return to play after identifying an Achilles tendon inflammation. However, his career also included tragic moments, such as the death of Hapoel Tayibe player Haib Jabara during a 1997 match where Bein was the sole doctor on site. Despite resuscitation efforts, Jabara passed away, and Bein later learned the family restricted the autopsy details.

Known for his strict medical ethics, Bein often refused to allow players with concussions back onto the field, prioritizing their health over competitive pressure. Even after retiring from football sidelines, he continues to perform surgeries and provide consultations at his clinic. He praised younger doctors and emphasized the importance of giving them credit, noting that many athletes from other clubs discreetly seek his advice. Bein described his career as a dream fulfilled, driven by the satisfaction of helping athletes return to their sport safely.