Former Footballer Omri Canada Reveals There Are No True Friends in Football
Former Israeli footballer Omri Canada opened up in an interview with Walla Personal about the lack of genuine friendships in the football world. He described the environment as one masked by money, travel, and shopping, saying, "I talk to them occasionally, but you never really know what's going on in their personal lives." Canada did note that he remains friends with fellow player Gili Vermut but emphasized he does not socialize with most people he met during his career. His wife, Dorin, added that he prefers spending quiet time at home, avoiding drinking and smoking, and that their lifestyle centers around family and tranquility rather than nightlife or social outings. The couple even appeared on the show "Power Couple," which they described as their boldest public move.
Canada also reflected on his past financial struggles despite earning large sums as a professional athlete. He recounted how boredom led him to spend extravagantly, including a 70,000 shekel trip to Thailand early in his career and losing 20,000 shekels gambling. He clarified that gambling was only part of the issue, with other expenses such as clothes, cars, and trips adding up. Despite not drinking or smoking, he would spend thousands on nights out with friends, often relying on upcoming paychecks and loans, leaving no savings for emergencies.
The interview sheds light on the personal challenges and isolation faced by professional athletes, as well as the pressures that come with sudden wealth and public life.