Rotem Keller explains why he turned down top Israeli clubs for Debrecen

Rotem Keller has signed with Hungarian club Debrecen, choosing to leave Maccabi Netanya and move abroad despite interest from several major Israeli teams. The 14.06.26 interview was published by Sport 5, and Keller said the move gives him another chance to build a European career after a previous loan spell at Diósgyőr in Hungary.

Keller, who came through Netanya’s youth system, had strong seasons for the club but did not agree to a new contract. Over the past year he drew interest from Hapoel Beersheba, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem and, shortly before the signing, Maccabi Haifa. Still, he said he preferred to complete his Netanya deal and go overseas because that was his main goal.

He said Debrecen stood out because the club showed clear commitment and because it will play in Conference League qualifying. Keller also pointed to the club’s history, its trophies and its fan base as reasons for joining. He added that his Hungarian passport means he is not considered a foreign player in the country. He noted that Israeli players’ success in Hungary, including Mohamed Abu Fani’s league title and Abu Fani and Gabi Kanichowsky’s cup win last season, influenced his decision.

Keller thanked his agent, Shlomi Ben Ezra, said he appreciated the Israeli offers, and described Europe as the challenge that interested him most. Asked about his reduced minutes in Netanya in the second half of last season, he said he always trained and worked hard and accepted the coaching staff’s decisions. He also said reaching the Israel national team is a dream and that he hopes this move will last longer than many short-lived foreign stints by Israeli players. He apologized for Netanya’s 8-2 loss to Beitar Jerusalem, saying the players felt the same disappointment as the fans. On the 2026 World Cup, he said he would like Argentina to win again because he is a Messi supporter.