Every Israeli footballer’s dream is to go abroad and succeed in the top league. The usual route of moving through the big teams has changed in recent years and more and more players are becoming legionaries even before they become stars in the Premier League. But how many did it at 16 and a half? Here’s one who’s already playing for Burnley’s youth and reserve teams – Amir Arieli.
The training in the blizzard and the moment that changed the season
To get to know the nature of the brake one has to go back to one of Bransley’s training sessions this season. A blizzard, minus 5 degrees, the final whistle, all the players in the showers and Arieli strengthens the weak leg, more and more – for an hour.
“It was frozen. I stood in front of the wall and just kicked him. The coach grabbed me and said ‘Amir! Minus 5 degrees outside. There’s a blizzard and you’re still doing extras ?!'” Arieli told the sports channel, “I told him the weather doesn’t matter and I need to “Improve my game. He looked at me like crazy, but agreed that I would continue. It really did not move me because I am in the place I like with the thing I like best – on the court, with the ball.”
Adapting to England has not been easy. A 17-year-old boy, a foreign country, the beginning of the corona, and without a minute of grass in the first half year. “For the first two months I waited for a work permit and then I had a hard time getting into the squad because the team wanted to and I was one of the young players. Even so, I continued to work hard and maintain professional habits. I knew opportunities would come. There are just people taking them and some not.”
“After half a year we had a game against Burnley at home. I started on the bench, one of the brakes made a mistake and we fell 3-0 at half time. Two minutes before the whistle the coach told me to warm up and I realized it was my chance. I was so excited I didn’t even need a warm-up. “I wanted to get up and play. I knew how to stay calm, I am always confident in myself and my abilities. I gave an excellent game, which ended 3: 2, but for me I won 0: 2. From that moment on, I did not miss even a minute on the grass.”
The tests at Blackburn and the games against the seniors
Arieli grew up in the youth department of Maccabi Tel Aviv and played there until the age of 15 and a half, before moving to Maccabi Netanya. After a year at Diamond the sturdy brake (1.87), he completed the move to England through his agent Clive Hart. The latter recognized Arieli’s talent and took him under his wing. It started with tests at Blackburn and continued, as mentioned, in the move to Burnley.
“When I got to Blackburn I was in shock, everything was terribly different. Pay much more attention to the little things,” Arieli described his initial time in England, “for example, the bandwidth, which foot the ball goes to, and what information I know about the player I should give him the delivery. “I was pretty good, but inexperienced. I understood the requirements less, I think I benefited from it and it gave me a lot. When I got to Burnley I already had more confidence.”
Arieli, who is characterized by excellent head play and the ability to play with both feet, is considered a senior player in a team that is in third place in the youth league. Just last Wednesday he celebrated 18 and despite that he has already made 5 appearances in the reserve team (Under 23). In the summer he will sign a contract extension at the club.
“Next season I imagine I will start in a reserve team. I hope to be in the squad and present a very high level on a regular basis,” Arieli continued, “this is what differentiates players who reach the top or not, the continuity. Play against senior players at 24, and then return to play With 17-year-olds, it’s a different world, and it’s terribly improving. ”
“Arieli is a workhorse. Sometimes I beg him to rest,” his agent said Clive Hart“Even when he goes on vacation in Israel, he trains all the time. He is a focused light in football. By the way, he is also a smart student. If not for the love of the ball, he would be a doctor.”
Agenda in the academy and the big question – is it not enough for the young team?
Despite the success in England and the weekly confrontation with some of the players of the young England team, very strangely he was not called up to the Israeli team. Apart from three intensive training days in which he was examined, none of the representatives of the team approached him and demanded the safety of one of the few legionaries in his youth. What does this say about the conduct of our football? Judge for yourself.
Meanwhile Arieli has to deal with another difficulty as in the last eight months he has not met his family due to the corona virus. “I am a strong guy, I know how to adapt, I am asked a lot about this difficulty. But as long as I have the football, I get along,” he says, “he helps me suppress the longing. Living alone in England has greatly challenged me and taught me a lot, most people At my age, you don’t go through with it. “
And his football is 24/7. Six times a week he arrives at the Burnsley Academy at 8:00 a.m., trains in the gym, eats, trains with the team and studies sports as part of a scholarship he received from authorities in England: “Topics change, sometimes it’s a short coaching course, football history and physiological issues. “It’s all about sports and the profession.”
Arieli’s role model is Leicester stopper and Ireland international Johnny Evans, who has won four English championships with Manchester United. “I learn from him the most and he’s most similar to me in the style of play. Johnny plays with two legs and that’s a big advantage. It’s an asset to coaches and I work on it hard,” he concludes.