One of the greatest connections in the history of the Israeli national team, Idan Tel, Was interviewed yesterday (Thursday) for Everton’s official website. With an extensive career that included Maccabi Petah Tikva, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Merida (Spain), Everton, Raoi Vicano, Maccabi Haifa, Bolton, Betar and Hapoel Jerusalem, Tal took the time to tell about his time overseas and the big miss in the national arena.
“If there is one thing that bothers me about my career, it is that we did not qualify for a big tournament. We missed the 2006 World Cup even though we did not lose a single game in the qualifiers,” said Tal, adding an interesting comparison.
The former midfielder, who has 69 appearances for the Israeli national team, now lives a completely different lifestyle from the one he has had during his career. “I changed my life. I became stronger in religion compared to what I was during my years as an actor,” he said, expanding, “I pray three times in a synagogue and keep Shabbat.” Tal currently works as a sports teacher for children of middle and high school age, and works 75% of the time. “I don’t want to work too hard, I want to do other things.”
As you may recall, the former player ended his playing career in 2013 at Hapoel Jerusalem, the club where he grew up. In June of that year, Tal was appointed the team’s coach, a position he held for six months. “I wanted to take them to the highest levels, step by step,” he said, adding, “to bring all the values I grew up to. But I wanted us to be professionals and not semi-professionals.”
