External links
- Alex Zahavi at ForaDeJogo (archived)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander Abraham Zahavi | ||
| Date of birth | 21 January 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Los Angeles, California, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–1999 | Hapoel Haifa | ||
| 1999–2002 | Benfica | ||
| 2002–2004 | Arsenal | ||
| 2005–2007 | Barcelona | ||
| 2007–2010 | Sporting CP | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2013 | Maccabi Haifa | 0 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Hapoel Acre (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | → Vitória Setúbal (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | → Olhanense (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| Portugal U16 | 7 | (0) | |
| 2007 | Portugal U17 | 8 | (3) |
| Portugal U18 | 9 | (2) | |
| Portugal U19 | 3 | (0) | |
| 2010 | United States U20 | 2 | (1) |
| 2011 | Israel U21 | 3 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alexander "Alex" Abraham Zahavi (born 21 January 1991) is a former professional footballer who played as a winger or forward.
Zahavi was born in the United States, the son of a Portuguese mother and Israeli father. He has represented Portugal at youth levels but considered switching federations so he can represent the United States. [1] He is the great nephew of football agent Pini Zahavi. Zahavi is a winger who plays on the left side of midfield, even though he is right-footed.
On 16 July 2010, Zahavi joined Maccabi Haifa on trial trying to impress Elisha Levy. On 26 July he was presented as a Maccabi Haifa player after he signed a contract with the club.
Zahavi joined Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Acre in February 2011 on loan for the remainder of the 2010–11 season. [2]
On 7 July, Maccabi Haifa announced that they extended Zahavi's contract through the 2015 season, and are loaning him to Primeira Liga team Vitória de Setúbal for the 2011–12 season. [3] Zahavi joined Portuguese top-flight side S.C. Olhanense for the 2012–13 season. [4]
Zahavi represented Portugal at various youth levels but was never called into the senior team. Because he played in an official UEFA U17 [5] qualifying tournament for Portugal, he was cap tied to their national team under FIFA eligibility rules. [6] However, since he is also eligible to play for Israel or the United States, he was allowed to file for a one-time only switch with FIFA. [7]
Zahavi was called up to the United States U-20's team in November 2010 for the Torneo de las Americas. [8]
On 20 February 2011, Zahavi was called in for his first Israel U-21 camp. [9] Three days later Zahavi played in a friendly with the under-21 side against FC Arsenal Kyiv. [10] In March 2011, Zahavi was brought in for another training camp. [11] On 17 March 2011 Zahavi was named to the under-21 side for a tournament in Austria. [12] Zahavi made his debut for the side in a friendly against Georgia on 23 March 2011. [13] Zahavi scored his first goal for the under-21 side in a friendly against Romania on 26 March 2011 in Austria. [14] Zahavi floated the ball over the Romanian goalkeeper from 35 metres out after exchanging passes with Nes Zamir. [14]
| Club | Season | League | National cup [a] | League cup [b] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Maccabi Haifa | 2010–11 | Israeli Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Hapoel Acre (loan) | 2010–11 | Israeli Premier League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Vitoria | 2011–12 | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Olhanense | 2012–13 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
