<table border="3" width="100%" id="table1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="0"><!--
--> <tr><!--
--> <td width="10%" bgcolor="0" align="center"><!--
--> <p align="center"><b><font color="#FFFFFF">Season</font></b></td><!--
--> <td width="10%" bgcolor="0" align="center"><b><!--
--> <font color="#FFFFFF">TD</font></b></td><!--
--> <td width="10%" bgcolor="0" align="center"><b><!--
--> <font color="#FFFFFF">CAS</font></b></td><!--
--> <td width="10%" bgcolor="0" align="center"><b><!--
--> <font color="#FFFFFF">CMP</font></b></td><!--
--> <td width="10%" bgcolor="0" align="center"><b><!--
--> <font color="#FFFFFF">INT</font></b></td><!--
--> <td width="10%" bgcolor="0" align="center"><b><!--
--> <font color="#FFFFFF">SPP</font></b></td><!--
--> <td width="40%" bgcolor="0" align="center"><b><!--
--> <font color="#FFFFFF">Awards</font></b></td><!--
--> </tr><!--
--> <tr><!-- STATS FOR SEASON
--> <td bgcolor="#000000" align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF"><b><!-- INSERT SEASON NUMBER-->All</b></font></td><!--
--> <td align="center"><!-- INSERT TDS-->0</td><!--
--> <td align="center"><!-- INSERT CAS-->0</td><!--
--> <td align="center"><!-- INSERT CMP-->1</td><!--
--> <td align="center"><!-- INSERT INT-->0</td><!--
--> <td align="center"><!-- INSERT SPP-->6</td><!--
--> <td align="center"><!-- INSERT AWARDS--><img border=0 src="http://fumbbl.com/teams/186435.jpg" alt="Season 3 Veteran"><img border=0 src="http://fumbbl.com/teams/214243.jpg" alt="Season 4 Veteran"> </td><!--
--> </tr><!-- END OF SEASON STATS
--> </table>

Israeli captain Yossi Benayoun signed from West Ham on July 12, 2007.

The midfielder began his career at Hapoel Be'er Sheva, 30 miles from where he was born and grew up.

He was invited to join the Ajax Academy aged 15 but homesickness meant he spent just one full season in Holland before returning to Hapoel.

Benayoun broke into the first team soon after his return in 1997, scoring 15 goals in his first season.

Despite this, the club were relegated and their star man was off to Maccabi Haifa. Several foreign clubs had expressed an interest, but three years of national service would keep him at home until the age of 21.

International recognition soon came his way, with the player nicknamed The Kid making his senior debut aged 18 against Portugal in November 1998.

Benayoun was developing into one of the shining lights of Israeli football. He was the country's second top scorer in 1999-00 with 19 goals.

In 2000-01 he helped lead Haifa to their first title in seven years, winning the division's most valuable player in the process.

The following campaign brought another title-winner's medal but it was to be his last in his homeland. After four seasons, 130 appearances and 55 goals for Haifa, the midfielder was on his way to northern Spain and Racing Santander.

Benayoun enjoyed three seasons in La Liga, managing 21 goals in 101 matches before financial difficulties forced his owners to cash in.

West Ham reportedly paid £2.5million for the winger in the summer of 2005, though he instantly repaid some of his fee with two assists against Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the season.

Benayoun quickly established himself as one of the Premiership's best right-sided midfielders.

His five goals and seven assists helped Alan Pardew's side finish 9th in 2005-06 - as well as an FA Cup final against Liverpool.

West Ham may have lost on penalties, but their number 15's disappoint was soon eased with news he was being handed the Israeli captaincy.

The father-of-two bagged another three goals in his final year with The Hammers, taking his total to eight in 63 league appearances.

Benayoun made his Reds debut in a Champions League qualifier against Toulouse on August 15, 2007.

Six weeks later he opened his Liverpool account with a classy run and finish in a 4-2 Carling Cup victory at Reading.

More cup joy followed in November 2007 with a hat-trick in an 8-0 drubbing of Besiktas in the Champions League group stages.