Yaniv Katan
Encyclopedia
Yaniv Katan is an Israeli international football
forward and winger. He is currently contracted to Maccabi Haifa
.
second qualifying round against FC Haka
, he temporarily became the second Israeli (after Alon Mizrahi
) to score a hat-trick in Europe — only for Haifa to be suspended for fielding an ineligible player and the scoreline reversed. The following season Maccabi reached the groups stages, and Katan opened the score against Manchester United
twice: both in Maccabi's 2–5 away loss and in its 3–0 home win (which was played in Cyprus
for security reasons).
In December 2005, Katan signed a four-year contract with West Ham United
, where he joined up with Israeli international team mate Yossi Benayoun
. The transfer, which was officially completed during the January 2006 transfer window
, involved a cut-price fee of £100,000, as Katan had only six months left on his Maccabi contract. The pacey centre forward made eight appearances, including six from the bench, for West Ham, where he faced stiff competition for places with Marlon Harewood
, Teddy Sheringham
, Dean Ashton
and Bobby Zamora
all vying for a starting place.
At the end of the 2005–06 season, Yaniv moved back to Maccabi Haifa in a loan deal, with a view to a permanent move, after Alan Pardew reportedly told him he was no longer in his plans. He returned to Israel and made his loan deal permanent by signing a new four year deal with Haifa. Katan scored the championship goal against Hapoel Tel-Aviv in 2008-2009 season.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
forward and winger. He is currently contracted to Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
.
Personal life
Katan is Jewish, grew up in Haifa most of his life and then moved to Tel Aviv shortly after his parents divorced. His parents are Iraqi immigrants who moved from Baghdad in 1951.Club career
Katan joined Maccabi Haifa's youth set up at the age of 9. He quickly moved up the club's ranks, becoming a regular in Haifa's senior squad at the age of 16. In 2002, during the second leg of the UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
second qualifying round against FC Haka
FC Haka
Haka is a Finnish football club, based in the industry town of Valkeakoski. It is one of the most successful clubs in Finland, with nine Finnish championships and 12 Finnish Cup wins.- History :...
, he temporarily became the second Israeli (after Alon Mizrahi
Alon Mizrahi
Alon Mizrahi is an Israeli former football player in a striker position. He is the most prolific scorer in Israeli football history. Today he acts as the manager of Hapoel Yehud in Liga Gimel....
) to score a hat-trick in Europe — only for Haifa to be suspended for fielding an ineligible player and the scoreline reversed. The following season Maccabi reached the groups stages, and Katan opened the score against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
twice: both in Maccabi's 2–5 away loss and in its 3–0 home win (which was played in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
for security reasons).
In December 2005, Katan signed a four-year contract with West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, where he joined up with Israeli international team mate Yossi Benayoun
Yossi Benayoun
Yosef Shai "Yossi" Benayoun is an Israeli international footballer who plays for Arsenal on loan from Chelsea.Benayoun plays as an attacking midfielder, often occupying the space just behind the striker. In Israel, he is sometimes nicknamed "The Diamond from Dimona". He is also the captain of the...
. The transfer, which was officially completed during the January 2006 transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, involved a cut-price fee of £100,000, as Katan had only six months left on his Maccabi contract. The pacey centre forward made eight appearances, including six from the bench, for West Ham, where he faced stiff competition for places with Marlon Harewood
Marlon Harewood
Marlon Anderson Harewood is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Guangzhou R&F in China.Harewood started his career at Nottingham Forest. During his career there, he had loan spells at Haka and Ipswich Town before joining West Ham United in 2003 and then Aston Villa in 2007...
, Teddy Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham
Edward Paul "Teddy" Sheringham MBE is a retired English footballer, and the father of footballer Charlie Sheringham. Sheringham played as a striker, and had a successful career at the club level, winning almost every domestic honour available with his clubs, most notably the Treble with Manchester...
, Dean Ashton
Dean Ashton
Dean Ashton is a former English professional footballer. He made over 240 appearances as a forward in the Football League and Premier League for Crewe Alexandra, Norwich City and , and was also capped by England. He was highly praised as a talented centre forward, but had a career frustrated by...
and Bobby Zamora
Bobby Zamora
Robert Lester "Bobby" Zamora is an English footballer who plays for Fulham and the England national football team. Zamora began his career at Football League club Bristol Rovers, but was soon signed by Brighton & Hove Albion, where he found first team success...
all vying for a starting place.
At the end of the 2005–06 season, Yaniv moved back to Maccabi Haifa in a loan deal, with a view to a permanent move, after Alan Pardew reportedly told him he was no longer in his plans. He returned to Israel and made his loan deal permanent by signing a new four year deal with Haifa. Katan scored the championship goal against Hapoel Tel-Aviv in 2008-2009 season.
Honours
- Israeli Premier League (6):
- 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2010-11
- Toto CupToto CupThe Toto Cup is an association football tournament that exists separately in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Premier League and Liga Leumit....
(2):- 2001–02, 2007–08
See also
- List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players