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Eyad Abu Abaid

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01In brief

Eyad Abu Abaid (born December 31, 1994) is an Israeli Arab professional footballer. He plays as a centre-back for Bnei Sakhnin in the Israeli Premier League and has represented Israel internationally. His career has included spells with Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, and Bnei Sakhnin. One notable episode came when he took over as Sakhnin's emergency goalkeeper against Maccabi Tel Aviv and faced a penalty that struck the post, preserving a 0-0 draw. He was also part of the Hapoel Be'er Sheva squad that won the 2022 Israel State Cup, converting a kick in the decisive shootout.

02Early Life

Abu Abaid has identified Meiser, a village in the Menashe Regional Council, as his home.[2] From seventh grade onward, he attended a boarding school at ORT Yad Leibovich in Netanya.[6] He later began his senior professional career at Maccabi Netanya.[3]

03Career

Abu Abaid began his senior career at Maccabi Netanya and later played for Maccabi Haifa, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, and Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he completed two spells.[3][7] During his later period at Hapoel Tel Aviv, he captained the side in several matches, an honour he recalled warmly when he departed.[8] He also contributed important goals in cup and league competition. In the Israel State Cup round of 32, he scored in the 103rd minute of extra time against Hapoel Katamon as Hapoel Tel Aviv advanced with a 2-0 victory.[9] He later scored in the 33rd minute of a 1-0 Premier League win over Ness Ziona for coach Nir Klinger's side.[10]

In June 2021, Abu Abaid signed for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, where he played until 2024.[3][8] A prominent moment in his Beersheba career came in the 2022 Israel State Cup final against Maccabi Haifa. He conceded a penalty in the 55th minute after committing a foul in the area, allowing Haifa to equalize, but later converted one of Beersheba's successful kicks in the shootout. Beersheba won the shootout 3-1 after a 2-2 draw, claiming its second cup in three years.[5]

In August 2024, Abu Abaid signed a three-year contract with Bnei Sakhnin.[7] He was among several additions made under coach Slobodan Drapic ahead of the 2024/25 season.[11] His first stint at Sakhnin produced one of the more unusual moments of his career. After goalkeeper Mohammed Abu Nil was sent off in second-half injury time against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Abu Abaid took over in goal for the resulting penalty. Sagiv Yehezkel's kick struck the post, allowing Sakhnin to preserve a 0-0 draw.[4] Later, Abu Abaid scored an injury-time penalty in a 2-1 away win over Maccabi Netanya following a red card to Heriberto Moreno Borges Tavares.[12]

In February 2026, Abu Abaid moved from Bnei Sakhnin to Maccabi Bnei Reineh during the winter transfer window.[13] He returned to Sakhnin in July 2026,[14] and an October 11, 2026 interview identified him as a Sakhnin player.[15] At the opening of the 2026/27 Toto Cup group stages, he scored Sakhnin's first-half goal against Ironi Tiberias, although his side ultimately lost 2-1 after second-half goals by Ron Unger and Mansour Badjie.[16]

04National Team and European Ambitions

Abu Abaid has represented the Israel national football team and has spoken publicly about his desire to return to the squad.[3] In an August 2024 interview, he described a strong spell at Bnei Sakhnin as a possible route back to international football and expressed hope that the club could serve as a stepping stone to Europe.[7] He said that an offer from Belgium had been brought to him by agent Dudu Dahan before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the proposed move did not go through.[7]

05Legacy and Public Role

When Abu Abaid joined Bnei Sakhnin in 2024, he said that one reason for choosing the club was his desire to contribute his experience to Arab society, alongside the sporting project being developed there. He also hoped to guide younger players and bring experience and hunger to the squad.[7]

Following the October 7, 2023 attacks on communities in southern Israel, Abu Abaid prefaced a public statement by writing, "I have never been asked to stand the test of my citizenship." He said that he felt helpless at home and could only condemn what had happened, embrace Israeli citizens and supporters, and hope for better days. N12 later highlighted his participation in an Israel Football Association campaign calling for the return of the hostages from Gaza.[2]

06Controversies

In August 2026, Abu Abaid alleged that a crowd surrounded and struck his car after he left the stadium in Netanya with his wife, while directing racist abuse at them. He told Ynet that he and his wife were trapped inside the vehicle for several minutes and that he later gave a statement to police.[6] The report presented these details as Abu Abaid's account of the incident; they are not independently established within the cited source record.

Sources

  1. 1Walla! Sport, Walla Sports (player profile), accessed on October 13, 2026.
  2. 2Mako, Eyad Abu Abaid: The Muslim player who was the first to condemn the attack in the hostages campaign, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  3. 3Sport5, Abu Abaid asked to be released from his contract at Bnei Sakhnin, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  4. 4The Jerusalem Post, Israeli soccer season keeps up the excitement, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  5. 5The Jerusalem Post, Hapoel Beersheba beats Maccabi Haifa to win Israel State Cup, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  6. 6Ynet, Violence outside stadiums is raging: "Only when someone is killed will they wake up", accessed on October 13, 2026.
  7. 7ONE, Abu Abaid: I hope Sakhnin will be a springboard to Europe, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  8. 8ONE, Abu Abaid signed for 3 years at Be'er Sheva, Solomon concluded, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  9. 9The Jerusalem Post, Maccabi Tel Aviv stunned by Um El Fahem, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  10. 10The Jerusalem Post, Maccabi Tel Aviv routs Hapoel Kfar Saba, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  11. 11The Jerusalem Post, Israeli soccer stars push Maccabi Tel Aviv to leading position, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  12. 12The Jerusalem Post, Muzi hat trick lifts 10-man Beitar over Petah Tikva, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  13. 13ONE, The window closed in Israel: a defender returned to Haifa, a new foreigner at Be'er Sheva, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  14. 14Walla! Sport, Abu Abaid returns to Bnei Sakhnin, the search for signings continues, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  15. 15Maariv, Eyad Abu Abaid: In the end everyone has their own tools | 103fm, accessed on October 13, 2026.
  16. 16The Jerusalem Post, Hapoel defeats Maccabi in Haifa's Toto Cup soccer derby, accessed on October 13, 2026.

IsraelPedia Question & Answers

  • Who is Eyad Abu Abaid?

    Eyad Abu Abaid is an Israeli Arab professional footballer, born December 31, 1994, who plays as a centre-back. He has represented Israel internationally and his career has included spells with Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, and Bnei Sakhnin in the Israeli Premier League.

  • Where did Eyad Abu Abaid grow up and go to school?

    Eyad Abu Abaid has identified Meiser, a village in the Menashe Regional Council, as his home. From seventh grade onward he attended a boarding school at ORT Yad Leibovich in Netanya, before beginning his senior professional career at Maccabi Netanya.

  • What role did Eyad Abu Abaid play in the 2022 Israel State Cup final?

    In the 2022 Israel State Cup final against Maccabi Haifa, Abu Abaid conceded a penalty in the 55th minute after committing a foul in the area, allowing Haifa to equalize. He later converted one of Hapoel Be'er Sheva's successful kicks in the shootout, which Beersheba won 3-1 after a 2-2 draw, claiming its second cup in three years.

  • How did Eyad Abu Abaid end up as an emergency goalkeeper against Maccabi Tel Aviv?

    After Bnei Sakhnin's goalkeeper Mohammed Abu Nil was sent off in second-half injury time during a match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Abu Abaid took over in goal. He faced a penalty from Sagiv Yehezkel, whose kick struck the post, allowing Sakhnin to preserve a 0-0 draw.

  • How did Eyad Abu Abaid respond publicly to the October 7, 2023 attacks?

    Following the October 7, 2023 attacks on communities in southern Israel, Abu Abaid prefaced a public statement by writing, "I have never been asked to stand the test of my citizenship." He said he felt helpless and could only condemn what had happened, embrace Israeli citizens and supporters, and hope for better days. N12 later highlighted his participation in an Israel Football Association campaign calling for the return of the hostages from Gaza.

  • What incident involving racist abuse did Eyad Abu Abaid report in August 2026?

    In August 2026, Abu Abaid alleged that a crowd surrounded and struck his car after he left the stadium in Netanya with his wife, while directing racist abuse at them. He told Ynet that he and his wife were trapped inside the vehicle for several minutes and that he later gave a statement to police.