Ilay Madmon

Madmon was born in 2003 and grew up in Ein HaBesor, a farming community in the Eshkol region of southern Israel, where his family specialized in growing tomatoes.[1] From an early age he was determined to reach the top of the game — by the time he was 11, he told his father: "Dad, I'll play in Europe. I promise."[1] His father, who lived roughly a 45-minute drive from Beersheba, encouraged him to develop independence as he pursued his footballing ambitions.[1]

Madmon began his youth career on the left wing as a slight youngster, before a Hapoel Beersheba youth coach repositioned him in the No. 10 role.[1] By the age of 15, as he grew physically stronger, he shifted again into central midfield — a position that suited his combination of ball-winning ability and passing range.[1] An early opportunity arose when he was called up to a youth group connected to Hapoel Beersheba's partnership with Atlético Madrid, earning an invitation to remain in Spain, but his family decided he was still too young and declined.[1]

Madmon broke into Hapoel Beersheba's senior squad at 17, playing under coach Yossi Abukasis, who deployed him in a deeper No. 6 role.[1] During his first two senior seasons he accumulated 21 league appearances for Beersheba and featured in the Europa League group stage.[2] Despite those opportunities, he struggled to cement a regular starting berth at the club.

In 2021 he joined Bnei Yehuda on loan and scored twice in the National League.[2] In December 2021, he scored in the 57th minute of an Israel State Cup round-of-32 tie against Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield Stadium, finishing a pass from Eliran Atar to put Bnei Yehuda ahead 2–1. He then set up Roie Fadida's goal in a 3–1 upset win.[3] Madmon subsequently returned to Beersheba and later moved on loan to Beitar Jerusalem, for whom he made 21 appearances and scored once.[2]

In April 2025, Hapoel Jerusalem exercised an option that kept Madmon at the club for two additional seasons. At the time, he had made 25 appearances — 16 as a starter — and had scored his first goal for the club.[4] In September 2025, he opened the scoring against Maccabi Netanya with a long-range strike in the 39th minute, and two months later he scored a 95th-minute free kick against Maccabi Haifa to complete a comeback from 2–0 down and earn a 2–2 draw.[5][6] In January 2026, he scored a penalty and took the corner from which Awaka Ashta headed Hapoel's second goal in a 2–0 win over Ironi Tiberias.[7] A September 2026 report identified him as a Hapoel Jerusalem midfielder and said he had recovered from injury and was fit to return to the squad.[8]

Madmon captained Israel's Under-19 side at the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Israel defeated France 2–1 in the semifinal before finishing second after a 3–1 loss to England in the final.[9][10] Madmon was subsequently named among UEFA's 11 tournament standouts alongside fellow Israelis Stav Lemkin and Oscar Gloukh.[10] Scouted Football also selected him for its team of the tournament, while Spanish outlet Marca described him as Israel's "engine" and praised his peripheral vision, game understanding, contributions in attack and defense, and movement before receiving the ball.[11]

The following year, Madmon captained Israel at the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina, where he served as coach Ofir Haim's on-field lieutenant.[12] Speaking ahead of the tournament, he emphasized the collective: "The national team is greater than one individual player."[9] His leadership was tested in the group stage against Japan, when Israel fell behind and was reduced to ten men. Madmon took responsibility for encouraging and motivating his teammates during their comeback.[12]

In the Round of 16 against Uzbekistan, Madmon delivered a free kick into the penalty area in the 97th minute, which Anan Khalaili converted to give Israel a 1–0 win and a place in the quarterfinals.[13]

The quarterfinal against Brazil on June 3, 2023, produced one of the tournament's most dramatic matches. Israel won 3–2 in extra time to reach the semifinals, although Madmon's penalty in the 114th minute — awarded after a Brazilian handball — was saved. The goalkeeper then fouled an Israeli player, resulting in a second penalty that Ahmad Salman also missed before Israel secured the victory.[14]

After a semifinal defeat to Uruguay, Israel beat South Korea 3–1 to claim the bronze medal.[15] Madmon said the team had been "so disappointed" by the semifinal result because it believed it could finish first, adding: "But then we knew we had to win third place in the world."[15] On the team's return to Israel, he called the tournament "a remarkable and exhilarating journey" and described wearing the captain's armband as "the ultimate honor."[16]

Madmon operates as a central midfielder whose role encompasses both building play from deep and winning possession.[1] His progression from the left wing to attacking midfield and then central and defensive midfield gave him experience in several roles.[1] Marca characterized him as Israel's midfield "engine," highlighting his peripheral vision, game understanding, contributions at both ends of the pitch, and tendency to move before receiving the ball.[11] A Jerusalem Post preview of the 2023 Under-20 World Cup described him as "strong and composed" with "impressive tactical awareness."[9]

Madmon's significance to Israeli youth football rests chiefly on his captaincy during consecutive international breakthroughs. He led the team that finished second at the 2022 European Under-19 Championship and then the side that won bronze at the 2023 Under-20 World Cup.[16][10] His individual recognition included selection among UEFA's 11 standouts and a place in Scouted Football's team of the tournament.[10][11]