Salim Tuama

Tuama said in 2017 that he had lived in Lod since birth and described himself as Christian.[1] He grew up within Hapoel Tel Aviv's football system and belonged to the generation of young players known as "Kashtan's babies."[3][1]

He also recalled experiencing racist abuse from an early age. While playing for Gadna against Maccabi Tel Aviv at Kiryat Shalom, opposing supporters called him a terrorist; when his father objected, his father was punched.[1]

Tuama broke into Hapoel Tel Aviv's first team and helped the club win the domestic league-and-cup double in 1999/2000. He was also part of the side that reached the 2001/02 UEFA Cup quarterfinals before losing to Milan.[3]

In 2003/04, he joined Maccabi Petah Tikva and won the Toto Cup. He later played for Turkish club Kayserispor, returned to Maccabi Petah Tikva, and spent another season at Hapoel before moving to Belgium in 2007.[3]

One of his most memorable performances came at the Parc des Princes in November 2006, when Hapoel faced Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Cup group stage. Tuama scored with a powerful left-footed shot in the second minute and added another goal four minutes later after a goalkeeper's error. PSG equalized before halftime, but Walid Badier restored Hapoel's lead shortly before the break and Elyaniv Barda scored in the 57th minute to complete a 4–2 victory.[4] Tuama finished with two goals and two assists in front of watching scouts, and the performance helped secure his subsequent move to Standard Liège.[5]

In June 2007, Tuama completed a transfer from Hapoel Tel Aviv to Standard Liège in Belgium for a reported fee of $1.3 million. "It's time to prove myself at the top level," he said, adding that Hapoel would remain in his heart and that he would not forget the supporters.[7]

In October 2007, he was included in Israel's 23-man squad for a Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia and was listed as a Standard Liège midfielder.[8] He made 13 appearances for the Israel national team and scored one international goal.[2]

After his time at Standard, Tuama moved to Larissa in Greece. In August 2010, after leaving Larissa and becoming a free agent, he agreed to return to Hapoel Tel Aviv for one season with an option for another.[3]

Back at Hapoel, Tuama contributed to further cup success. In the 2012 State Cup final against Maccabi Haifa, he found Nosa Igiebor in injury time for the winning goal in a 2–1 victory. The result made Hapoel the first club in 73 years to win the State Cup in three consecutive seasons.[9]

Tuama's final playing club was Maccabi Sha'arayim, where he spent the 2015/16 season in Liga Alef and helped the club earn promotion to the National League.[10] In a February 2017 retirement interview, he said he had formally decided to stop playing at age 37 after a back injury two months earlier left him unable to return.[1]

Tuama joined Hapoel Tel Aviv's youth department in 2019, became an assistant coach in the summer of 2020, and later served as team manager.[2] In May 2024, he was described as the club's new head coach. Hapoel then beat Maccabi Netanya 1–0 through an Omri Altman goal in the 36th minute while battling relegation. Tuama said he had focused during a difficult week on lifting the players and motivating them to fight through the end of the season.[6]

Following the October 7, 2023 attacks, Tuama visited wounded people, soldiers, evacuees, hospitals, and affected families. He also encouraged Hapoel players to participate in outreach activities. During one visit, he and club captain Dan Einbinder surprised a displaced 12-year-old supporter whose birthday plans had been disrupted and presented Hapoel shirts to the boy and his friends.[11]

Tuama said during his 2017 retirement interview that he was considering establishing a football school in Lod and taking part in a project to represent and guide Arab players. He said he hoped to use his experience to help young players develop their careers.[1]

Tuama faced racist abuse from some rival supporters throughout his career, including chants calling him a terrorist, insults in public, and hostile calls to his parents' home. Teammates Shimon Gershon and Yossi Abukasis encouraged him to answer the abuse by scoring. Tuama said: "If I annoy them, I'm probably worth something. It's just a shame the content is racist."[1] In January 2012, the Israel Football Association deducted two points from Beitar Jerusalem and fined the club NIS 30,000 after supporters racially abused him. Beitar's chairman disputed the ruling, while the disciplinary judge found that the club had not done enough to stop the racist minority.[12]

Following a derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv on March 4, 2012, Tuama and teammate Avihai Yadin received red cards and argued with referee Menashe Mashiach. The Israel Football Association suspended Tuama for six games for unsporting behavior. Hapoel supporters also threw garbage and flag poles onto the field during the match.[13]

A 2009 retrospective recalled a June 1999 interview in which Tuama said, "I don't want to be just a stupid kid like all those Arabs from Lod." It reported that he remained at home for three days amid pressure from Arab residents of Lod and later apologized: "I'm proud of my Arabness, but apologize to all Arabs everywhere if anyone was hurt."[14]