Tamir Cohen

Cohen’s father, Avi Cohen, was an Israeli defender whose clubs included Liverpool and Maccabi Netanya.[1][4] Tamir recalled accompanying his father to training at Netanya and practising on the sidelines, including with former player Motaleh Spiegler.[4] He said he grew up at Maccabi Tel Aviv and began his playing career with the club in the early 2000s.[1][6]

Cohen made his senior debut for Maccabi Tel Aviv in November 2002 and helped the club win the Israeli championship at the end of that season.[7] He subsequently played a prominent part in its Champions League campaign, including group matches against Bayern Munich, Juventus and Ajax.[7]

His opportunities diminished after a coaching change: during the first five months of the 2006–07 season, he started only one game.[7] In January 2007, he moved to Maccabi Netanya on a free transfer, became a regular starter and developed into a leader at the club.[7] Looking back in 2013, he recalled a strong season at Netanya followed, less than a year after his arrival, by an offer to play for Bolton.[6]

Cohen made his international debut for Israel against Croatia in October 2007.[7] His performances against Croatia, Russia and Macedonia during Euro 2008 qualifying attracted attention before his move to England.[7] By 2011, he had made 21 appearances for Israel; as of 2013, he had not added to that total during the intervening two years.[8]

In December 2007, Cohen agreed to join English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers, with the move scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2008.[7] Bolton officially announced his signing after the transfer window opened, subject to international clearance, having met a buy-out clause estimated at $75,000.[9] His arrival followed the summer 2007 moves of Israel captain Yossi Benayoun to Liverpool and defender Tal Ben Haim to Chelsea, part of a growing Israeli presence in international club football.[10] Cohen described reaching Bolton as the result of “hard work and a bit of luck” and later called the move the fulfilment of his dream of playing in the Premier League.[7][6]

Over three and a half years at Bolton, Cohen made 49 Premier League appearances and scored six league goals.[3] He recalled contributing both goals and assists and said that difficult periods outside the lineup strengthened his resolve.[6] Reflecting on the experience in 2013, he said: “Three and a half years I lived the dream.”[6]

During his third season in England, after he had become a regular starter, his father died in a motorcycle crash in Tel Aviv.[6] Cohen later said he believed he might have continued playing in England had the tragedy not occurred.[6] He credited Bolton manager Owen Coyle with supporting him through a difficult five-month period during which he travelled to Israel and did not train regularly.[6]

In April 2011, Cohen scored in the 90th minute to give Bolton a 2–1 victory over Arsenal.[2] He removed his playing shirt to reveal a picture of his father, receiving a booking for the celebration, and broke down in tears.[2] Afterward, he dedicated the goal with the words, “This is for you, father,” and recalled Bolton supporters coming to embrace him after the match.[2]

Cohen later explained that a friend had made the memorial shirt and that he had taken it to every match, wearing it for nearly four months.[5] Before games, he had wondered how he would celebrate if he scored; when the goal finally came, he stretched the shirt out for his teammates to see and broke down on the pitch.[5]

After his Bolton contract ended in 2011, Cohen signed a four-year contract with Maccabi Haifa.[3] He chose Haifa over Panathinaikos partly because he wanted to remain close to his family following his father’s death.[3] His return to Israeli club football was disrupted by two foot injuries and surgeries, and he later recalled struggling to achieve the physical condition he wanted.[6]

Cohen made 14 appearances for Haifa in 2011–12 and three league appearances the following season.[8] Injury and a coaching change contributed to his reduced playing time, and he and the club agreed to part ways in July 2013.[8] After two seasons at Haifa, he joined Hapoel Ra’anana.[6]

Before joining Ra’anana, Cohen had considered retiring, but he said the move was not a fallback and that the presence of his close friend, goalkeeper Gal Nir, helped draw him to the club.[6] He was named captain and scored in a 3–1 victory over Hapoel Ramat Hasharon.[8] Cohen said playing at Ra’anana restored his enjoyment of football.[6]

Cohen retired from playing at the age of 30 and later returned to Hapoel Ra’anana to work in its youth department.[1][4] In 2021, he was described as the department’s professional director.[4] In a 2023 interview, he said he had worked there for four years before leaving because he felt he could no longer contribute or bring about change.[5] He subsequently moved into real estate and also had a small flooring-and-glass company.[5]

Cohen’s connection to his father’s football career remained part of his public life after his own retirement.[1] In 2026, he attended a Liverpool match at Anfield as a guest of Carlsberg for a campaign intended to make the match experience more accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing supporters.[1]

During the visit, Cohen arranged a video call between his mother, Dorit, and former Liverpool player Kenny Dalglish, who had been a close friend of Avi Cohen.[1] Tamir said he was moved that people at Liverpool still remembered his father decades after his time at the club.[1]