Ze'ev Haimovich

Haimovich developed as a centre-back in Beitar Tubruk's youth system.[1] He later played for Hapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Petah Tikva, Bnei Yehuda and Maccabi Netanya before moving abroad in 2009.[2] After his transfer to Terek Grozny, Tubruk owner Arik Izikovich said the club would seek about five percent of the transfer fee as training compensation under FIFA rules.[1]

Before the 2009/10 season, Haimovich left Maccabi Netanya for Russian Premier League club Terek Grozny. ONE described the offer as better professionally and financially, and his departure formed part of a major turnover in Netanya's defence.[7] A 2009 Calcalist profile reported that he earned approximately €300,000 net per year, or about NIS 1.7 million—nearly four times his earnings in Israel.[3]

Haimovich spoke Russian at home and said he was not afraid to join Terek despite concerns about Chechnya. The report said he lived in Kislovodsk, several hours from Grozny, and traveled to Chechnya for home matches.[2] Terek coach Viktor Grozny described him as "tall, excellent with aerial balls, and able to position himself. He is exactly what we were looking for," while a club vice president called him a high-level player the team needed.[2]

Haimovich said the coach who recruited him immediately integrated him into the squad, gave him confidence and fielded him in most matches during the first half-season. After that coach resigned following disputes with management, Haimovich found his situation more difficult.[2] By November 2011, Sport5 reported that four coaches had passed through Terek and that Haimovich had appeared in seven of the club's 30 matches that season. He said he wanted a club where he would play more, preferably abroad, although he would consider an offer from Israel.[2]

In 2012, Haimovich was presented as one of Hapoel Tel Aviv's new signings ahead of the club's Europa League playoff against Dudelange of Luxembourg.[4] He described joining Hapoel as exciting and challenging because it was a major club known in Europe.[4] Coach Nitzan Shirazi later included him in the centre-back rotation with Tomer Ben Yosef, saying: "Ze'ev Haimovich and Tomer Ben Yosef will also play. Everything in its time."[8]

A Ynet tactical analysis of the Tel Aviv derby later that year said Gonzalo García's movement was intended to draw Hapoel's defenders away and create space for Eliran Atar. Haimovich was drawn by the maneuver and failed to deal with it, while Walid Badir adapted and disrupted Maccabi's plan.[9]

By the 2014 preseason, Haimovich was listed among the players joining Beitar Jerusalem under coach Menachem Koretzky.[5] He later started in Beitar's 3–1 league victory over Ironi Kiryat Shmona, with the match report crediting him and goalkeeper Boris Kleyman with preventing Ahmad Abed from obtaining a shooting opportunity after a defensive error.[10]

Haimovich earned one senior cap for Israel after receiving his first call-up while with Bnei Yehuda. He played three minutes in a friendly against Belarus on October 17, 2007, which Israel won 2–1 at home.[6] The appearance remained his only senior international outing.[6]

When he returned to Israel with Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2012, Haimovich said he could not identify a major change in Israeli football since his departure for Russia. He described investment levels as cyclical and expressed hope that Israeli football would grow and the national team would achieve stronger results.[4]

Haimovich's 2009 transfer made him, according to Sport5, the second Israeli footballer to play in Russia, after Idan Shum.[2] His senior international career was much shorter: the three minutes he played against Belarus in 2007 remained his only appearance for Israel.[6]