Some matches enter the history of English soccer, while others transform a player into a local legend. On October 26, 1996, exactly 30 years ago, Eyal Berkovich delivered one of the greatest nights by an Israeli footballer in Premier League history, leading Southampton to a sensational 6-3 thrashing of Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United at The Dell. Having joined the club only shortly before, the Israeli midfielder bagged a brilliant brace, set up Matt Le Tissier, and masterminded one of the most blistering attacking displays in Saints history. Yet, to grasp the true magnitude of his performance, one must look back at the English press headlines in the days that followed.
"Reds crushed," blared the front page of The Pink, a sister publication of the Manchester Evening News, printed the evening of the match. "Keane sent off, United crushed 6-3," ran the subheadline. The reigning English champions had arrived on the south coast just six days after a 5-0 hammering by Newcastle, only to find themselves shipping 11 goals across two league fixtures. For Ferguson, it was a double humiliation; for Berkovich, it was the ultimate stage to showcase his talent to the soccer world.
First-half masterclass and early goals
It took just six minutes for the Israeli to produce his first moment of magic. A sublime backheel unlocked the defense for Egil Ostenstad, sending the Norwegian through one-on-one with Peter Schmeichel. Though the Danish keeper parried the initial strike, Berkovich was on hand to pounce on the rebound and slam it home. In the 35th minute, he turned provider for Le Tissier, who outmaneuvered Brian McClair before audaciously chipping Schmeichel. Even after United attempted a ten-man fightback, Berkovich put the match beyond doubt in the 83rd minute with a majestic volley into the top corner, paving the way for Ostenstad to seal the historic win.
Writing in The Independent the next day, journalist Stan Hey hailed Berkovich and Ostenstad as Southampton’s "two dominant players." Hey singled out Berkovich's backheel pass for the opener, his assist for Le Tissier’s chip, and his rare ability to dictate play as both a playmaker and a finisher. In a companion tactical piece published that same day, he lauded the Israeli’s exquisite touch on the ball before naming him Man of the Match.
Managerial praise and media reactions
However, the highest accolade came from his own manager. Graeme Souness, legendary former midfielder for Liverpool and Scotland, could hardly contain his awe. On October 28, The Irish Times quoted Souness assessing Berkovich's display: "I haven't seen anybody like that for a long, long time. I used to pass the ball myself, but never to that standard." Coming from a man who shared pitches with Europe's finest, it was an extraordinary tribute that underscored just how rapidly Berkovich had won over his Scottish manager.
Meanwhile, local media in Southampton rallied around their newly minted star. On October 28, the Daily Echo ran a feature titled "Berkovich is enjoying his big adventure." Later that week, The Times ran a lighthearted piece detailing how the Israeli had initially insisted on using an interpreter during post-match press duties - only to later delight viewers of BBC's Match of the Day by delivering a television interview in remarkably fluent English.