By JPOST.COM STAFF
Maccabi Tel Aviv footballer Eyal Berkovic announced his departure from the club and his retirement from the game altogether on Sunday.
It signals the end to an illustrious career at international level as well as at club level, starring for Maccabi Haifa before moving on to the English clubs Southampton, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth before returning to Israel to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Despite many wonderful performances both at home and abroad, where he displayed fabulous skill and passing ability, his career was plagued with controversy and clashes with managers and fellow players. In an unforgettable incident during a training session at West Ham, burly Welsh striker John Hartson kicked Berkovic in the face.
Berkovic probably won't remember his final season with Maccabi Tel Aviv very fondly. He had an abysmal disciplinary record and didn't seem to see eye-to-eye with neither his colleagues nor the management staff.
Berkovic will still always be remembered as one of Israel's greatest ever players.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store