Refael "Rafi" Dahan (; born 28 September 1989) is a former

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

i footballer who last played for

Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. (, ''Moadon Kaduregel Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv''), commonly referred to as Bnei Yehuda (), is an Israeli football club from the Hatikva Quarter of the city of Tel Aviv. The club is a member of the Liga Leumit. History The ...

as a

defensive midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. ...

Early life

Dahan was born in

Or Akiva Or Akiva () is a city located in the Haifa District of Israel, on the country's coastal plain. It is located inland from the ancient port city of Caesarea and the Mediterranean Sea, and to the north of the city of Hadera. It is south of Haifa and ...

, to a

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

family.

Career

Dahan grew up in the Beitar Nes Tubruk youth academy. In 2009, Hapoel Petah Tikva signed Dahan and by his second season with the club, Dahan had established himself as a first team player. In 2011, he signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv. In March 2014,

Maccabi Haifa F.C. Maccabi Haifa Football Club () is an Israeli professional football club based in the city of Haifa, Israel, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club plays in the Israeli Premier League. Maccabi Haifa home games are played at Sammy Ofe ...

Rubén Rayos Rubén Rayos Serna (born 21 June 1986), commonly known as Rayo, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. Club career Rayo was born in Elche, Valencian Community. He finished his youth career with Elche CF, and ...

committed a brutal tackle which resulted in an anterior cruciate ligament injury, forcing Dahan out for the remainder of the season; Rubén Rayos received a straight red card for his action. After spending the next 12 months in recovery, Dahan was informed by his medical staff that his injury will not fully heal, forcing him to retire at age 25.

References

1989 births Living people Jewish Israeli sportspeople Israeli men's footballers Footballers from Or Akiva Beitar Nes Tubruk F.C. players Hapoel Petah Tikva F.C. players Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. players Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. players Israeli Premier League players Liga Leumit players Israeli people of Moroccan-Jewish descent Men's association football midfielders 21st-century Israeli sportsmen {{Israel-footy-midfielder-stub