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Revivo the man to lift Israel’s spirits

Attacking midfielder Haim Revivo should lift Israel as they aim for the finals of EURO 2004™.

It was a heartbreaking finale to what had promised to be the biggest night of Israel football's life. On the threshold of securing second place in Group Seven and a two-legged play-off with Turkey for a place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, an injury-time Andreas Herzog equaliser handed Austria qualification in their place.

Attacking midfielder
One man was particularly stunned by events that night at Tel-Aviv's Ramat Gan stadium. Haim Revivo, the free-scoring Fenerbahçe SK attacking midfielder, had shone throughout the qualifiers but was forced off early in the second half against the Austrians through injury.

Forlorn figure
Revivo cut a forlorn figure, the chance to lead his country of birth against the country where he plays his club football gone. The chance to put things right will come along soon enough, though, and when the draw for EURO 2004™ qualification is made later this month, Revivo will be the man the Israeli fans pin their hopes on.

One of the greats
With over 50 caps and 12 goals to his name the 29-year-old has been hailed in his homeland as possibly the greatest Israeli player of all time. Boasting the rare ability to unlock defences with one piece of magic or burst of pace, Revivo is not surprisingly revered by the Fenerbahçe fans too.

Footballer of the year
Revivo’s career began in his native Israel with Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv. There then followed moves to Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Maccabi Haifa. He was Israel's top scorer and footballer of the year in the 1994/95 after scoring 17 goals in 28 games in his first season for Haifa – and bettered that the following season, notching 26 in 28 games.

Four seasons in Spain
It was no surprise that he attracted the attention of clubs from the big leagues in Europe and in 1996, he moved to Spain’s RC Celta de Vigo. After four seasons in Spain – modest by his goalscoring standards, with 23 goals in 123 games - Revivo moved to Turkey to join Fenerbahçe in summer 2000.

League title success
He quickly established himself as one of the club's leading lights, scoring 14 times in 29 matches as the Istanbul club won the league title. Revivo has started this season in similar fashion. After netting a hat-trick on the opening day against Samsunspor he netted five times in nine games before the winter break. More of the same in the EURO 2004™ qualifiers and he may help Israel banish the memories of their Austrian heartbreak.

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