View source for Ben Sahar

{{short description|Israeli footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ben Sahar<br>בן שׂהר
| image = Ben Sahar 2012.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Sahar in 2012
| fullname = Ben Sahar<ref>{{cite web |url=http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=11292 |title=Acta del Partido celebrado el 15 de mayo de 2010, en Palma de Mallorca |trans-title=Minutes of the Match held on 15 May 2010, in Palma de Mallorca |publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation |access-date=20 June 2019 |language=es}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|8|10|df=y}}<ref>{{Hugman|25204|access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Holon]], Israel
| height = 1.80 m
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]], [[winger (association football)|winger]]
| currentclub = [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]]
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 = 2002–2006
| youthclubs1 = [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]]
| youthyears2 = 2006–2007
| youthclubs2 = [[Chelsea F.C. Under-21s and Academy|Chelsea]]
| years1 = 2007–2009
| clubs1 = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| caps1 = 3
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2007
| clubs2 = → [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] (loan)
| caps2 = 9
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2008
| clubs3 = → [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] (loan)
| caps3 = 12
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2008
| clubs4 = → [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] (loan)
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2009
| clubs5 = → [[De Graafschap]] (loan)
| caps5 = 16
| goals5 = 5
| years6 = 2009–2012
| clubs6 = [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]]
| caps6 = 22
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2010–2011
| clubs7 = → [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]] (loan)
| caps7 = 30
| goals7 = 16
| years8 = 2011–2012
| clubs8 = → [[AJ Auxerre|Auxerre]] (loan)
| caps8 = 21
| goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2012–2014
| clubs9 = [[Hertha BSC]]
| caps9 = 18
| goals9 = 2
| years10 = 2013
| clubs10 = → [[Hertha BSC II]]
| caps10 = 7
| goals10 = 3
| years11 = 2013–2014
| clubs11 = → [[Arminia Bielefeld]] (loan)
| caps11 = 14
| goals11 = 4
| years12 = 2014–2015
| clubs12 = [[Willem II (football club)|Willem II]]
| caps12 = 34
| goals12 = 7
| years13 = 2015–2021
| clubs13 = [[Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.|Hapoel Be'er Sheva]]
| caps13 = 151
| goals13 = 62
| years14 = 2020–2021
| clubs14 = → [[APOEL FC|APOEL]] (loan)
| caps14 = 32
| goals14 = 6
| years15 = 2021–2023
| clubs15 = [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]]
| caps15 = 20
| goals15 = 1
| years16 = 2023–2024
| clubs16 = [[Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C.|Maccabi Petah Tikva]]
| caps16 = 23
| goals16 = 4
| years17 = 2024–
| clubs17 = [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]]
| caps17 = 22
| goals17 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2005–2006
| nationalteam1 = [[Israel national under-17 football team|Israel U17]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 5
| nationalyears2 = 2006
| nationalteam2 = [[Israel national under-18 football team|Israel U18]]
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2006–2010
| nationalteam3 = [[Israel national under-21 football team|Israel U21]]
| nationalcaps3 = 16
| nationalgoals3 = 8
| nationalyears4 = 2007–2019
| nationalteam4 = [[Israel national football team|Israel]]
| nationalcaps4 = 44
| nationalgoals4 = 8
| club-update = 1 June 2024
| nationalteam-update = 
}}
'''Ben Sahar''' ({{langx|he|בן שׂהר}}, changed the Hebrew spelling of his surname from {{lang|he|סהר}}; born 10 August 1989) is an Israeli professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[striker (association football)|striker]] for [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]]. He has also played for the [[Israel national football team|Israel national team]].

==Early life==
Sahar was born in [[Holon]], Israel, to a Jewish family.<ref>[https://www.eurosport.com/football/ben-sahar_prs105922/person.shtml Ben Sahar - Player Profile - Football - Eurosport<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[https://bleacherreport.com/articles/37083-from-sandy-koufax-to-yossi-benayoun-where-are-all-the-other-jewish-sportsmen "From Sandy Koufax to Yossi Benayoun: Where Are All the Other Jewish Sportsmen?" | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/bluebirds-star-first-british-jew-2257727 "Bluebirds' star first British Jew footballer for 25 years" - ''Wales Online''<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> His father is [[Sabra (person)|Israeli-born]] and of [[History of the Jews in Tunisia|Tunisian Jewish]] descent, who works as an electrician, and his mother teaches sports.<ref name=autogenerated1>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/2309396/Sahars-Chelsea-career-under-threat.html "Sahar's Chelsea career under threat" - ''Telegraph''<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He grew up in the city of [[Modi'in]], Israel.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Before his transfer to [[Chelsea F.C.]], he acquired a Polish passport as well, on account of his [[Sabra (person)|Israeli-born]] mother who is of [[Ashkenazi Jewish|Ashkenazi]] [[Polish-Jewish]] and [[Latvian Jews|Latvian Jewish]] descent, that made him eligible to play as a non-foreigner in [[European Union|EU]] leagues including the UK.<ref>{{cite web|date=1 June 2005 |title=Chelsea sign Tel Aviv teen |url=http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m16s102&SecId=102&AId=44219&ATypeId=1 |publisher=The Jewish Chronicle |access-date=7 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060605070052/http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m16s102&SecId=102&AId=44219&ATypeId=1 |archive-date=5 June 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

As an [[Israeli citizen]], Sahar was due to return to Israel for a three-year spell of [[Israeli Defense Service Law|military service]] in the IDF. However, Israeli lawmakers were working on a legislation (nicknamed "The Ben Sahar Law") that would have allowed Sahar to complete a national service ([[Sherut Leumi]]) term in England instead.<ref>http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m16&AId=52057&ATypeId=1&secid=16{{dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref> The law did not pass and as a result, Sahar was drafted into the [[Israel Defense Forces]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.one.co.il/Cat/Extra/Glitch.aspx?id=33503 |script-title=he:בשעה טובה ומוצלחת, בן סהר עלה על מדים והתגייס לצה"ל... |access-date= 20 May 2013 | publisher=One.co.il|language=he}}</ref> Under the terms of his military service, he had to visit his military base every time he was on vacation in Israel.<ref>{{cite news |first=Izzy |last=Ein Dor |script-title=he:בן סהר התגייס: "גאה להיות כמו כל ישראלי" |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3606009,00.html |work=Yedioth Ahronoth |date=6 October 2008 |access-date=7 October 2008 |language=he |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009072744/http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3606009%2C00.html |archive-date=9 October 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Club career==
Sahar began playing football in his hometown of [[Modi'in]], Israel. There, he was enrolled in the ''Sportop Football Academy'', before joining the youth ranks of [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Izzy |last=Ein Dor |script-title=he:שוקו, לחמניה ובן סהר |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3421283,00.html |work=Ynet! |publisher=[[Yedioth Ahronoth]] |date=4 July 2007 |access-date=4 July 2007 |language=he |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707003515/http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3421283%2C00.html |archive-date=7 July 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> While he was promoted to the first team by manager [[Itzhak Shum]], he did not feature in any matches, since his transfer was completed before the start of the 2006–07 season. At 16, Sahar was the equivalent of a second-year apprentice at [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]];<ref>{{cite web |date=10 July 2005 |title=New Season's Training Started on Monday |url=http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hlid=402186&m=7&y=2006&nav=news&sub=latest+news |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702110520/https://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hlid=402186&m=7&y=2006&nav=news&sub=latest+news |archive-date=2 July 2018 |access-date=13 July 2006 |publisher=Chelsea F.C. |df=dmy-all}}</ref> he first caught the eye of Chelsea staff in an Under-16 fixture against Ireland in 2004.

===Chelsea===
Sahar signed for [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] of the English [[Premier League]] in May 2006 from Hapoel Tel Aviv for £320,000,<ref name="starlet">{{cite web | date = 31 May 2005 | title = Chelsea capture Israeli starlet | url = http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=391196&CPID=8&clid=8&lid=2&title=Chelsea+'capture+Israeli+starlet' | publisher = Sky Sports | access-date = 7 June 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120427172041/http://www.skysports.com/ | archive-date = 27 April 2012 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> having previously spent a two-month period on trial at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]].

Sahar was called up to the Chelsea first team to play [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]] in the [[FA Cup]] on 6 January 2007, and made his debut coming on as a substitute for [[Salomon Kalou]] in the 76th minute. Four days later, Sahar came on as a substitute in the 60th minute of Chelsea's 1–1 draw with [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] in the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]]. He made his [[Premier League|Premiership]] debut on 13 January 2007, coming off the bench to replace [[Arjen Robben]] in the 82nd minute of the match against [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Chelsea vs Wigan Athletic in FA Premier League 2006/2007 |work=Football-Lineups.com |url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3155.php | access-date=2 July 2007}}</ref> He later made two additional Premier League substitute appearances for the Blues that season, against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].

==== Queens Park Rangers (loan) ====
Sahar joined then [[Football League Championship|Championship]] side [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]], on loan, for the beginning of the 2007–08 season, on 26 July 2007, for an initial three-month period. He followed this up with two goals in a pre-season friendly against [[Premier League]] side [[Fulham FC|Fulham]], earning Queens Park Rangers a 2–1 win. Following this, his loan-deal was then extended to 2 January 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/6918120.stm |title=QPR to keep Sahar until January |date =8 August 2007 |access-date=8 August 2007 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Sahar suffered numerous injuries during this period and did not manage to score during his nine league appearances.

==== Sheffield Wednesday (loan) ====
After Sahar returned from an injury-plagued spell at QPR, [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] completed the signing of Sahar on an initial one-month loan from Chelsea on 21 February 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestar.co.uk/owls/Sahar-on-way-to-join.3800425.jp | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130707062640/http://www.thestar.co.uk/owls/Sahar-on-way-to-join.3800425.jp | url-status = dead | archive-date = 7 July 2013 | title = Sahar on way to join Owls | work = The Star | date = 21 February 2008 | access-date = 20 May 2013 }}</ref> This was extended until 19 April,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://world.swfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~1269062,00.html|access-date=9 June 2008|title=x|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404141430/http://world.swfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~1269062,00.html|archive-date=4 April 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and again until the end of the season on 4 May 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://world.swfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~1283821,00.html|title=x|access-date=9 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404081639/http://world.swfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~1283821,00.html|archive-date=4 April 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sahar scored his first goal for Sheffield Wednesday against [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] on 22 March 2008. He followed this up with further strikes against [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] and [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]. The latter goal was important as it ensured Sheffield Wednesday's survival in the Championship.

Sahar finished with three goals from 12 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday in his second loan spell in the Championship.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8113170.stm BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | C | Chelsea | Sahar leaves Chelsea for Espanyol<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==== Portsmouth (loan) ====
On 12 June 2008, it was reported that Sahar was in the Netherlands to discuss another season-long loan with Dutch club [[NEC Nijmegen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3680935,00.html |title=NEC make Sahar move |date=12 June 2008 |access-date=21 June 2008 |publisher=Skysports.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210133159/http://www.skysports.com/story/0%2C19528%2C11095_3680935%2C00.html |archive-date=10 December 2008}}</ref> However, according to NEC officials a deal could not be signed with Sahar due to financial issues. Instead he agreed to a six-month loan deal with [[FA Cup]] winners [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m16&SecId=16&AId=60881&ATypeId=1 | title = Sahar to play up Pompey | publisher = The Jewish Chronicle}}{{dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref> and on 1 July he was officially unveiled as a Portsmouth player.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/2304554/Chelsea-striker-Ben-Sahar-joins-Portsmouth.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Chelsea striker Ben Sahar joins Portsmouth | first=Matt | last=Lawless | date=1 July 2008 | access-date = 20 May 2013}}</ref> Sahar joined Premier League side Portsmouth on a six-month loan deal on 1 July 2008, and was given the number 26 shirt.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea loan Sahar to Portsmouth |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7483632.stm |publisher=BBC |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sahar Joins Pompey |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=&fm_type=all&fm_string=ben%20sahar&qs_articleid=1314&qs_media=html |publisher=Portsmouth F.C. |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094514/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news |archive-date=13 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Portsmouth F.C. First Team Squad |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=squad_players |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730222943/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=squad_players |archive-date=30 July 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He featured regularly in pre-season for Portsmouth, making seven appearances and scoring against [[Nigerian Premier League]] champions [[Kano Pillars F.C.|Kano Pillars]], [[Conference South]] side [[Havant & Waterlooville F.C.|Havant & Waterlooville]], and [[Southern Football League Division One South & West]] side [[Gosport Borough F.C.|Gosport Borough]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Exeter 1–1 Portsmouth Match Report |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=&fm_type=all&fm_string=ben%20sahar&fm_article_page_num=3&qs_media=html&qs_articleid=1349 |publisher=Portsmouth F.C. |date=16 July 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094514/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news |archive-date=13 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Swindon 1–3 Portsmouth Match Report |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=&fm_type=all&fm_string=ben%20sahar&fm_article_page_num=3&qs_media=html&qs_articleid=1360 |publisher=Portsmouth F.C. |date=18 July 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094514/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news |archive-date=13 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dorchester 1–1 Portsmouth Match Report |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=&fm_type=all&fm_string=ben%20sahar&fm_article_page_num=3&qs_media=html&qs_articleid=1367 |date=21 July 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094514/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news |archive-date=13 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Kano Pillars 0–5 Portsmouth Match Report |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=&fm_type=all&fm_string=ben%20sahar&fm_article_page_num=2&qs_media=html&qs_articleid=1380 |date=26 July 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094514/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news |archive-date=13 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ajax Cape Town 1–2 Portsmouth Match Report |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=&fm_type=all&fm_string=ben%20sahar&fm_article_page_num=2&qs_media=html&qs_articleid=1392 |date=30 July 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094514/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news |archive-date=13 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Havant & Waterlooville 0–4 Portsmouth Match Report |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=&fm_type=all&fm_string=ben%20sahar&fm_article_page_num=1&qs_media=html&qs_articleid=1411 |date=5 August 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094514/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news |archive-date=13 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Gosport 1–4 Portsmouth Match Report |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news&qs_slideshow_b3b4_index=&fm_type=all&fm_string=ben%20sahar&fm_article_page_num=1&qs_media=html&qs_articleid=1430 |date=11 August 2008 |access-date=12 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094514/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=news |archive-date=13 September 2008 }}</ref>

However, Sahar was forced to endure yet another unsuccessful loan spell. Despite being involved in many of Portsmouth's pre-season matches, Sahar did not play once for Portsmouth; he was an unused substitute in three of their matches. "If I had played a few games and they said I wasn't good enough, then fine. But the fact is that I haven't been given that chance to shine," Sahar said of his disappointment at not being given one opportunity to prove himself.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea's Sahar Slams Portsmouth|url=http://www.goal.com/id-ID/news/1711/chelsea/2008/11/16/966841/chelseas-sahar-slams-portsmouth|publisher=Goal.com |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=16 November 2008 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==== De Graafschap (loan) ====
Sahar joined [[Eredivisie]] side [[De Graafschap]] on loan on 2 January 2009. He played for De Graafschap until the end of the season. He played his first match for De Graafschap in a friendly against Turkish club [[Sivasspor]]. He scored his first two goals for De Graafschap in a friendly match against Belgian team [[K.V. Mechelen]]. He scored his first goal in the Eredivisie on 17 January 2009 in his debut match, against [[Willem II (football club)|Willem II]]. After only 17 minutes, Sahar received a pass from [[Luuk de Jong]] and then curled the shot into the top corner, after passing a defender in the {{convert|18|yd|m|adj=on}} box. His second goal came in an away game against fellow relegation strugglers, [[Roda JC]]. His third goal for De Graafschap came in a home game against [[SC Heerenveen]]. In this game, he finished well to score the game's first goal with his left foot, after good play from Luuk de Jong. His fourth and fifth goals came in the home game against [[NEC Nijmegen]]. Sahar scored a penalty for the opening goal after missing an earlier penalty attempt. He scored his second goal of the match with a close range strike. This match finished in a 2–2 draw. De Graafschap finished second-bottom in the [[2008–09 Eredivisie]]. This meant that they would have to participate in play-offs with teams from the Dutch second division in order to retain their place in the Eredivisie. In their first play-off match against [[MVV Maastricht]], Sahar scored a goal within 60 seconds of the match's commencement to set up a 3–2 away win for De Graafschap.

Sahar finished with five goals and one assist in 16 appearances for De Graafschap in the 2008–09 Eredivisie, and in the relegation playoffs he scored one goal and made two assists in six games, making of a total of six goals and three assists in 22 games.<ref>[http://voorducter.com/article/ben-sahar Ben Sahar; Club carrière; Internationale carrière; Honours; Militair; Chelsea<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Espanyol===
Sahar moved to [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]] for a fee of £1million on a four-year deal, after leaving [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] in the summer of 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8113170.stm|title=Sahar leaves Chelsea for Espanyol|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 June 2009|access-date=22 June 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090625052856/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8113170.stm| archive-date= 25 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> He was presented with the number 14 jersey. On 2 August 2009, Sahar scored two goals in a friendly match against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] as a substitute, also picking up the man-of-the-match award in a 3–0 win. These were the second and third goals of the match, scored at the club's inaugural match at their new stadium, the [[Estadi Cornellà-El Prat]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://goal.com/en-us/news/85/england/2009/08/02/1418541/liverpool-crushed-as-espanyol-celebrates-new-stadium-in|publisher=Goal.com|date=2 August 2009|access-date=12 November 2009|title=Liverpool Crushed As Espanyol Celebrates New Stadium In Style|archive-date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414160055/http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/85/england/2009/08/02/1418541/liverpool-crushed-as-espanyol-celebrates-new-stadium-in|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sahar scored his first league goal for Espanyol on 23 September 2009, with a header in a 2–1 victory over [[Málaga CF|Málaga]]; also his club's first goal at the stadium in a competitive match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=275601&cc=3436|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=23 September 2009|access-date=12 November 2009|title=Espanyol 2 – 1 Malaga|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604121712/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=275601&cc=3436|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Hapoel Tel Aviv (loan)====
Despite the objections of his agent, Ronen Katzav, on 20 July 2010, Sahar joined his youth club Hapoel Tel Aviv on a one-year loan.<ref name=Katzav>{{cite news |script-title=he:אירופה מחכה לו? |first=Yoav |last=Borovich |url=http://www.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?folderid=920&docid=94687&lang=HE |publisher=Sport5 |date=19 February 2011 |access-date=19 February 2011 |language=he |trans-title=Europe is waiting?}}</ref> Hapoel Tel Aviv also purchased 10% of the transfer rights for £100,000. Sahar scored his first goal for Hapoel Tel Aviv against FK Aktobe from Kazakhstan in the [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League]] third qualifying round, after a pass from [[Itay Shechter]] and scored in the final qualifying round in the away leg versus [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]].

Sahar found great difficulty scoring in the [[Israeli Premier League|Ligat Ha'Al]] upon arrival.<ref name=Katzav/> Assistant manager, [[Yossi Abuksis]] attributed this to a mental difficulty that Sahar created for himself.<ref name=Katzav/> Sahar came back to Israel as a superstar and the pressures that came with this status were difficult to bear at the start of the season.<ref name=Katzav/> When Itay Shechter went out with an injury midseason, Sahar capitalized on the increased playing time to create a striking partnership with [[Toto Tamuz]].<ref name=Katzav/>

==== Auxerre (loan) ====
On 4 July 2011, Sahar joined [[Ligue 1]] side [[AJ Auxerre|Auxerre]] on a one-year loan. Auxerre had an option to sign Sahar permanently for a fee of €1.5 million<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/182490.html | script-title=he:בן שהר חתם רשמית לשנה אחת באוקזר הצרפתית |trans-title=Ben Sahar signed in Auxerre for one season |publisher=One |date=5 July 2011 |access-date=5 July 2011 |language=he}}</ref> which the club did not take advantage of at the end of the player's loan spell.

===Hertha BSC===
On 19 July 2012, Sahar signed for [[2. Bundesliga]] side [[Hertha BSC]] on a free transfer from [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]].<ref>[http://www.herthabsc.de/de/intern/wechsel-ban-sahar/page/5569--17--.html Ben Sahar verlässt Hertha BSC - Intern - HerthaBSC.de<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He made his league debut for the side on 16 September 2012, coming on in the 82nd minute in Hertha's 2–0 win over [[VfR Aalen]].

====Arminia Bielefeld (loan)====
He was on loan to [[Arminia Bielefeld]] from January 2014 until June 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=BEN SAHAR AN ARMINIA BIELEFELD AUSGELIEHEN|url=http://www.herthabsc.de/de/teams/leihe-sahar-bielefeld/page/4280--45-45-.html|publisher=herthabsc.de|access-date=22 January 2014|language=de}}</ref>

===Willem II===
On 21 July 2014, it was announced that Sahar had signed a one-year deal with an option for another year with Dutch Eredivisie side [[Willem II (football club)|Willem II]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Willem II elfde club voormalig wonderkind Sahar|url=http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/willem-ii-elfde-club-voormalig-wonderkind-sahar.htm|publisher=Voetbal International|access-date=21 July 2014|language=nl}}</ref> He finished the season with 7 goals, but Willem II decided not to exercise the option.

===Hapoel Be'er Sheva===
On 8 July 2015, Sahar signed to [[Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.|Hapoel Be'er Sheva]] on a three-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ben Sahar signed to Be'er Sheva for 3 years|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/15-16/1,1,22,0/253676.html?ref=hp|publisher=Yigal Berman|access-date=8 July 2015|language=he}}</ref> He finished the [[2015–16 Israeli Premier League|2015–16 season]] with nine goals, contributing to the team's first league championship in 40 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=In 40-year first, Hapoel Beersheba soccer club are national champions|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-40-year-first-hapoel-beersheba-soccer-club-are-national-champions/|access-date=12 November 2016|work=The Times of Israel|date=22 May 2016}}</ref>

===Maccabi Haifa===
Displaying his skills as a striker, Sahar played a significant role in Maccabi Haifa's victories in the 2021 Israel Super Cup and the Toto Cup.<ref>{{cite web|date=24 May 2023|title =Top Israelis to Play in Europe|url=https://footballexpress.co.uk/top-israelis-to-play-in-europe/|website= FootballExpress.co.uk}}</ref>

===Maccabi Petah Tikva===
On 1 July 2023, Sahar joined [[Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C.|Maccabi Petah Tikva]]. On 30 May 2024, he won his first title with the club, [[2023-24 Israel State Cup|Israel State Cup]], after beating [[Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.|Hapoel Be'er Sheva]] 1–0 in the [[2024 Israel State Cup final|final]].

===The return to Hapoel Tel Aviv===
On 18 August 2024 returned to [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]] after it relegated to [[Liga Leumit]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.one.co.il/Article/24-25/1,2,5,45870/470421.html?ref=hp|title= רשמית: הפועל ת"א הודיעה על החתמת בן שהר|first= |last= |date= 2024-08-18|accessdate= 2024-08-18|publisher= ONE|language= HE}}</ref>

==International career==
On 7 October 2006, Sahar made his debut for the [[Israel national under-21 football team|Israel U-21s]] in a playoff against [[France national under-21 football team|France]] – scoring Israel's goal in the away leg which ended 1–1, on the way to Israel's shock qualification to [[UEFA U-21 Championship 2007]] with a 2–1 aggregate win.

On 7 February 2007, at the age of 17-and-a-half, Sahar became the youngest player to ever play for the [[Israel national football team]], in a friendly match against [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]] (a feat since surpassed by [[Gai Assulin]]). In doing so, he became Chelsea's youngest player to earn an international cap.<ref name="Records">{{cite web | url=http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomePage/0,,10268~1027166,00.html | title=Sahar gratitude for honour | publisher=ChelseaFC.com | access-date=5 July 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527003138/http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomePage/0%2C%2C10268~1027166%2C00.html | archive-date=27 May 2007 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> He earned his second cap against [[England national football team|England]] on 24 March 2007, coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute. Sahar became the youngest player to score for the Israel national football team in his third appearance with the team on 28 March 2007, scoring two goals against [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]] as a substitute in Israel's 4–0 win. This was the youngest international goal scored by a Chelsea player.<ref name="Records" /> Sahar scored his third international goal on 6 September 2008, with an equaliser in the 90th minute against [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] in a [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] qualifier,<ref>{{cite news |title=Sahar scores crucial equalizer for Israel|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1220526725252|work=Jerusalem Post|date=7 September 2008 |access-date=10 September 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2013}}</ref> following up with his fourth and fifth international goals a year later in the 2010 World Cup [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 2|qualifier]] against [[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]] on 9 September 2009.

==Career statistics==
===International===
:''Scores and results list Israel's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sahar goal''.<ref name="NFT">{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/20788/Ben_Sahar.html|title=Sahar, Ben|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Ben Sahar
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || rowspan="2"|28 March 2007 || rowspan="2"|[[Ramat Gan Stadium]], [[Ramat Gan]], Israel || rowspan="2"|{{fb|EST}} || align=center|3–0 || rowspan="2" align=center|4–0 || rowspan="2"|[[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group E|UEFA Euro 2008 qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || align="center"|4–0
|-
| align="center"|3 || 6 September 2008 || Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel || {{fb|SUI}} || align=center|2–2 || align=center|2–2 || [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|4 || rowspan="2"|9 September 2009 || rowspan="2"|Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel || rowspan="2"|{{fb|LUX}} || align=center|6–0 || rowspan="2" align=center|7–0 || rowspan="2"|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align="center"|5 || align="center"|7–0
|-
| align="center"|6 || 29 February 2012 || [[HaMoshava Stadium]], [[Petah Tikva]], Israel || {{fb|UKR}} || align=center | 2–3 || align=center | 2–3 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|7 || 6 June 2017 || [[Netanya Stadium]], [[Netanya]], Israel || {{fb|MDA}} || align=center | 1–1 || align=center | 1–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|8 || 15 November 2018 || Netanya Stadium, Netanya, Israel || {{fb|GUA}} || align=center | 7–0 || align=center | 7–0 || Friendly
|}

==Honours==
'''Hapoel Tel Aviv'''
* [[Israel State Cup]]: [[2010–11 Israel State Cup|2010–11]]

'''Hertha BSC'''
* [[2. Bundesliga]]: [[2012–13 2. Bundesliga|2012–13]]

'''Hapoel Beer Sheva'''
* [[Israeli Premier League]]: [[2015–16 Israeli Premier League|2015–16]], [[2015–16 Israeli Premier League|2016–17]], [[2017–18 Israeli Premier League|2017–18]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/16-17/1,1,3,0/290574.html?ref=hp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503072900/http://www.one.co.il/Article/16-17/1,1,3,0/290574.html?ref=hp|url-status=live|archive-date=3 May 2017|title=בפעם השנייה ברצף: הפועל ב"ש אלופת המדינה|access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref>
* Israel State Cup: [[2019–20 Israel State Cup|2019–20]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://playbyplay.sport5.co.il/?GameID=112766&FLNum=28|title=ועדת העיטור: הפועל באר שבע זכתה בגביע המדינה|access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref>
* [[Toto Cup]]: [[2016–17 Toto Cup Al|2016–17]]
* [[Israel Super Cup]]: [[2016 Israel Super Cup|2016]]

'''Maccabi Haifa'''
* Israeli Premier League: [[2021–22 Israeli Premier League|2021–22]], [[2022–23 Israeli Premier League|2022–23]]
* Toto Cup: [[2021–22 Toto Cup Al|2021–22]]
* Israel Super Cup: [[2021 Israel Super Cup|2021]]

'''Maccabi Petah Tikva'''
* [[Israel State Cup]]: [[2023–24 Israel State Cup|2023–24]]

==See also==
*[[List of Jews in sports#Football (Association; Soccer)|List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Soccerbase|45988}}
* {{ESPN FC}}

{{Israeli Premier League top scorers}}
{{Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sahar, Ben}}
[[Category:1989 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Holon]]
[[Category:Footballers from Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut]]
[[Category:Israeli Ashkenazi Jews]]
[[Category:Israeli Mizrahi Jews]]
[[Category:Polish Ashkenazi Jews]]
[[Category:Israeli men's footballers]]
[[Category:Polish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Israeli people of Tunisian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Israeli people of Latvian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Israeli people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Polish people of Tunisian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Polish people of Latvian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. players]]
[[Category:Chelsea F.C. players]]
[[Category:Portsmouth F.C. players]]
[[Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players]]
[[Category:De Graafschap players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:RCD Espanyol footballers]]
[[Category:AJ Auxerre players]]
[[Category:Hertha BSC players]]
[[Category:Arminia Bielefeld players]]
[[Category:Willem II Tilburg players]]
[[Category:Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C. players]]
[[Category:APOEL FC players]]
[[Category:Maccabi Haifa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C. players]]
[[Category:Israel men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Israel men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Israeli Premier League players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Israeli expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus]]
[[Category:Israeli expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Israeli expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Israeli expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Israeli expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Israeli expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Israeli expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Polish expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus]]
[[Category:21st-century Polish sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Israeli sportsmen]]