In a short and emotional press conference, his career came to an end: Itay Shechter, one of the most prominent players of the last generation of Israeli football, retired today (Thursday) from active play at the age of 37. The striker, who played for Hapoel Petah Tikva, was supposed to complete the season in the team’s uniform – but in the end Devar was injured, ended the season and announced his retirement already today.
“This is a good, true story, about a dream that came true for a little boy in the northern suburbs, I chased this dream and gave it my all. I lived it on sunny days living on boiling asphalt with bare feet and in quiet evenings when I kicked an exposed goal kick after kick for long hours in the small settlement of Ramat Yishai”.
“For almost 20 years I have been a professional player, I played in the Israeli national teams, in the Premier League and in the German, English and French leagues, I had the privilege of representing Israel in the Champions League and the Europa League. I consecrated heaven there on Austrian soil against Red Bull Salzburg, after the goal I scored I took off my cap and said Shema Israel, I felt that I had closed a circle with my grandfather who survived the Holocaust.”
“I won championships in cups and many titles, for every day of this journey I am grateful. You all grew with me over the years, rejoiced with me in victories and cried with me in losses and crises, you fans were an integral part of my life.”
“Today I can share with you that moving from one team to another was never easy and that I tried to leave a mark on every team I played in. I gave each club and its fan base everything I had to give, no matter what shirt I wore, my love for the fans was always sincere.”
“My professional career has come to an end. I say this with real reverence, I thought about this moment but more than thinking about it, I was afraid to realize it. My heart wanted to continue, but after quite a few injuries during my career, my body told me otherwise. My whole essence is football, I Live for him, breathe for him, I got up in the morning to train and went to bed to look forward to the game on Saturday. What I do know is that I will continue to be a part of Israeli football.”
“To all the players with whom I shared the dressing room, I want to say thank you for the exciting memories, for the countless happy moments that you were a support for me in moments of disappointment. Thank you to all my coaches from childhood to the present day, to all my coaches and they played an important part in my journey.
“Thank you to the agents who accompanied me throughout my career, the Katsav brothers and my father Nemani. A huge thank you to my dear parents who accompanied me and invested resources in me so that the fruits will bear fruit. Thank you to my brothers, you are always my strength and my back. There is a saying that behind every successful man there is a strong woman, this is no longer just Cliché. Thanks to my beloved wife who was by my side even when I was young and less sure of myself, she believed in me so that I would believe in myself and was always there for me.”
“Thanks to Liav, Roni, Omer and Amit, my beloved followers who are part of my success. The greatest thanks is to the Creator of the world, who made a childhood dream come true and thanks to him I am standing in front of you and ending a long career.
For everyone who loves this amazing game called soccer, I tried with all my heart to make it happier and more colorful, more exciting, and sometimes a little theatrical. I love you all whether you loved me or not, you are an integral part of my life’s soundtrack.
Today I finish my chapter as an active soccer player, but as you know me, I will always be part of the landscape of Israeli soccer. So it’s not just recognition for a career that has ended, it’s recognition for a whole life, thank you football.”
“I consecrated heaven there”. Schechter with the cap in Salzburg (getty) Schechter, 37, started playing soccer as a boy in Hapoel Haifa, moved to Emek Jezreel and made his breakthrough as a top player in the Galilee landscape from where he was acquired by Maccabi Netanya, and from the Black and Yellows he moved to Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he led the club for a few moments His best in the previous decade in Europe, and with results that are still considered great sensations. He won the championship and two cups before being bought by the German Kaiserslautern, where he moved with his best friend, until today, Gili Vermut.
The time in Germany was not enough and he went on loan to Swansea, returned to Hapoel Tel Aviv and went on loan to French Nantes until he returned once more to Israel, and played for Maccabi Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem. In 2018 he moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv, won two championships with them and in recent years he managed to play, mainly as a substitute, in Hapoel BS and now in Hapoel PT. Shechter appeared in all of Israel’s junior and senior national teams for 8 years, making 27 appearances and scoring five goals.
Besides being an excellent player, Schechter was an asset to every club he came to both on and off the field. He knew how to connect the friends around him and unlike stars of his level, in some cases he got into conflicts with coaches after not being a partner. In 18 games in all formats this season, he scored one goal in the Hapoel PAT uniform.
Shechter has a total of 113 league goals in all leagues (107 in the Premier League, 30th all-time), 13 cup goals, 6 league cup goals (Toto and in France), 9 in the European Cups, 5 in the Israeli team, 5 in the youth team. Total : 151 goals in all competitions which brings him to the 68th place of all time.
(Data courtesy of Ron Amikam)
