Ronny Rosenthal
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 11 October 1963 | ||
Place of birth | Haifa,Israel | ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
Position(s) | Forward,striker | ||
Youth career | |||
1974–1979 | Maccabi Haifa | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1979–1986 | Maccabi Haifa | 137 | (42) |
1986–1988 | Club Brugge | 43 | (15) |
1988–1990 | Standard Liège[1] | 44 | (20) |
1990 | →Liverpool(loan) | 8 | (7) |
1990–1994 | Liverpool | 66 | (14) |
1994–1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | 88 | (4) |
1997–1999 | Watford | 30 | (8) |
Total | 416 | (110) | |
International career | |||
1983–1997 | Israel | 60 | (11) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:26, 20 November 2007 (UTC) |
Ronny Rosenthal(Hebrew:רוני רוזנטל;born 11 October 1963), nicknamed "Rocket Ronny",[2]is an Israeli formerfootballerwho played as aforward.[citation needed]
After starting his career in his birth city withMaccabi Haifa,Rosenthal went on to play in Belgium withClub BruggeandStandard Liège.He moved toLiverpoolin 1990 for a fee of £1.1 million, becoming the first non-UK player to move to an English club for more than £1 million. After four years at Liverpool, Rosenthal finished his career withTottenham HotspurandWatford.
Between 1983 and 1997 he made 60 appearances for theIsrael national team,scoring 11 goals.
Early and personal life
[edit]Rosenthal was born inHaifa,Israel.[3][4]His father, who was born inBucharest,Romaniaand is ofAshkenazi Jewishdescent,immigratedto Israel later on.[5][6]His mother, born inMoroccoto aMoroccan Jewishfamily, also immigrated to Israel.[7]His brotherLior Rosenthalis also a former footballer who played for Maccabi Haifa the Israel national team.[3]
Rosenthal married aBelgian,Nancy, whoconverted to Judaism.[3]Their two sons, Dean Rosenthal—who wasBar Mitzvahin Israel—andTom Rosenthal,were born inEngland.[3]Dean is director of a sporting management company; while Tom, formerly on the books ofQueens Park Rangersas a midfielder, formerly played for the Dutch teamFC Dordrecht,and has been capped by Belgium at the under-18 and U19 levels—where he scored three goals—and has switched toIsraeland was named to its U21 national team in 2018 for the Euro 2019 qualifiers against Germany and Norway.[8][9]
Rosenthal now resides inLondon,and has worked as a football agent and consultant.[3]His nephew is Israeli international footballerDenny Gropper.[10][6]
On 11 May 2019, Rosenthal and his family were subjected to a "terrifying ordeal", when masked machetes-holding robbers, raided his home inCricklewood,England.[11]
Club career
[edit]He was left-footed, and began his playing career withMaccabi Haifain the city in which he was born in his nativeIsrael,winning two Israeli league titles.[12][3]Rosenthal left his homeland to sign for Belgian sideClub Brugge KVin 1988.[3]He scored 15 goals in two seasons, and won the Belgian league title one season.[3]
He then joined English sideLiverpoolon loan in March 1990, as managerKenny Dalglishlooked to increase his options for the forward positions during Liverpool's league title run-in. He scored seven goals in eightFootball League First Divisiongames, including a hat-trick againstCharlton Athletic,which helped Liverpool secure their third league title in five seasons. His move toAnfieldwas then made permanent for a fee of £1 million - double the fee which had been quoted before the loan deal was agreed.[13]At Anfield, he became a cult hero.[14]
During the1990–91season, Rosenthal faced continued fierce competition for a place in the first team from Liverpool's established strikersIan RushandPeter Beardsley,and then from mid-season signingDavid Speedie.He played 16 times in the league, and scored five goals as Liverpool finished second in the league. In1991–92,Rosenthal played 20 times in the league, but it was a frustrating league campaign for both player and club, as the Reds finished sixth in the league and Rosenthal only found the net three times. Liverpool did win theFA Cupthat season, but Rosenthal was not selected for the final. Despite the pre-season departure of both Speedie and Beardsley, Rosenthal was now faced with competition for a place from new signingDean Saunders.1992–93was slightly better, as Rosenthal played 27 games in the newPremier League,and scored six goals, but it was another frustrating season for Liverpool, who finished sixth in the league once again and spent most of the season occupying even lower positions. Saunders had been sold toAston Villaearly in the season, while new signingPaul Stewartproved to be a major disappointment.[15]A memorable occasion during that first Premier League season came when Rosenthal hit the crossbar with a shot on an open goal in a league match against Aston Villa.[16]
With the arrival ofNigel Cloughin the summer of 1993, and the breakthrough ofRobbie Fowlersoon after, Rosenthal played just three league games for Liverpool in1993–94and was sold toTottenham Hotspurin January 1994.[2]Rosenthal scored on his debut in February 1994, in a home defeat toSheffield Wednesday.He became a regular member of the first team atWhite Hart Lane,playing 15 league games and scoring twice before the season's end. DespiteTeddy Sheringhamovercoming injury problems, and the close season signing ofJürgen Klinsmann,Rosenthal still managed to appear in 20 Premier League games in1994–95,though he failed to score. His best form came in theFA Cup,in which he scored five goals in Tottenham's run to the semi-final. This included a hat-trick in a 6–2 fifth round replay win atSouthampton.Klinsmann was then sold toBayern Munichand Spurs signedChris Armstrong,but Rosenthal still played in all but five of Tottenham's 38 Premier League games in1995–96,mostly as a substitute, but only scored one goal.[citation needed]
1996–97brought a similar story for player and club. For the third consecutive season, Spurs fell short of aUEFA Cupplace, while Rosenthal was on the scoresheet only once in the league, and this time was restricted to 20 league appearances. In more than three years inNorth London,Rosenthal had appeared in 88 league games (55 of them starts) but scored just four goals.[17]He then dropped down two divisions to sign forWatford,and played 30 games over the next seasons and scored eight goals as Watford won back-to-back promotions to reach theFA Premier League.He then retired from playing at the age of 35.[18]
International career
[edit]Rosenthal was also a regular member of theIsrael national teamfor most of his career. He won his first senior cap in 1983, and by the time his international career drew to a close in 1997, he had been capped 60 times and scored 11 goals.[3][19]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Maccabi Haifa | 1980–81 | Liga Artzit | 27 | 4 | — | — | — | 27 | 4 | |||||
1981–82 | Liga Leumit | 24 | 7 | — | — | — | 24 | 7 | ||||||
1983–84 | Liga Leumit | 23 | 6 | — | — | — | 23 | 6 | ||||||
1984–85 | Liga Leumit | 30 | 12 | — | — | — | 30 | 12 | ||||||
1985–86 | Liga Leumit | 33 | 13 | — | — | — | 33 | 13 | ||||||
Total | 137 | 42 | — | — | — | 137 | 42 | |||||||
Club Brugge | 1986–87 | Belgian First Division | 28 | 11 | — | 2[c] | 2 | — | 30 | 13 | ||||
1987–88 | Belgian First Division | 15 | 4 | — | 8[d] | 0 | — | 23 | 4 | |||||
Total | 43 | 15 | — | 10 | 2 | — | 53 | 17 | ||||||
Standard Liège | 1988–89 | Belgian First Division | 30 | 14 | — | — | — | 30 | 14 | |||||
1989–90 | Belgian First Division | 14 | 6 | — | — | — | 14 | 6 | ||||||
Total | 44 | 20 | — | — | — | 44 | 20 | |||||||
Liverpool(loan) | 1989–90 | First Division | 8 | 7 | — | — | 8 | 7 | ||||||
Liverpool | 1990–91 | First Division | 16 | 5 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 17 | 5 | |||||
1991–92 | First Division | 20 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | — | 24 | 3 | ||||
1992–93 | Premier League | 27 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3[f] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 33 | 6 | |||
1993–94 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||||
Total | 74 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 85 | 21 | ||||
Tottenham Hotspur | 1993–94 | Premier League | 15 | 2 | — | — | 15 | 2 | ||||||
1994–95 | Premier League | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 4 | |||
1995–96 | Premier League | 33 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 4 | |||
1996–97 | Premier League | 20 | 1 | — | — | 20 | 1 | |||||||
Total | 88 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 100 | 11 | ||||
Watford | 1997–98 | Second Division | 25 | 8 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 29 | 9 | ||||
1998–99 | First Division | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
Total | 30 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 9 | ||||
Career total | 416 | 110 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 456 | 120 |
- ^IncludesFA Cup
- ^IncludesFootball League Cup
- ^Appearances inEuropean Cup Winners' Cup
- ^abAppearances inUEFA Cup
- ^abAppearance inFA Charity Shield
- ^Appearances inUEFA Cup Winners' Cup
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Ronny Rosenthalat National-Football-Teams.com
- ^abFrancis, Gerry; Slegg, Chris (16 September 2017).The Team That Dared To Do: Tottenham Hotspur 1994/5- Gerry Francis, Chris Slegg.Pitch Publishing (Brighton) Limited.ISBN9781785313561.
- ^abcdefghi"Ronnie Rosenthal in Brief".The Jewish Chronicle.16 March 2007 – via PressReader.
- ^Wechsler, Bob (10 September 2008).Day by Day in Jewish Sports History.KTAV Publishing House, Inc.ISBN9780881259698– via Google Books.
- ^"Povestea necunoscută a unui campion cu Liverpool:" Tata e născut în București! Încă urmărește la TV tot ce e legat de România "".Gazeta Sporturilor(in Romanian).
- ^ab"דני גרופר," השחקן הרומני האנונימי שזכה באליפות בולגריה "- וואלה! ספורט".19 April 2022.
- ^"לונדון כן מחכה לרוזנטל".6 October 2002.
- ^Simon Burnton (16 November 2007)."Small talk: Ronnie Rosenthal".London: guardian.co.uk.Retrieved27 January2011.
- ^"Rosenthal called up by Israel U21s; English-born Tom Rosenthal has been named in Israel’s under-21 squad for the Euro 2019 qualifiers against Germany and Norway."
- ^"16 שחקנים עשו הכל כדי שצמרת הכדורגל הישראלי תבחין בהם. העונה הם הצליחו".הארץ.
- ^Maltby, Matt (30 July 2019)."Ex-Tottenham and Liverpool star attacked by machete gang in raid at home".mirror.
- ^"Newsview".L.J. Tamman. 10 September 1984 – via Google Books.
- ^Tanner, Nick; Cotton, Steve (15 August 2017).From a Field to Anfield: A Footballer's Journey from Grassroots to the Top...- Nick Tanner, Steve Cotton.ISBN9781785313516.
- ^Gorst, Paul (2 December 2016)."Ronny Rosenthal on THAT miss: 'I'm glad it happened!'".Liverpool Echo.
- ^"Ronny ROSENTHAL - League appearances. - Liverpool FC".Sporting Heroes.
- ^"Liverpool career stats for Ronny Rosenthal - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC!".www.lfchistory.net.
- ^Cowlin, Chris (23 October 2014).Another 101 Interesting Facts About Spurs: Learn About the Boys From The Lane.Andrews UK Limited.ISBN9781910295564– via Google Books.
- ^"Ronny ROSENTHAL - League appearances. - Tottenham Hotspur FC".Sporting Heroes.
- ^Cowlin, Chris (3 February 2012).The Liverpool Quiz Book.Andrews UK Limited.ISBN9781908752123– via Google Books.
- ^"Ronny Rosenthal » Club matches".worldfootball.net.Retrieved5 May2023.
- ^Ronny Rosenthalat National-Football-Teams.com
External links
[edit]- 1963 births
- Living people
- Israeli Ashkenazi Jews
- Israeli men's footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Israel men's international footballers
- Israeli expatriate men's footballers
- Maccabi Haifa F.C. players
- Club Brugge KV players
- Standard Liège players
- Liverpool F.C. players
- Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
- Watford F.C. players
- Liga Leumit players
- Belgian Pro League players
- Premier League players
- Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- Israeli expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
- Israeli expatriate sportspeople in England
- Footballers from Haifa
- Israeli people of Romanian-Jewish descent
- Israeli people of Moroccan-Jewish descent
- Israeli Mizrahi Jews