PLAYER PROFILE

Idan Tal

Position: Midfield

Height: 5'10

Weight: 11st 7lbs

Date of Birth: 1975-09-13 Petah-Tikvah, Israel

Idan Tal

Idan arrived at Goodison Park mid-way through the 2000-2001 season after a protracted battle with the British authorities over a work permit that was initially denied the Israel international due to his failure to make the requisite percentage of his national team's games.

After he represented Israel in two World Cup qualifying matches against Spain and Bosnia, Tal was granted permission to play in England. A fee of £700,000 was all it required to bring the classy defender from the Israeli club Maccabi Petah Tikva for the Toffees.

The Everton manager Walter Smith took Tal on a pre-season tour of Tuscany in the summer of 2000 and was impressed with the player. The 12 appearances - with two goals - that Tal made for Everton after his arrival in October 2000 convinced Blues fans that his persistence had been worthwhile.

Unfortunately, he was in and out of the team in 2001/02, and then left the club for Maccabi Haifa in 2003.

After a couple of seasons in Isreal he returned to England in July 2006 with Bolton. However, he started only seven games in 06/07, but did score one goal.