“The Suffering Was Worth It”: Beram Kayal Looks Back on a Career That Defied the Odds
After nearly two years off the pitch, Beram Kayal has officially retired from professional football. In this exclusive farewell interview with BabaGol, the former Celtic and Brighton midfielder reflects on his journey—from a small village in northern Israel to Europe’s biggest stages, and onto his next chapter.
“I was never too concerned with goals or assists. What drove me was helping my team succeed and staying relevant at the highest levels. In football, suffering is part of success. If you—and those around you—can handle the suffering, you will make it. That’s the game.”
Entered the hearts of many in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Kayal at Brighton (Photo courtesy: Kayal’s personal archive)
At the beginning of July 2025, at age 37, Beram Kayal officially hung up his boots. Almost two years after the injury that ended his playing days, Kayal sat down with BabaGol to reflect for the first time on the highs and lows, the unfiltered truth, and a legacy that shaped Israeli and Arab football alike.
It’s a story that begins in the small Arab village of Jadeidi-Makr in northern Israel, winds through Maccabi Haifa’s academy, explodes into Celtic Park, Premier League glory with Brighton, and ends—perhaps poetically—where it all began: back home, in a role that combined leadership, representation, and purpose.
“I knew instantly this was different”
In September 2023, during a league match between Bnei Sakhnin and Hapoel Petah Tikva, Kayal went down after a brutal challenge. It was a tackle that broke his fibula—and closed the book on nearly two decades of elite football.
“I knew the second it happened it wasn’t just another injury. My father ran onto the pitch to hold me, and I asked him, ‘Dad, are you proud of me?’ Because I knew this wasn’t just a football injury. It felt like a car crash.”
Since that moment, it’s been surgeries, rehab, studying sports management, and helping Bnei Sakhnin behind the scenes. “These last 18 months helped prepare me for this moment. It’s never easy, but I’m ready for what’s next.”
The boy from the village who dreamed of Ajax
A unique talent that opened the door for many more Arab players in Maccabi Haifa. Kayal in his youth days in Green (Photo courtesy: Kayal’s personal archive)
Football was in Kayal’s blood. Two of his uncles played professionally, and from an early age, he lived and breathed the game. Streets, schoolyards, dirt pitches—wherever there was space, he played. Eventually, he earned a trial at Maccabi Haifa. Just 30 minutes into the session, the coach pulled him aside and said: “You’re in. Go get changed.”
From that day on, life became a routine of buses and sprints from his village to the train station in Akko, to Haifa, and back—every day, for years. He told classmates his dream was to play for Ajax. He didn’t know it then, but one day he would score against them in the Champions League.
“I always felt like I had something extra. Even in street games, I played against guys two, three years older—and held my own. That gave me confidence I could make it.”
At Maccabi Haifa, he progressed rapidly, scoring twice in only his second youth team match. By 18, he was making his senior debut. Within two years, he was a league champion and Champions League starter.
“That 2009/10 season, even though we lost all six games in the group stage, was one of the proudest moments in the club’s history. It was a young team, mostly academy players, with veterans like Yaniv Katan and Nir Davidovich. It shaped me.”
Celtic: Captain from the margins
Kayal’s move to Celtic turned him into a cult hero. He became the youngest foreign player to captain the club, wearing the armband in the fiery Old Firm derby against Rangers.
“There was everything in Glasgow—crazy highs, painful lows, unforgettable nights in Europe. It forged me.”
He then joined Brighton in the Championship, where he became a cornerstone of the club’s historic promotion to the Premier League in 2016/17. The fans voted him Player of the Season.
“Brighton was the club I connected with the most. The coach, Chris Hughton, was the best I worked with. That promotion season? The greatest moment of my career.”
Kayal played against legends like Pirlo, Xavi, Kaka, and shared dressing rooms with future global stars like Virgil van Dijk and Yves Bissouma. His first son is named Pirlo, in case there was any doubt about who inspired him most.
From Jadeidi-Makr to play against Barcelona. Kayal (right) confronts Xavi Hernandez (Photo courtesy: Celtic FC)
Pain, persistence, and 14 surgeries
On paper, it looks like a dream career. But nearly every chapter in Kayal’s journey included serious injuries. Broken arms, fractured legs, missed seasons, surgeries—14 in total.
“I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe it was family support. Maybe inner drive. I always felt like what I had wasn’t enough. I needed more. The suffering fueled that hunger. Me, my family—we kept getting up. I never gave up. That’s how I stayed at the top.”
Was among the Premier League’s notable Arab figures. Kayal, with Mohammed Salah (Photo courtesy: Kayal’s personal archive)
Representing more than just himself
Alongside his club success, Kayal earned 47 caps for the Israeli national team—second-most among Arab-Israeli players.
“Wearing the national shirt was always an honour. I missed a lot of games due to injuries, but being part of the national team shaped who I am.”
As an Arab citizen of Israel, his presence was not just symbolic—it was groundbreaking. “When I made it, I became proof for kids in my community that it was possible. That you could dream big.”
His success inspired a new wave of Arab-Israeli talent at Maccabi Haifa and beyond—paving the way for players like Anan Khalaili, who recently made his own move to Europe.
The Sakhnin mission
In 2020, Kayal returned to Israel, choosing to sign with Bnei Sakhnin instead of Maccabi Haifa.
“It wasn’t out of resentment. Haifa and I always had mutual respect. But I felt like this was a mission. I wanted to give back to my community. Build something new. Take a team fighting relegation and push for top-four.”
Under his leadership, Sakhnin achieved playoff finishes and became a tough opponent for the league’s top teams. Off the pitch, he helped build the club’s infrastructure—analytics, recruitment, staff development.
But in 2023, came the tackle from Jimmy Alexis that ended it all. “That was the hardest moment of my career. I broke down on the pitch. But even in the ambulance, I FaceTimed my wife to tell her everything would be okay. I tried to stay strong.”
From the pitch to the boardroom
Even after the injury, Kayal remained close to the team, joining Slobodan Drapić’s coaching staff. His impact helped Sakhnin stay up, as he transitioned into a professional director role, overseeing staff development and signings.
Eventually, with instability surrounding the club’s training facilities and management, Kayal and Drapić both stepped away.
“We lasted 18 months in tough conditions—no home stadium, no gym, training all over the country. But it was a great learning experience for me. I started to understand what being a sporting director means.”
Despite headlines around his departure, Kayal reflects with positivity. “I met with Abu Younes [club president], we spoke openly. We both agreed it was time for a shake-up. That’s football. I’m happy they stayed up.”
What’s next
The next chapter has already begun. Kayal has attended coaching courses, shadowed clubs like Brighton and Strasbourg, and is studying sports and business management.
He recently met with Israel FA chairman Shino Zuaretz about a future role, potentially focusing on youth talent in the Arab community.
“The meeting was promising. There’s no official role yet, but I hope something materializes. My dream is to become a top sporting director—and to make an impact through football.”
The legacy
Kayal was never a media darling in Israel. As a holding midfielder, playing a quiet role—and as an Arab player—he often didn’t get the recognition he deserved.
But the numbers speak for themselves: 477 matches, 32 goals, 27 assists, six league titles (two with Maccabi Haifa, four with Celtic), two Scottish Cups, one Premier League promotion, four Champions League campaigns, and two in the Europa League.
“A footballer’s success depends on those around them. For me, it was my family. They were there during the injuries, the lonely moments—and they kept me grounded during the highs.”
Kayal retires as one of the most successful Israeli footballers to play abroad—and certainly one of the most important Arab players in the country’s football history.
He proved that a boy from Jadeidi-Makr could lead Celtic into battle, take Brighton to the Premier League, and wear the national team’s shirt with pride.
More than that, he showed that with talent, perseverance, and a deep sense of identity—suffering, too, can be a blessing.
Israel’ second-most among Arab-Israeli players. Kayal in Israel’s uniform (Photo courtesy: Kayal’s personal photo archive)
Beram Kayal reflects on a remarkable career from Maccabi Haifa to Celtic and Brighton, and his new mission to impact Arab football youth.