Salem Abu Siam (, ; born 8 March 1983) is a former Israeli professional footballer.
Career
Youth career Salem was part of the youth side at Maccabi Tel Aviv that won two straight championship titles as well as a cup title. It was inevitable that he would be promoted to the first side where he eventually received a starting role.
Maccabi Tel Aviv While in his first season at Maccabi Tel Aviv, they won a league championship and in his third season, Abu Siam was playing in the UEFA Champions League. Abu Siam, although as a Beduin belongs to a group not totally identified with the Arab community and therefore is not exactly of the same ethnic background as other Arab Israeli footballers such as Salim Tuama, Salah Hasarma or Abbas Suan, often had to turn the other cheek to racist remarks shouted at those players (or occasionally at him) by Maccabi fans, who are known for their often flagrantly personally offensive chants, and are often ranked highest on the Israeli press's tally for most racist fan community.
Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv At the beginning of the 2006–07 season Abu Siam made the eyebrow-raising decision to sign with one of Mac TA's crosstown rivals, Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, a club with a fanatical fanbase smaller than Maccabi's, but more violent. Although at the beginning of the season the fans ridiculed the decision to sign the club's first Arab player, the furor soon died down, which came to a surprise following similar affairs with Beitar Jerusalem that had occurred in 2005 and 2006 in regards to efforts to sign Muslim Nigerian player Ndala Ibrahim.
Hapoel Petah Tikva Abu Siam signed a one-year contract with Hapoel Petah Tikva in October 2009.
Statistics Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Israel League Israel State Cup Toto Cup Europe Total2006–2007Bnei YehudaLigat ha'Al2601051003212007–20081801150002412008–2009Hapoel AcreLiga Leumit60100000702009–2010Hapoel Petah TikvaLigat ha'Al1301100001412010–2011Hapoel Bnei LodLiga Leumit40000000402011–2012192214000253 Career total----------
External links