*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:52, 17 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:24, 17 May 2024 (UTC)
Tomer Hemed (Hebrew: תומר חמד; born 2 May 1987) is an Israeli professional footballer who played as a forward.
Hemed was born and raised in Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel, to an Israeli-born father whose family is of Syrian Jewish descent, and to a Polish-born mother whose family is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.[2] As a result, Hemed also holds a Polish passport, which eased his move to European leagues.[3][2] He is the youngest of four brothers. Hemed is observant, and in September 2018, he was a substitute for Queens Park Rangers in an evening game against Millwall, so that he could abstain from eating or exercising until the end of the 24-hour period of the Jewish high holy day of Yom Kippur. After breaking his fast, he came on late into the game.[4]
In 2013, he married Israeli model Shunit Faragi, who was crowned second place at Miss Israel 2008, and also represented their homeland in Miss Universe 2008.[5] They have three daughters together.[6]
Club career
Maccabi Haifa
Hemed was called up to Maccabi Haifa's first-team in early 2006, after scoring regularly for the under-18 side. He appeared three times with the main squad, scoring once, before returning to the youth side. He made his debut in the campaign on 3 March 2007, coming on as a substitute in a 1–2 home loss against Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv.[7] Hemed scored his first professional goals on 26 May, netting his side's both goals in a 2–0 win at Maccabi Herzliya.[8] In 2007, he travelled with the Under-21 side to that year's Torneo di Viareggio; he scored once as Haifa was knocked-out in the group stage.
Hemed returned to Maccabi Haifa in the 2010 summer, and appeared in 45 matches during the 2010–11 campaign, also scoring 18 goals as the club was crowned champions.[citation needed]
Hemed scored his first goals abroad on 1 October, scoring both his side's goals in a 2–2 draw at CA Osasuna.[15] He also netted twice in his Copa del Rey debut, a 6–1 home routing over Real Sociedad on 10 January of the following year.[16]
On 2 July 2014 Hemed returned to the Spanish top level, by agreeing to a two-year deal with UD Almería.[19] After struggling to score in his first matches, he netted his first goal with the Andalusians on 4 October, the last in a 2–2 home draw against Elche CF.
In January 2015, Hemed scored two braces against Málaga CF (2–1 away win) and Valencia CF (2–3 away loss), taking his tally up to six. He finished the campaign with eight goals, being the club's top goalscorer, but suffered team relegation.
Brighton & Hove Albion
On 24 June 2015 Hemed signed a three-year deal with English Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first goal for the Seagulls from the penalty spot in the last moments of an away game at Fulham, to seal a 2–1 victory.[20] Hemed scored just one goal between September 2015 and February 2016, which drew criticism from supporters, but rediscovered his early season form to finish as the club's top scorer with 17 goals.
Tomer Hemed scored 13 goals in all competitions in Brighton's promotion-winning 2016–17 season, trading starting positions regularly with top-scorer Glenn Murray and Sam Baldock in a strike force that managed to score 44 league goals between them. Highlights from Hemed throughout the season included a last gasp equaliser in a 3–3 draw away to Brentford,[21] the only goal in a hard earned 1–0 win against Cardiff City,[22] and a late penalty in a narrow 1–0 away win against Burton Albion.[23]
On 9 September 2017, Hemed scored his first Premier League goal for Brighton in a 3–1 victory over West Bromwich Albion.[24] Hemed scored again in Brighton's next home Premier League game, a 1–0 win against Newcastle United on 24 September.[25] Three days later, the FA announced that Hemed had been given a three-match ban for a stamp on the calf of Newcastle defender DeAndre Yedlin, an incident which went unnoticed by referee Andre Marriner.[26]
On 16 November 2017, Hemed signed a contract extension with Brighton, keeping him on the south coast until the summer of 2019.[27]
On 19 August 2019, Hemed joined Championship side Charlton Athletic on a one-year contract after being released at Brighton.[30] He made his debut for The Addicks as a substitute in a 1–0 home victory over fellow London side, Brentford on 24 August.[31] Hemed was released by the South London side at the end of his contract following the clubs relegation after making 19 appearances in all competitions without finding the net.[32][33]
On 17 May 2021, Hemed drew media attention after he draped himself in an Israeli flag and donned a Jewish kippah during a 2–2 draw with Melbourne City FC. He received a yellow card for covering the face or head with a mask or other covering. This development coincided with the 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis. Phoenix general manager Dome claimed that Hemed was praying for peace and expressing solidarity with his country.[36][37]
On 10 July 2021. Wellington Phoenix announced that Tomer Hemed had departed the club.
Western Sydney Wanderers
On 11 July 2021. The Western Sydney Wanderers announced Hemed signed a one-year deal with the club.[38]
International career
Hemed appeared with the under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21s, featuring regularly with the youth squads. In January 2011, he was called up to the senior Israel national team for a behind closed doors friendly against FC Dynamo Kyiv. Hemed made his unofficial debut on the 26th, scoring in a 3–2 win.[39]
In May 2011, Hemed was called up to train with the national team for a friendly against Latvia in June.[40] On 4 June, he made his international debut, starting and assisting Yossi Benayoun in a 2–1 victory.[41]
Hemed scored his first international goal on 6 September, but in a 1–3 loss against Croatia.[42] He also scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 routing against Luxembourg on 12 October of the following year.[43]
^"Empate capicúa en Pamplona" [Palindrome draw in Pamplona] (in Spanish). Marca. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
^"Un milagro en siete minutos" [A miracle in seven minutes] (in Spanish). Marca. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
^"Parte médico Tomer Hemed" [Medical report Tomer Hemed] (in Spanish). Mallorca's official website. 27 May 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
^"Hemed Signs New Deal". Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. 16 November 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
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