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Tal Ben-Haim. (Getty Images) Last update - 04:00 31/07/2008 Israeli defender Tal Ben-Haim signs with Manchester City FC By Haaretz Service Tags: Manchester City  Rishon Letzion native and Israel national team defender Tal Ben Haim has signed a contract with Manchester City Football Club of the English Premier League, according to an interview published Wednesday on the club's website. The contract is worth a reported 5 million British pounds sterling. In the interview, Ben Haim expressed his excitement to sign with City, and his desire to help return the club to its days of glory, saying "I want to help City to be a better club and to win something". Advertisement Manchester City has not won a Premier League championship since 1968, and is often overshadowed internationally by their cross-town rivals Manchester United, even though they have a rabid following in the Northern England city and annually average among the top 6 in premier league attendance. Ben Haim stressed the importance of City's manager in making the decision to sign, saying he knows Mark Hughes matches his ambition, and described him as a passionate leader with a powerful desire to win. Ben Haim had clashed with manager Avram Grant while he played at Chelsea, and was quoted in the British tabloid The Sun as saying "If I knew Avram Grant was going to be the coach, I wouldn't have signed with Chelsea", adding that he "knew nothing good would come for me with Grant as coach." Ben Haim said he was eager to get on the pitch for City, adding that "the weather is cold but the people are very warm." Ben Haim said he knows the city well from his years playing for Bolton and that in many ways signing with City is "like coming back home." Finally, Ben Haim had a message for City's famously loyal fans, vowing that he will give his heart in every game and though it may take some time, City will again be champions. Related articles: Ben Haim: Odds of winning aren't great Soccer / Israelis in England / Ben Haim set to sign with Chelsea Kashtan names Benayoun and Ben Haim to squad Bookmark to del.icio.us   Calling it quits Beleaguered prime minister announces he will not run in Kadima party primaries. Obama's hunch Report: Obama 'gets the feeling' Israel to strike Iran if sanctions fail.   1.   clickfool, for your eyes only 03:01  |  mike 31/07/08   2.   clickfool 09:36  |  Hans 31/07/08   3.   Rabid following? 10:50  |  geordie 31/07/08   4.   Geordie - sour grapes? 11:31  |  True Blue 31/07/08   5.   Reply to True Blue 12:33  |  Geordie 31/07/08   6.   For Geordie 15:07  |  True Blue 31/07/08

Read & React Olmert: I'll quit once new Kadima leader chosen Responses: 105 ANALYSIS / Crushed and battered, Olmert finally broke Responses: 37 Gideon Levy: Top IDF officer should be tried for mass killing, not petty ATV incident Responses: 35 Hamas' Christian convert: I've left a society that sanctifies terror Responses: 91 Editorial: Holocaust survivors should march on Yad Vashem Responses: 1 Rosner's Domain Should the U.S. invade Darfur? Lieberman seen as good veep choice (WTR) What American Jews believe (WTR) Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left More Headlines 14:05 Official: Olmert to seek Palestinian peace deal before leaving office 14:48 Kadima officials fear new leader won't be able to form gov't 12:20 ANALYSIS / Ehud Olmert failed in war and failed in peace 14:56 Despite sanctions, German firm closes 100m euro deal with Iran 12:59 Hamas' Christian convert: I've left a society that sanctifies terror 14:25 Marijuana-fest Weeds had great Jewish characters, until now 15:37 Palestinian athletes overcome hurdles on their way to Olympics 13:36 Gaydamak's trial on gun-running charges to proceed as planned 11:53 British Jewish watchdog: Anti-Semitic incidents in U.K. up 9% in 2008 02:54 Police: Olmert quitting because he knows we have him 15:45 More and more yeshiva students choosing Torah over IDF service 08:35 Hamas releases abducted German TV cameraman 09:31 Cop wounded while arresting reputed mobsters near Ashkelon 01:01 Report: Obama 'gets the feeling' Israel to strike Iran if sanctions fail Previous Editions Select Day 30 jul 29 jul 28 jul 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul

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