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French spirit at Jerusalem football club

Updated: 12/Dec/2005 17:34

Jerome Leroy (L), Arkady Gaidamak (C) and Luis Fernandez (R)

Photo: Jeremy Last

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French midfielder Jerome Leroy, who signed a 2-year contract with Betar Jerusalem this week, has said he hopes to bring the spirit of French football to the club.

The former Lens captain was introduced to the team’s supporters before the home game against Maccabi Netanya on Saturday night, and then to the media at a press conference after the match.

Leroy, 31, is part of the new Betar, which is currently evolving since Russian billionaire businessman Arkady Gaidamak bought the club in the summer.

Gaidamak was able to first attract Dutchman Ton Caanen as head coach and then former French superstar and Paris St Germain manager Luis Fernandez to take the newly created position as General Manager.

It was Fernandez, who managed Leroy when he played for PSG, who brought Leroy to Betar.

Speaking of the quality of the Israeli premier league, Leroy told Betar fans website fcbj.net: “I am alone here, so I won’t be able to change the situation in Israeli football. But with the help of Fernandez and the other players that he will bring here, I believe the football here will become similar to a French team.”

Nicer than Paris

Leroy said he thinks Israel is a “lovely country” and is planning to bring his wife and child to live in Jerusalem with him.

I am alone here, so I won’t be able to change the situation in Israeli football. But with the help of Fernandez and the other players that he will bring here, I believe the football here will become similar to a French team

Jerome Leroy

“I haven’t seen so much of Jerusalem, but from what I have seen it is more beautiful than Paris. Paris is like Tel Aviv – the same sort of busy atmosphere and the same sort of nightlife. Jerusalem is one of the nicest cities I’ve been to. There is a lovely atmosphere here.”

Betar’s supporters are known as some of the most hardcore and rowdy in the country and Leroy compared them to some of the more excitable French fans from the south of the country.

“The crowd in Betar are excellent. I really enjoyed it this evening. The crowd at Lens are much more relaxed, and the Betar fans remind me of the Marseilles fans – a fanatical crowd, crazy. I am waiting to play for them and I believe there will be many more happy moments.”

Important experience

At the press conference, held at the ground immediately after the game on Saturday night which Betar drew 1-1, Gaidamak was full of praise for his new acquisition.

We need to play on the international level and we need the international level players

Arkady Gaidamak

“Mr Leroy is a very experienced and high level player, but in Israel he will be a star. In Europe he is one of the stars. That is one of the reasons he came and also he knows very well our Gerneral Manager Luis Fernandez - they worked together many years - and probably he is very satisfied to carry on his work with Mr Fernandez.”

Gaidamak stressed the importance of Leroy’s experience playing high level football, and its centrality to his master plan of making Betar a great European team.

“We need to play on the international level and we need the international level players. He is not only a very known player in the European level but he has big experience. We have a very young team with a big desire to win. Mr Leroy will bring to our team his experience and his support. Some other players also.”

Caanen and his assistant coach Guy Azuri were conspicuously absent from the press conference. Although when Caanen first arrived at Betar in September he was seen as the most important man in the club, his position appears to have been completely usurped by Fernandez.

The Dutchman was left in the lurch over the Leroy signing and on Friday was reported to have had arguments with a fitness coach Fernandez brought to the training.

Despite the problems Caanen said he is intending to stay at the club and plans to move into a new apartment on Monday.

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