Profile

Abraham "Avi" Cohen was the first foreign player to represent Liverpool since Robert Rudham arrived, 24 years earlier.

The transfer of the Israeli international successfully concluded six months of Liverpool interest in the player. They received glowing reports about the defender and at Liverpool’s inivitation the player spent a week training with the club under the watchful eye of manager Bob Paisley and his backroom staff.

Due to Ray Kennedy's absence, he was given an early debut at Leeds on September 15, 1979 but didn't feature in a league match again until the following April when he came on as a substitute for Colin Irwin against Stoke City.

Ten days later he was named in the side which would regain the League championship if they could beat Aston Villa at Anfield. It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Israeli international. After David Johnson had given the Reds an early lead, Avi had the misfortune to slice an attempted clearance over Ray Clemence's head and into his own goal. But five minutes after the interval, he made up for his error by driving a low shot into the Kop goal to give Liverpool a lead that they never surrendered again.

Avi played in 14 league matches the following season (1980-81), struggling to oust Alan Kennedy out of the left-back position and was eventually sold back to Israel. He returned to Britain in May 1987 playing for Graeme Souness at Rangers.

Other Clubs:
Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv (2), Rangers, Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town, Port Elizabeth (South Africa)