A Scouting Report for Ilay Feingold
We speak to Liav Nachmani of Israel Hayom to get some insight on Ilay Feinhold.
On Tuesday, the New England Revolution added 20-year-old Ilay Feingold as a U22 Initiative Player.
The defender, who signed a three-year contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028, spent the last two seasons with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League.
Here, he made 48 appearances across all competitions. In 2023-24, Feingold helped the club finish second in the league.
Feingold was part of the 2024 Israel Olympic Team, starting all three of their group stage games. He has two caps with the full national team, both coming in October 2024.
Sporting director Curt Onalfo said, “Ilay is a talented, well-rounded young defender who is technically gifted, tactically sound, and tough. With his top-flight domestic and national team experience, we expect Ilay to assimilate well to MLS”
Head coach Caleb Porter added, “We are pleased to add another top-quality U22 signing to our roster in Ilay Feingold. Ilay is a true competitor and has proven from a young age he is ripe for success.
“He is an athletically gifted defender who has shown an ability to defend 1-v-1, while also providing effective buildup play and service in the attacking third. These characteristics fit our right back profile and have led to him earning top-flight and senior international experience at just 20 years old. I am eager to work with Ilay and I am excited to see his continued development here in New England.”
To gain further insight, we spoke to Liav Nachmani, the leading sports reporter for the website and newspaper Israel Hayom.
The Blazing Musket (TBM): Please begin by telling us a little about yourself.
Liav Nachmani (LN): I'm Liav Nachmani. I've been covering Maccabi Haifa and Israeli football for 20 years. I write for the website and newspaper "Israel Hayom" and serve as a broadcaster for the channels that broadcast the Israeli Premier League.
TBM: What can you tell us about Feingold’s career before he signed with the Revolution?
LN: Ilay is a very talented soccer player. He made his big breakthrough at the Junior World Cup tournament in Argentina and has only gone from strength to strength since then.
He got the opportunity at Maccabi Haifa at the age of 18, which is very unusual for such a big club that wants to win titles. Ilay can play as a right defender and also as a centre back. He is smart and understands the game well. Maccabi Haifa thought he had great potential for a sale in the future, but I think even the club didn't believe it would happen so quickly.
TBM: How would you describe Feingold?
LN: He is so different in character from footballers. There will be no disciplinary problems with him. If he wasn't a football player, in my opinion he could have a college degree of one kind or another and go far in any way he chose.
TBM: What are Feingold’s strengths?
LN: Ilay is a very good defensive player. He still needs to improve his offensive abilities. He has excellent positioning on the field and he won't do things he can't. That's also why he doesn't make many mistakes.
Ilay is not only an intelligent player but also an intelligent person. I have no doubt that his new team has also gained quality in the locker room among the players. Ilay will always prioritize the team over his own. For example, when he wasn't playing for Maccabi Haifa, he didn't make a mess and worked harder to get his chance. Other players would have behaved differently.
TBM: Feingold is still a young player. What is something that he could work on?
LN: I think in the United States it will be much easier for Ilay to improve. I think in Maccabi Haifa there is much more pressure to bring results immediately. Ilay is used to every loss being a disaster. That’s how it works in Maccabi Haifa. He grew up with that.
In the United States, football is a show and not a matter of life or death. With the length of time he has lived in the United States and Ilay's talent, it is possible to improve in an easier way and go far. I have no doubt that New England is just a stop on his way to the top.
TBM: What else should we know about Feingold?
LN: Ilay was close to signing for the Greek club Olympiacos after the Youth World Cup. If that had happened, I think his career would have gone backwards, not forwards. Maccabi Haifa realized they could lose one of their talented players and did everything they could to keep him. In the end, he signed a new contract and got his chance.
Good to have more depth/competition at RB, as well as another option at centerback.