RIP - Ex-Liverpool's Avi Cohen Declared Brain Dead

[Macmoish]

Was in a motorcyle crash in Israel a couple of weeks ago.


Haaretz

Israeli Soccer Legend Avi Cohen Declared Brain Dead
December 28, 2010.

Israeli soccer legend Avi Cohen was declared brain dead on Tuesday by the medical committee at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital.

Cohen, 54, was critically hurt in a traffic accident in Ramat Gan on December 20. The former soccer player was riding his motorcycle when he was reportedly hit by a car near the Diamond Exchange. He was brought to Ichilov Hospital where he underwent immediate surgery and from there was placed in intensive care. Former Israel and Liverpool defender Avi Cohen

Cohen is considered one of the greatest Israeli soccer players of all time. He was born in Cairo and began his career with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1975. Within a year was a regular member of the Israeli national team. He quickly caught the eye of several clubs, including Liverpool, which, at the time, was the dominant force in English soccer.

forward.com/articles/134251/#ixzz19QMRDnTr


(His son plays for Bolton)

From a few days ago
Jewish Chronicle - Bolton star in mercy dash for Avi Share By Simon Griver, December 22, 2010

Heyday: Avi Cohen in his Liverpool days
Tamir Cohen, the Bolton Wanderers midfielder, has been given special dispensation to be at the bedside of father Avi who is in a critical condition in an Israeli hospital following a road accident.

Cohen, 54, suffered severe head injuries after his motorbike was involved in a collision with a car near Ramat Gan on Monday.

Cohen, the first Israeli to play in England, was rushed to Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital where he was immediately taken into surgery.

A tearful Tamir left his father's bedside to ask all those who know his father to pray for him. He had been unable to get a flight back from snowbound England but agent Pini Zahavi, who was in London, used his powers of influence to ensure that both got a seat.


Avi's son, Tamir
Avi Cohen, chairman of the Israel Professional Footballers Association, was on the way to a dental appointment when a car swerved to avoid another vehicle and hit his scooter outside of the Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan.

Cohen was knocked out when the ambulance arrived several minutes later and, as we went to press, had yet to regain consciousness. The driver of the car was released without charges.

The ex-Liverpool defender had only started driving the scooter over the past year to avoid Tel Aviv's worsening traffic congestion. His wife, Dorit, said: "The doctors are not optimistic, but we believe he will pull through. Avi is strong and will not give up on life so easily. I ask everyone to pray for him."

www.thejc.com/sport/sport-news/42957/bolton-star-mercy-dash-avi

[eusebio13]

Phil Thompson seemed very genuine in his words and emotion about Avi

[Lonegunmen]

He was a decent player in a decent Liverpool side.

[Macmoish]

Guardian

Dalglish leads tributes for Avi Cohen who has died after motorcycle accident

• First Israeli to play in English top flight dies from head injuries
• Dalglish: 'No one will forget how he helped us win the league'

Kenny Dalglish has led the tributes to his former Liverpool team-mate Avi Cohen, who died today. The 54-year-old Israeli's death was confirmed by his son Tamir, the Bolton midfielder, following a motorcycle accident last week.

Cohen played at left-back for Bob Paisley's Liverpool side between 1979 and 1981 and scored the goal that won Liverpool the league title in 1980.

"Avi was a lovely man who will be remembered fondly by everyone at Liverpool who knew him," Dalglish told Liverpool's website. "He quickly integrated himself into the football club when he joined us and spent a lot of time learning English which really made him popular."

Dalglish, now Liverpool's academy ambassador, played in the same team as Cohen and recalled the Israeli's most famous game.

"He was well liked by all the lads and although he didn't spend a long time at the club, he certainly left his mark and no-one will forget how he helped us win the league against Aston Villa," Dalglish said. "My thoughts and those of everyone connected to the club are with Avi's family."

Cohen also played for Rangers during his career, and their assistant manager, Ally McCoist, admitted he had been left "shattered" by the news. McCoist won the 1987 Scottish League Cup alongside Cohen, and told the Rangers website: "I'm absolutely shattered as are all the boys who got to know Avi during his time at Rangers. We knew his situation was bad but never for a second did we think it would come to this.

"He was an absolute gentlemen. His football talent was obvious but he was just a lovely, lovely man. Avi and Bonny Ginzburg both came from the same neck of the woods and myself and Durranty (Ian Durrant) got on with them so well.

"In fact a couple of years ago when we played Hapoel Tel Aviv we spoke to Avi and Bonny also came to the hotel. So we kept in touch and it is just so sad to hear that he has passed away. I can still see his smile and his laugh, he was just a diamond of a guy. All our thoughts are currently with his family who must be absolutely devastated right now."

The fatal crash occured on December 20 and Bolton's Tamir confirmed at a press conference: "Dad died of brain death. Thanks to all the people of Israel for their support and assistance."

West Ham manager Avram Grant said of his fellow countryman Cohen: "I know him personally, he was a great man, a great player and my sympathy is with his family.

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/28/liverpool-defender-avi-cohen-dies

[klr]

Terrible thing to happen.

I remember Avi Cohen from an old Liverpool video that I have got, he scored a goal in a title winning match against Aston V illa I think ? he scored an own goal same match & then went down & scored at the right end.

RIP Avi & my thoughts are with your family at this time.

I have my own raw feelings & emotions at this time as a terrible thing happened last night when my poor little dog jumped over the fence at the bottom of the garden & on to the railway line, she this many times before because she is a little tinker, but unfortunately this time it well, my Dad found her on the railway line about an hour later & she had been electrocuted, we brought her back over in to the garden where I buried her this morning.
I said a prayer for her last night & its just one of those things, she was a very scittish dog, always getting in to scrapes & she had used up all of her luck this time, she was a beautiful dog, & I'm upset, but what can you do ?

[Macmoish]

I'm sorry for you Klr. How horrible. And deepest sympathies. Anyone who's had a dog (or my case, in cats) knows that the death of a pet, is really a death in the family.

If it's any consolation: Wasn't a slow, lingering death that you had to go through for weeks or months, before having to put your pet to sleep

Anyway best wishes, Klr

[klr]

Dec 29, 2010 14:43:53 GMT Macmoish said:

I'm sorry for you Klr. How horrible. And deepest sympathies. Anyone who's had a dog (or my case, in cats) knows that the death of a pet, is really a death in the family.

If it's any consolation: Wasn't a slow, lingering death that you had to go through for weeks or months, before having to put your pet to sleep

Anyway best wishes, Klr

Thanks for your kind & respectful words Mike.

I wasnt in any way trying to imply that my loss is as bad as what has happened in the Cohen family, but like you say these things cannot ted by those that are not animal lovers, feel very numb today, probably in shock, unfortunately for someone like me, its possible that the black depression will be in the post for me now as well.
Sad thing to happen, but this was no ones fault, that poor little dog had used up all her luck.

[Jon Doeman]

RIP Avi, that's too young.
And sorry to hear that KLR, they really do become a mans best friend.