Eliran Atar (Hebrew: אלירן עטר; born 17 February 1987) is an Israeli professional footballer who currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv as a forward.
Club career
Bnei Yehuda
On 7 February 2009, when playing for Bnei Yehuda, Atar scored from an overhead kick that was a candidate for the 2009 Puskás Award, though finishing fourth (i.e., the fourth most beautiful goal of that year). He became the top scorer of the 2008–09 Israeli Premier League season with 14 goals.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Atar training with Maccabi Tel-Aviv in 2012
On 7 May 2010, Atar signed a four-years contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv for a transfer fee of $1.2 million.
On 26 August 2010 he was selected to the Player Of The Match with two amazing goals on the win 4–3 over PSG in the Europa League. Atar completed his first season with Maccabi as the club's top goalscorer with 18 league goals and 22 overall (all competitions) season goals. He attracts interest from VfL Wolfsburg, 1. FC Nürnberg, Parma and Betis.
Stade de Reims
On 24 June Atar, signed a four-year deal with Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims.
Maccabi Haifa
On 15 January 2015, he signed a three half-year deal with Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Haifa.
International career
On 28 August 2010 Atar received his first call-up for the Israeli National Team squad for UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers against Malta and Georgia but was forced to withdrew himself from the squad due to an eye injury received in a league match against Beitar Jerusalem. In October 2012, Atar was called up again to Israeli squad before a double header 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg but yet again was released from the squad due to a lower back injury without making a national appearance. Atar, however, was able to make his debut in an international friendly defeat against Belarus, on 14 November 2012. On 12 November 2016, almost exactly four years later, Atar scored his first ever international goal for Israel in a 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification match against Albania. It was only his fourth cap since 2012 and Israel won 3-0.