John Terry remembers a teammate who walked a precarious line at Chelsea, a player he describes as remarkably fortunate to have even been there. The defender’s time at Stamford Bridge was brief, lasting just one season before a move to Manchester City.
For nineteen years, Terry stood as a pillar of Chelsea’s first team, witnessing the arrivals and departures of countless players. But one individual, Tal Ben Haim, an Israeli defender, remains particularly vivid in his memory.
Ben Haim arrived on a free transfer in 2007, following a successful spell at Bolton. However, his tenure at Chelsea quickly became defined by more than just his performances on the pitch.
The relationship between Ben Haim and then-manager Avram Grant was notoriously volatile. Their frequent, heated arguments, often conducted in their shared language, disrupted the team dynamic.
The tension escalated to the point where Grant banished Ben Haim from first-team training altogether. He was forbidden from even being on the training ground when the senior squad was present.
Terry, as captain, felt compelled to intervene. He gathered the team and delivered a blunt message to Ben Haim: stop the disruptive behavior or risk being completely ostracized. He emphasized the importance of unity during a crucial season.
Surprisingly, Terry’s direct approach worked. Grant relented, allowing Ben Haim to rejoin training, and the defender reportedly applied himself well. These moments, Terry recalls, now serve as amusing anecdotes.
One particularly memorable incident involved a training ground altercation with Andriy Shevchenko. Ben Haim’s aggressive tackling, repeatedly targeting Shevchenko, finally provoked a reaction from the usually reserved Ukrainian striker.
Shevchenko, known for his quiet demeanor, suddenly exploded, confronting Ben Haim with a swift and forceful blow. A full-scale scuffle erupted, requiring teammates to intervene and separate the two players.
Ben Haim’s career continued its nomadic trajectory after leaving Chelsea. A £5 million move to Manchester City yielded only a single season, followed by a loan spell at Sunderland and a permanent transfer to Portsmouth.
Further loan and permanent moves took him to West Ham, Queens Park Rangers, and Charlton Athletic before he ultimately retired from professional football in 2021, having earned 96 international caps for Israel.
