*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 06:00, 11 January 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 September 2022
He also holds a Romanian passport, on account of his Ashkenazi Jewish ancestors, which eases the move to certain European football leagues.[9][8][6][7]
He married his Israeli girlfriend Or (née Ben-David) in 2018.[10] They have a son who was born in 2018,[11] and a daughter born in 2020.[12] They currently reside in Israel's capital city of Jerusalem.[citation needed]
Club career
Atzili started his career at Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth setup in 2002. In 2010, he moved to Israeli side Hapoel Rishon LeZion, spending the last season out of three with them playing for both the youth and senior squads.
Atzili scored his first senior goal in the Israeli Premier League on 12 May 2012, in a 2–1 home loss against Hapoel Acre;[14] his side also suffered relegation in the end of the season. He subsequently became an important unit for the club in Liga Leumit, scoring six goals as his side missed out promotion in the play-offs; highlights included a brace in a 2–2 draw at Maccabi Petah Tikva on 10 May 2013.[15] Atzili helped his side win the 2012–13 Israel Toto Cup for the Israeli Liga Leumit clubs.
On 30 July 2013, Atzili signed a four-year contract with Israeli Premier League club Beitar Jerusalem.[16] He made his first debut for the club on 24 August 2013, by starting in a 2–0 home loss against Hapoel Be'er Sheva,[17] and was mainly used as a substitute during his first season.
Atzili only became an undisputed starter for Beitar Jerusalem during the 2015–16 season, where he scored a career-best seven goals.[18]
On 31 August 2016, Atzili signed a four-year deal with Spanish La Liga side Granada CF,[20] for a rumoured fee of €750,000.[21] He made his debut in the La Liga on 11 September, starting in a 2–1 home loss against SD Eibar.[22]
Atzili played 11 total league and cup matches, starting five, for the Andalusian club. He did not manage to score, the club was relegated at the end of the 2016–17 season and Atzili left Granada.[23]
On 23 August 2020, Atzili signed a two-year contract with the Cypriot First Division club APOEL.[25] In the mid-season transfer window he was released from his contract, leaving on 5 January 2021.[26]
On 14 June 2023, he signed a three-year deal with UAE Pro League club Al Ain, becoming the first Israeli Jew to play in an Arab country. His annual salary is estimated to be around $1.9 million, excluding any victory bonuses.[33] During his presentation, he was introduced as a Romanian player rather than an Israeli. Prior to accepting the transfer, he had specific requests related to his faith, Judaism, allowing him the freedom to abstain from playing or training during various Israeli and Jewish holidays and memorial days. Additionally, a clause in the contract states that he will not participate in away matches outside the Emirates for the AFC Asian Champions League. This provision is in consideration of the potential encounters with clubs from countries that are extremely hostile against Jews and especially against his native Israel, such as Iran, Iraq, Lebanon or Syria, among several other Muslim or Arab countries in the AFC competitions. A great number of Emiratis expressed their opposition to his signing as well.[34][35]
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