In the quiet hours of a sunny Saturday morning, tragedy struck the soccer community. As per reports available, while celebrating his 43rd birthday, a former Israeli soccer player was tragically killed in a violent skirmish in southern Israel.

The soccer community took to Twitter to express their anguish. Did you know he once led his team to win the Israel Cup?

Israeli soccer player, who scored 88 league goals, lost his life in a tragic attack

A celebrated figure in the Israeli soccer community, Lior Assulin made his mark with the Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Tel Aviv. With 88 league goals to his name in a total of 284 appearances, this center-forward’s skills on the field were nothing short of spectacular. His prowess on the pitch and dedication to the sport earned him respect and admiration from fans and fellow players alike. But his most notable achievement was in 2004 when he led Bnei Sakhnin FC to victory in the Israeli Cup. It was the first Arab team to win that cup.

However, despite his success on the pitch, Assulin’s life off the pitch was marred by controversy. After finally hanging up his boots in 2017, he was reportedly arrested by the officials for an alleged crime. He was subsequently sentenced to 19 months in prison, before being finally released in August 2022 for complying with good conduct clauses.

His former Bnei Sakhnin coach, Eyal Lachmen stated that he was a man with a good heart. In a statement released after his shocking demise, he said as per ‘Marca’, “Assulin was a guy with a heart of gold, that was his most outstanding characteristic. They always said his most notable characteristic was giving back, I saw that his most notable characteristic was giving his friends his soul.” Apart from his former coach, many fans and friends also delivered their messages to Assulin.

Soccer fans unite in grief to mourn the tragic demise

As the shocking news of Lior Assulin’s untimely death broke, fans across the world expressed their condolences. The global soccer community stood united in mourning the loss of a beloved soccer player.

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He had spent most of his career in Israel, except a half-year in the Cypriot league. After serving his time in prison, he worked on a horse farm.

Interestingly, throughout his career, the player received offers from several European clubs. But he never accepted them. These clubs included Olympique Marseille and OGC Nice of France. Instead, he played in Israel while changing clubs often.

In August 2007, he signed a four-year deal to play for Hapoel Tel Aviv. Post that, he moved to other clubs. But in August 2011, he returned to the national league with Hapoel Ramat Gan. He was their top scorer that season and he also helped them secure promotion to the premiere league after winning the Toto Cup.

Social media users were heartbroken by the news. As seen on his Instagram profile, he has three children.

Another fan shared the sentiment, simply saying, “This is heartbreaking 💔.” Clearly, it’s the same for millions of soccer fans across the world right now.

A fellow football enthusiast expressed solidarity with a heartfelt message. It’s a reminder that in times of tragedy, the global soccer community stands together.

These heartfelt messages from fans around the world showcase the emotional connection that the sport fosters. In the midst of ongoing conflict, it’s important to remember Asulin for his contributions to the beautiful game.

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