Israelis received hope of a football (soccer) renaissance in the Holy Land after learning that Jewish-Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was immigrating to the country.

Israel has long struggled to make its mark in international football. Abramovich, as owner of the English Premier League’s Chelsea Football Club, is seen as someone who can turn the situation around.

During an interview with a Russian radio station, the Israeli ambassador stated that Abramovich was likely now the richest man in Israel. He expressed hope that the newly-arrived billionaire might buy an Israeli football club and bring it to Premier League levels, just as he managed to do with Chelsea.

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