*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 March 2014 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 06:13, 11 February 2008 (UTC)
Yaniv Katan (Hebrew: יניב קטן; born 27 January 1981) is a retired Israeli international footballer who played professionally for Maccabi Haifa, as a forward and winger. He earned 31 caps for Israel, scoring five goals.
In December 2005, Katan signed a four-year contract with West Ham United, where he joined up with Israeli international teammate Yossi Benayoun.[3] The transfer, which was officially completed during the January 2006 transfer window, involved a cut-price fee of £100,000, as Katan had only six months left on his Maccabi contract.[4] He made eight appearances, including six from the bench, for West Ham.[5][6]
At the end of the 2005–06 season, Katan moved back to Maccabi Haifa in a loan deal, with a view to a permanent move,[7] after Alan Pardew reportedly told him he was no longer in his plans.[8] He returned to Israel and made his loan deal permanent by signing a new four-year deal with Haifa.
After 25 years in Maccabi Haifa, on 19 June 2014, Katan decided to retire from active playing.[9] On 5 April 2015, a farewell ceremony for Katan was held at the Sammy Ofer Stadium on which both Maccabi Haifa's chairman Ya'akov Shahar and Katan led a speech and the fans held a giant flag with Katan's pictures.[citation needed]
^"Scaloni's Hammers deal hangs on asking price". ESPN. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2008. "And [Katan] told newspaper Ha'aretz: 'I am a West Ham player at the moment, and I have a contract with the club for another three seasons, but the manager has told me that I do not figure in his plans. 'So unless something changes and I am told that I can fight for a place on the team, I am finished with West Ham."
