Former Chelsea captain John Terry has lifted the lid on Tal Ben Haim's tumultuous single season at Stamford Bridge, revealing the Israeli defender was 'very lucky' to secure his move to the club before becoming embroiled in daily confrontations with manager Avram Grant.
Training Ground Explosions
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast alongside former teammate John Obi Mikel, Terry recounted how Ben Haim's Chelsea career rapidly deteriorated following Jose Mourinho's dramatic resignation in September 2007. The Israeli right-back had only joined the Blues three months earlier from Bolton Wanderers, where he'd established himself as a reliable Premier League defender.
'Me and Tal are good friends, we still speak today,' Terry revealed. 'He'd come in asking for the 26 shirt because he was 26 at Bolton - and we told him where to go with that one straight away.'
The situation turned toxic when Grant, who'd managed Ben Haim at international level with Israel, took over from Mourinho. Terry described how the pair were 'at each other's throats every single day' during training sessions, frequently arguing in their native language.
The Exile and Intervention
The conflict reached its peak when Grant completely banished Ben Haim from first-team training facilities. 'Avram threw him out of training and told him 'you can't train with the group',' Terry explained. 'He just banished him from the ground and said 'you're not allowed in when the first team are here'.'
Terry took charge of the situation, gathering the squad for crisis talks. 'I said 'listen, it's a big year for us… everyone calm down. The boys want you involved in the group, don't be a d******d, don't keep arguing with the manager, if you are then you can go. But come in train well with the group, we need you as part of the group'.'
The intervention worked temporarily, with Grant allowing Ben Haim back into training, though the defender made just 13 appearances for Chelsea before his 2008 departure to Manchester City.
Shevchenko Clash and Chelsea Exit
John Obi Mikel added another layer to Ben Haim's combustible time at Chelsea, recalling a 'massive fight' between the defender and Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko during a five-a-side training game.
'So we're training and playing and [Tal] kept tackling and kicking everybody and, you know, Shev never speaks. He was very quiet,' Mikel explained. 'But Tal kept going at it, kept kicking and Shev just absolutely lost it. So after the last one, Shev just stood up and went boom! They both started punching each other and we all jumped in, it was crazy.'
Ben Haim never recovered his Bolton form after leaving Chelsea, playing for numerous English clubs including Sunderland, Portsmouth, West Ham, Queens Park Rangers and Charlton before retiring in 2021 after returning to Israeli football. The defender earned 96 caps for Israel during his career.
