After Beckham, Meet the New England Hero

There is one disappointed man in Israel this morning. When Omer Golan scored the winner against Russia, giving England a lifeline in Euro 2008 and manager Steve McClaren a lifeline in his job, Golan's father Yaacov had extra reason to celebrate - not only had he seen his son clinch the winner in Tel Aviv, he could also look forward to taking delivery of a new Mercedes.

British bookie Fred Done had offered the £50,000 car as a bonus to whichever Israeli player scored a winner against Russia, thereby meaning England need only draw against Croatia at Wembley this week to qualify for the tournament.

But before Golan Sr could get his hands on the ignition keys, the Israeli Football Association ruled that the 25-year-old would not be allowed to accept the gift, branding it an inappropriate bonus.

Golan's father drives a Suzuki jeep. "The car was just a bonus," his son said yesterday. "A Mercedes would have been a nice present for my father. But the main thing was to score after four years in the national team and to win the game. I hope it will help me to move to England. It's funny to find out I have became a national hero over there."

Golan recently trained with west London Championship side Queens Park Rangers. In a seven-year career playing for Maccabi Petah Tikva at the unfashionable end of the Israeli first division, he has never scored a more significant goal than Saturday's injury-time winner.

Had Russia beaten Israel, England's chances of qualifying for the finals of Euro 2008 would have ended, leaving McClaren out of his £2.5m-a-year job and free to start circulating his CV to club chairmen.

While McClaren contemplates his unlikely redemption, Golan is hopeful that the winner against Russia will revive a career that had stalled. The goal was his first for his country for four years, and earlier this year a theory was circulating that his international career owed more to his connections than his talent.

His club chairman, Avi Luzon, is also chairman of the Israeli FA, and conspiracists suggested the chairman wanted Golan to receive enough international caps to make him eligible for a work permit in Europe and, thus, a lucrative transfer.

"When they said I was playing in Israel's colors just because of Avi Luzon, it hurt me," Golan said. "Avi Luzon supported me my whole career and I'm grateful, but I'm in the national team for my merits."

A hard-working player who is planning to marry his childhood sweetheart next May, Golan's previous career high was a hat-trick two years ago against Partizan Belgrade in the Uefa Cup. Now his agent is eyeing up opportunities in England.

"That's his dream ever since he started playing football when he was six," said Golan's father. "He is going to be the next big thing in English football. Yesterday he played for the nation and for the team, and not for the car, but the real bonus would be a chance to play in England. Avram Grant [the Chelsea coach] was the coach who gave him his first cap in the national team, but I think clubs like West Ham or Aston Villa will be the right ones for him now."

Wherever he turns up, after Saturday's heroics he is sure of a warm welcome.