SARASOTA, Fla. – When then‑20‑year‑old Ilay Feingold left Maccabi Haifa and traveled halfway across the world to join the New England Revolution last year, the move marked a major transition for the young Israeli defender. So, when Dor Turgeman made a similar journey at the end of the 2025 season, leaving Maccabi Tel Aviv for the Revs, he was fortunate to find a familiar face waiting for him in Foxborough.
While Turgeman and Feingold played for rival clubs back in their native Israel, they crossed paths while playing for Israel’s youth national teams, even competing in the 2024 Olympics together for their home country. For both players, having someone from home by their side while adjusting to a new place created an instant connection, and helped each of them grow comfortable in their new home.
“We’ve always respected each other and were friends, but it’s very nice to have each other now, every day when you are so far from home and experiencing the same thing,” said Feingold. “We live a few minutes away from each other in Boston and we didn’t have a lot of time last season, but we’ve gone to restaurants and shopping together.”
For Turgeman, having Feingold by his side has been especially helpful considering he has yet to master his English. With Feingold acting as a translator, he explained “the language is very important, and Ilay welcomed me very well and so have the other players. We try to understand each other, but soccer is its own language. It’s easy to connect with the other players and communicate on the field and in general everyone has been very nice.”
Although Turgeman’s late arrival only allowed him time for three appearances with the Revolution at the end of last season, he made a big first impression in front of the home crowd at Gillette Stadium. On the pitch for the first time in a Revs jersey, it only took the 22-year-old striker 16 minutes to score his first goal for New England. He added an assist before the night was over and ultimately found the net in each of his first three matches with the club.
While it may have taken time for him to build connections outside the pitch, with the help of Feingold, Turgeman’s confidence on the field was immediate. Now, with new head coach Marko Mitrović emphasizing attacking aggression, and with time to build deeper relationships with his teammates during preseason in Florida, Turgeman is eager to show how much more he can contribute in 2026.
Feingold shares that same hunger as he looks to help reset the tone after his first year with the Revolution. With Mitrović leading the way, both feel ready for the challenges ahead.
When asked what excites them most about this year, they both echoed: “to get started.”
With only three weeks remaining until the season opener at Nashville SC on February 21, Feingold and Turgeman will be ready.
