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A few days after returning from international duty, there is only one place to start with Daniel Peretz: his pride at representing Israel during the unsettling and tense backdrop of war and geopolitical conflict. His excitement at facing Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals can wait. Almost all of his family are in Tel Aviv, where wailing air raid sirens have become a staple of the mood music. “Unfortunately, it has become a bit of a routine,” says the Southampton goalkeeper, who is on loan from Bayern Munich.
When they sound, his loved ones head to the nearest bunkers and safe rooms. “It’s not always easy to do this separation in life and you are worried a lot about what’s happening,” he says. “But they are always following the instructions and I’m always in touch with them. We speak regularly to check everything is OK.
“They help me a lot; they try to keep me focused 100% on football. I know the best thing to do is just focus on doing my best – it will influence many more people than I think.”
A wry smile follows. Asked if playing for Israel is bittersweet at present, Peretz’s retort is twofold. “No, I don’t think so … the only thing that is a bit bitter is that we didn’t qualify for the World Cup. And that we are not playing at home. I hope we will play at home soon, so we can play with our fans and make them happy and also feel their support.”
He has not played for Israel in his homeland since his debut against Cyprus in Petah Tikva in November 2022. For the past three years, home games have been played in Hungary. “It will feel [even] more special when we will host at home.”
Peretz, who joined Bayern almost three years ago from Maccabi Tel Aviv, the club he joined aged five, is a glass half-full character. He radiates energy, none more so than when describing meeting his idol, Manuel Neuer, for the first time or facing Harry Kane penalties at training.
As well as the visit of Arsenal to St Mary’s on Saturday, the prize a trip to Wembley, there is a Premier League promotion push to discuss, plus the small matter of him and his wife, singer-songwriter Noa Kirel, being dubbed Israel’s version of Posh and Becks.
He laughs at the thought of being seen as Israel’s answer to David Beckham. Kirel flew the flag for Israel at the Eurovision song contest in 2023, finishing third, and, in many ways, that is when their relationship began. “We got together a few months after. When I watched Eurovision, I said: ‘Wow, I want her to be my wife. She’s the most beautiful woman in the world.’”
Peretz insists there is no debate when it comes to who has the bigger profile given Kirel’s 1.8 million followers on Instagram, more than Southampton. “She’s the most famous person in Israel.”
Peretz has tasted defeat once since joining Saints in January, when the clubs agreed a £7m buy option. His Southampton debut came in the FA Cup third round, at Doncaster, and he has been an integral part of their 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
His family, he says, tune in to “every single minute” of Southampton’s games. The 25-year-old is open to staying, but accepts promotion would have a bearing on his future. “Let’s finish the season in the best way and then we will be smarter to make decisions.”
Arsenal represent their toughest challenge yet. “We have a lot of respect, but we are not afraid. If someone is not believing 100%, then he should not come to the game.”
It was Thomas Tuchel who handed Peretz his Bayern debut three weeks after signing, in a German Cup win at then third-tier Preußen Münster, before which Neuer sent him a good-luck message, and his Bundesliga bow at the end of that season, replacing Neuer on his 500th top-flight appearance.
Peretz was inspired by the Germany goalkeeper as a boy – he had a giant photo of the 2014 World Cup-winner on his bedroom wall – but in Bavaria Neuer, who turned 40 last week, morphed into a mentor. “[It went] from admiring the players, to them becoming my friends and my teammates.
“I watched every single save [Neuer] made and then he was with me day by day and he became a friend,” Peretz says, recalling the emotions of their first encounter. “I was sweating all over, so nervous that I could not speak. I had goosebumps, everything.”
What about Kane mastering his penalty technique, often at Peretz’s expense? “As a keeper, it was amazing to improve, to go with him because you need to do everything perfect to save the ball – positioning, timing, the perfect push, the perfect stretch – and sometimes that’s not even enough.”
Did Peretz end up with a reasonable penalty-save ratio? “Given the player, I have a good ratio,” he says, launching into a grin. “But if you just see this ratio against another, you would say: ‘No, it’s not a good save ratio, he’s scoring [almost] every penalty.’ I’m really happy for him, but he’s scoring so much. So if you save one in 10, I think with him it’s a good stat.”
Last season, he achieved his dream of playing in the Champions League, making his debut in Bayern’s 5-1 away win over Shakhtar Donetsk, played at Schalke owing to the war in Ukraine. “From being a kid and watching these games and hearing the emotional anthem of the Champions League,” he says, “to then suddenly be in this line with the referees, this anthem in the background and you’re wearing the Bayern Munich shirt … a huge moment. But it just made me hungry for more appearances.”
Two and a half years ago, Tuchel, talking after the attacks on Israel and Gaza, suggested the sanctum of a dressing room can be a healing environment. “Football for me is a really good therapy,” Peretz says. “It’s where my mind can focus. When I’m here, it helps me knowing that I’m focusing on my targets.
“I also know how much the people in Israel follow me. And I’m really happy that I can make the people in Israel smile and make them proud.” And, as he puts it: “Now it’s the money time.”
