The past year was supposed to be fantastic for Danny Gropper. The defender managed to integrate well into Bulgarian Ludogorets, played in the Europa League against Roma and Betis, and became a regular in the Israeli national team. But then, in mid-April, he tore the cruciate ligament in his knee in a game against Arda Kardzhali, and from that moment on he began a grueling rehabilitation journey.
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"From the moment I got injured, everyone on the team took care of me and gave me everything I needed. I'm fine now, rehabilitation is progressing well," Gropper told Israel Hayom in a special interview from his home in Bulgaria, adding: "Injuries happen. It's an injury whose return varies from player to player, I think it also depends on your physique, how easy it is for you to get the muscle back to how it needs to be. The most important thing is to go through rehabilitation without inflammation or infection, and from that point of view everything is fine for me and that's the most important thing."
Gropper's daily routine for the past three months looks like this: He comes every morning for an hour-long knee treatment that includes massages, electricity and ultrasound. He then continues with a grueling workout in the gym, which lasts about two hours. He goes to rest, and then comes back for more therapy and training. Like that almost every day.
"When you have an injury like mine, you work harder," he says, "I haven't started running yet, it's supposed to happen in about two weeks, and after I move forward we'll know more about when I'm supposed to be back."
How much did it suck not to play the last few games when you won the double?
"Not pleasant at all, but I accepted what happened as an experience that I as a human being and as an athlete have to go through throughout my life, and I will be stronger from it. The most important thing is to be positive."
How would you sum up your season in Ludogorets until you got injured?
"I had a good season. Half the games I started in the lineup, and the rest I would come off the bench. I suddenly played in the Europa League against Roma and Betis, and it's not easy at all. I played for a team that takes a championship and a cup, where the competition is very tough, so I think for my first year in Europe it's very nice. And I also played for the national team, so I made a lot of progress. It's stopped a bit now, but I believe it's going to be okay."
Danny Gropper with Ludogorets' trophies. "It's not nice that I didn't play the last few games, but I accepted what happened as an experience,"
Do you feel that there is contempt in Israel towards leagues like Bulgarian?
"I don't care what anyone thinks. Ludogorets is the biggest group in Bulgaria. Anyone who understands football and knows the club knows that this is a crazy team that competes in Europe every year, and if you look at the conditions and the complex, it's something that doesn't exist in Israel yet.
"There were games in Europe that I played against Roma, Betis, which is good games to broadcast - and they didn't broadcast. I even played against Anderlecht and Lior Rafalov and they didn't even broadcast that. It's just funny, I really don't understand why."
Do you think the Israeli league is better?
"I would say that the Bulgarian league is a little less attractive because of the stadiums that the teams have, which are not at the level that there are in Israel and there are fewer crowds, but in terms of level I think in both leagues it is the same."
What do you think of the achievement of the young team?
"They have done something tremendous, which will contribute greatly to their personal careers. If they can leverage that and move on to teams in Europe, they unequivocally need to do it. In Europe they will get much greater exposure than in Israel, because there is nothing they can do, they still don't look at the Israeli player like a player who comes from another country. The more and more players go to Europe, the bigger the name of the Israeli player."
What do these achievements say about our football?
"Israeli football is progressing. You can't say about the young team or the youth that they got comfortable lotteries or anything like that, because they progressed to the end. But I think the biggest progress is in the character and mentality of the players.
"This generation understands what hard work is, understands what professionalism is, mental work. They are coming to prove themselves, they want more and more to advance to Europe and understand what it entails."
The young team qualifies for the semi-finals of the Euros. "Israeli football is progressing", Photo: EPA
"There is a chance to qualify for the Euros"
Gropper, who left Hapoel Tel Aviv a year and a half ago after a dispute with the Nisanov brothers, is still in contact with some of the Reds players and hopes for a better future for the club. "You have to give the new owners of Hapoel a chance," says the defender, "I wish they could bring Hapoel back to the top and where the club needs to be.
"My story at Hapoel didn't end well, but not only with me, everyone who finished there ended up crooked with them. As far as I'm concerned, Hapoel Tel Aviv as a club is a great club with a huge crowd and good people working there, there were owners there who didn't know how to manage a football team. In business they do well, in football they didn't do it properly. But I don't hold a grudge against them."
Danny Gropper for Hapoel Tel Aviv. "You have to give the new owners a chance," Photo: Alan Shaver
Do you have dreams of a career like your uncle Ronnie Rosenthal's?
"Of course. My biggest dream is to reach the Premier League, which is the top of the top. To get there, I'll have to make another leap forward, and it probably won't happen from Bulgaria. Ronnie is involved in my career, he follows, sees, we talk, and if there's anything in the future maybe he can help."
Do you believe the national team will qualify for the Euros?
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"First of all, being part of the national team is something huge for me. Every time I was in the national team there was a good feeling and atmosphere. Unequivocally we have a chance to qualify for the Euros, and if we do that it will be madness in the country. People in Israel love football and are thirsty for success."
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