Dudu Aouate
Reliable Israeli goalkeeper whose long career in Spain's La Liga made him a familiar and respected figure for clubs like Mallorca and Deportivo.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Israeli footballer·Birthday: October 17·Generation X
Biography
Dudu Aouate's professional journey is a story of consistency and longevity in one of football's most pressurized positions. Born in Israel to a family of Moroccan-Jewish descent, he began his career with Maccabi Haifa before making a pivotal move to Spain in 2000. There, he carved out a niche as a dependable, sometimes spectacular, shot-stopper for Racing Santander, Mallorca, and Deportivo La Coruña. For over a decade in La Liga, Aouate was a fixture, known for his reflexes and calm command of the penalty area, often keeping his teams competitive against more illustrious opponents. While he earned fewer caps for the Israeli national team than his club form might have suggested, his club career stands as a testament to an imported goalkeeper who not only adapted but thrived in one of the world's top leagues.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Dudu was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dudu Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Dudu's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made over 250 La Liga appearances across spells with Racing Santander, Mallorca, and Deportivo La Coruña.
- Helped RCD Mallorca finish 5th in La Liga in the 2007-08 season and qualify for the UEFA Cup.
- Won the Israeli Premier League title with Maccabi Haifa in the 1998-99 season.
- Earned 78 caps for the Israel national football team.
Did You Know?
He holds both Israeli and Spanish citizenship.
His nickname 'Dudu' is a common diminutive for 'David' in Hebrew.
He kept a clean sheet in his final professional match for Deportivo La Coruña in 2016.
He is one of the few Israeli players to have enjoyed an extended career in Spain's top flight.
“A clean sheet is the goalkeeper's signature on the match.”
