About The Club
Founded in 1906 as the Harishon Le-Zion-Yafo Association, Maccabi Tel Aviv are the oldest, largest and most decorated football club in Israel. The Club changed their name to Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1909, with the establishment of the city of Tel Aviv. In 1922, it became the first Jewish football club to participate in local competitions. The meaning of the name Maccabi – ‘Who is like thee among the gods’ – forms an integral part of the character of the team, which took the Star of David as its logo to represent the Jewish people. Maccabi Tel Aviv has won more titles than any other Israeli club, winning 19 League Championships (14 after Independence), 22 National Cups (16 after Independence), two Asia Cups and an additional three Toto (League) Cups.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is the only Israeli football team that has never been relegated and one of three Israeli teams ever to make it to the UEFA Champions League group stage. The Club's name and values are deeply steeped in Israeli history. The Club is named after the Maccabis, an ancient Jewish rebel army, which became a symbol of the struggle of the Jewish people for over 2,000 years to retain their freedom, religion and sovereignty. The Maccabi spirit is based on values of excellence, loyalty and the desire to succeed.
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC invests a great deal in the development and nurturing of young talent. The Club's youth system operates football academies at three sites in the Tel Aviv area, working with over 750 children aged 6-15. The club also runs 17 youth teams with 400 players between 9 and 19 years old. These teams compete very successfully in local and national leagues. In its responsibility to spot, nurture and develop young talent, the youth division strives to promote a strong connection between football, health and education, and with the help of coaches, teachers, children and the local community to foster an approach to football that embraces every aspect of the sport and the children who play it.