Posted on

Maccabi Tel Aviv will open their campaign in this season’s State Cup with an away tie on Saturday at Hapoel Umm El Fahm that will be played in Afula. This will be Maccabi’s 83rd appearance in the competition, they have reached the final 36 times and have won the trophy on 23 occasions, more than any other Israeli club.

Maccabi have faced 84 different opponents in the competition over the years but they have never before played Umm El Fahm. At the other end of the scale, the most frequent opponents in the competition have been Maccabi Petah Tikva, whom they have faced 23 times.

In the previous 82 years of the State Cup, Maccabi have won 225 times but have been defeated 59 times.

Umm El Fahm are one of 60 Second Division clubs that Maccabi have faced in the competition. There have been 20 matches against third division outfits, eight against fourth division clubs and three against fifth division opponents who were successful in reaching the stage where top opponents enter the tournament. Those three opponents were Beitar Pardes Katz in 1986, Ironi Hod Hasharon in 2000 and Ironi Ofakim in 2001.

Maccabi have faced fellow top-flight opposition on 25 occasions at the first hurdle, while the rest, 57, have been against clubs from lower divisions.

Maccabi have surmounted the first hurdle in the State Cup 75 times but have fallen on seven occasions. The most frequent opponents at that stage have been Hakoah Maccabi Ramat Gan and Hapoel Jerusalem, Each faced their formidable rivals four times.

The most difficult successful match in the opening round for Maccabi occurred in 2007 when Giovanni Rosso scored in the 119th minute for a 2-1 win over Hakoah.

The biggest win was a 10-0 drubbing of Maccabi Bar Kokhba Jerusalem in 1937.

Benny Tabak is Maccabi’s record scorer in the State Cup, with 31 goals. He opened his account in his first outing in the competition in 1973, the 2-0 win over Hapoel Ramat Gan. Miko Belo has made the most appearances for Maccabi in the State Cup, 75.

The legendary Jerry Beit Halevy holds the record for a Maccabi coach and has lifted the State Cup four times, in 1954, 55, 64 and 65. Israel Halivner and Nir Levin have each led the club to two wins, respectively in 1967 and 1970, and in 2001 and 2002.