The tough league run
Maccabi’s 2000/01 campaign began with major changes: after hosting its home matches at the Ramata Gan national stadium, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield Stadium, after four years under Avraham Grant, former national team coach Shlomo Scharf was appointed as Head Coach, Tal Banin joined after returning to Israel from Italy, and the additions of Kobi Refuah, goalkeeper Adam Vezer, Meho Kodro, and Ferenc Horváth. At a later stage, Baruch Dego was signed from Ironi Ashdod and Rodrigo Goldberg also joined from Club de Deportes Santiago Wanderers.
The season began with public spat between Shlomo Scharf and Avi Nimni following a draw against Hapoel Haifa, which led to Scharf’s departure after 2 league matches. Nir Levin arrived from Zafririm Holon and was appointed as head coach. The first league round saw Maccabi finish 8th in the table as the second round in terms of result was just as inconsistent. At the same time, Maccabi showed some impressive attacking form, that included emphatic victories over Tzafririm Holon (6-0) and Ironi Rishon LeZion (10-1).
In the third league round Maccabi improved dramatically with a series of victories, led by Avi Nimni as the team finished fourth in the league with 68 points and 73 goals scored (the highest tally in the top-flight that season). But despite the playoff, the gap created by the indifferent start to the season could not be closed.
An outstanding State Cup journey
On their way to meeting the President for the first time in four years, Maccabi embarked on an impressive State Cup campaign. In the Round of 32, a dominant display saw Maccabi advance past Ironi Ofakim (7-2) with two braces by Tal Banin and Rodrigo Goldberg, and goals from Ference Horváth, Dedi Ben Dayan, and Guy Tzarfati.
Goldberg, Banin and Dego were also on target in the Round of 16 as Maccabi beat Maccabi Ahi Nazareth 3-0. A Ben Dayan brace in a 2-0 Quarter Finals victory away to Maccabi Netanya booked Maccabi‘s place in the Semi Finals where the draw teamed them up for a derby with bitter city rivals and holders Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Maccabi entered this match with a poor run of five winless derbies with Hapoel winning three while two others ended in a draw. Nevertheless, in front of a packed Ramat Gan Stadium, Macabi rose to the occasion as Dego brace ensured a 2-0 victory and a place in the Final.
Maccabi Peta Tikva that surprisingly knocked out reigning League Champions Maccabi Haifa in the Semis, were the opposition in the final. After a scoreless first half, Maccabi’s leading scorer in the Cup (4) headed in the opener following a Dego pinpoint cross. Eli Biton doubled Maccabi’s lead from a tight angle on 76 while Dego added a second assist on the night for Avi Nimni who sealed the 3-0 victory in the 90th minute. Nimni, who finished as the league’s top scorer with 25 goals, lifted the Cup together with Tal Banin.
The season in numbers
Dedi Ben Dayan and Grzegorz Wędzyński made the most appearances with 41 matches in all competitions. Ben Dayan led in minutes played with 3,674, compared to Wędzyński’s 3,392.
Maccabi’s top scorer this season was Avi Nimni with 27 goals in all competitions. Tal Banin was second with 11 goals while Rodrigo Goldberg and Baruch Dego shared third place with 10 goals each.
Guy Zarafti provided the most assists with 11 to his name. Avi Nimni was two assists behind with 9 assists, while Baruch Dego was third with 8 assists.
The biggest victories of the season were recorded in league action. A memorable 7-0 victory over Beitar Jerusalem at Bloomfield on MD35 stands out, as does the remarkable 10-1 win over Hapoel Rishon LeZion on MD21. Avi Nimni (2), Tal Banin, Kobi Refuah (2), Baruch Dego (2), Ferenc Horváth (2), and Dedi Ben Dayan.
The foreign players we loved
The 2000/01 season featured several names that are now considered legendary, particularly among the foreign contingent. Among the beloved foreign players who wore the yellow and blue shirt that season were Polish midfielder Grzegorz Wędzyński and Chilean striker Rodrigo Goldberg. The season also began with Bosnian striker Meho Kodro, formerly of Barcelona, Hungarian goalkeeper Adam Vezer, Georgian defender Givi Didava, and Slovakian defender Jozef Valachovic, names that became part of Maccabi folklore. Midway through the season, Hungarian striker Ferenc Horváth and Russian winger Andrei Tikhonov joined the squad, contributing to Maccabi’s success in the latter stages of both the league and cup competitions.
