Category: First Team

Bajic appointed as GK coach

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Dragan Bajic is the addition to Zarko Lazetic’s coaching staff as Goalkeeping coach and will join the team in Poland.

Bajic, who worked in the past few seasons in Abu Dhabi and Dubai as Goalkeeping of SC Baniyas, SC Hatta, SC Dibba Al Fujairah, and Egypt giants Zamalek.

The 39-year-old began his GK coaching career in his native Serbia with FC Rad before switching to FC Bezanija, Red Star Belgrade Youth Academy and B team. During his coaching career, Bajic, who joined the Serbian association where he was GK coach of the U17’s and U19’s worked with Boris Radunovic (Cagliari), Aleksandar Jovanovic (Partizan Belgrade), Djordje Petrovic (Chelsea).

Pelephone will be Maccabi’s main shirt sponsor

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PELEPHONE will be the main shirt sponsor of Israel’s football Champions Maccabi Tel Aviv – over the next 3 years.

The 5G logo of Pelephone will appear on the front of the shirts of both the first and youth team players. This sponsorship could change in the event of the team winning the League title or the State Cup as well as qualification to the Champions League group stages.

In recent years the world has seen a growing trend of leading communications organizations partnering with successful football clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Inter and others. This is a trend that integrates values of leadership, achievement, and innovation that are all identified with sports and the communications sector which is part of the strategy at Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Maccabi’s CEO, Ben Mansford: “Maccabi Tel Aviv is delighted to welcome a new main shirt sponsor in Pelephone – Israel’s leading cellular provider. In Pelephone we found a natural partner who shares our values; high standards, innovation, being a champion in its field as well as deeply committed to work in the community. Pelephone’s 5G technology brings many benefits to our fans helping enhance the experience of being a Maccabi fan in football stadiums across the country. We are delighted to welcome Pelephone to the Maccabi family”.

Ilan Sigal, CEO, Pelephone: “We are proud of this collaboration with the most decorated club in Israeli football. The partnership between Israel’s cellular pioneer, Pelephone, and Israel’s champions and most decorated football club, is an important and significant one. I am convinced that together we will reach new heights. In addition to Maccabi’s sporting excellence, we both share leading values such as leadership and excellence in value-based education. Pelephone prioritizes its support of the community and Israeli society. Since October 7th we have been tirelessly donating and assisting our security forces, evacuees who are displaced from the border area and the families of hostages. I am convinced that this partnership between us is a milestone in promoting the culture of sports in Israel, which we so desperately need at times like these. I wish Maccabi tremendous success both in Europe and domestically as I’m certain it would proudly represent Israel abroad.”

Work begins: The 2024/25 opening training session

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Work has just began. After almost a month-long-break Maccabi Tel Aviv reported back to the Kiryat Shalom training complex today (Tuesday) for the first practice of the 2024/25 campaign.

Following his appointment as Maccabi’s new Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic met the players for the first time at Kiryat Shalom. Lazetic, and his assistants Drazen Bolic, Mutavdzic Dobrivoje and Bojan Leontijevic took charge of training.

The team, who underwent physical tests at the Shamir Medical center, will step-up their work before heading for pre-season training camp abroad. The first match of the season will see Maccabi face State Cup holders Maccabi Petah Tikva for the Super Cup on July 15th.

Physical tests at Shamir medical center

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Maccabi’s preparations for the 2024/25 season are now underway as the first team players held the physical tests which once again took place at the Shamir Medical Center. The reigning league champions arrived at the medical center from the beginning of the week and underwent several tests.

Doctor Osnat Levzion- Korah, the CEO of Shamir Medical Center met the players and monitored their tests from close range. Watch Dr Korah as well as Dor Peretz and Roi Mishpati:

Žarko Lazetic appointed Maccabi Head Coach

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Maccabi Tel Aviv FC announces the appointment of Žarko Lazetic as the Club’s new Head Coach after an agreement was reached with Serbian outfit TSC Backa Topola.

Maccabi’s owner, Mitch Goldhar said: ”I am pleased to welcome Žarko and his team to Maccabi Tel Aviv. During the process I was impressed by Žarko’s resilient character and clear methodology which has, no doubt, contributed to consistent coaching achievements. He understood the task involved at Maccabi and is ready to work hard towards moving the club forward and achieving results. Please join me in welcoming Žarko along with the rest of the coaching staff and in wishing him much success.”

Žarko Lazetic, added: “I am excited to join such a great Club as Maccabi and looking forward to work hard in order to make this campaign as successful as possible.”

The 42-year-old Serbian, guided TSC to 3rd place in the Super League last season, was voted by his peers and club captains as Manager of the Season in his country.

Lazetic joined TSC in November 2021 from newly promoted side FC Metalac a club he guided to 8th place. A year after his appointment at TSC, Lazetic, finished the 2022/23 season in 2nd place. He then guided TSC to the EUROPA LEAGUE group stages last season where his side faced West Ham, Freiburg and Olympiacos. 

Photo: Courtesy of TSC Backa Topola ()

Lazetic, spent most of his playing career in Serbia as a forward with FK Belgrade, Partizan where he won the League and Cup double (2007/08), Vojvodina and Bezanija with short spells in Greece and Indonesia. He retired in 2013 and began his coaching career climbing up the ranks at Partizan where he held various coaching positions including 1st team Assistant Coach, U17’s, U18’s and U19’s Coach, 1st team caretaker and Head Coach of Partizan’s reserve team Teleoptik.

He switched to Metalac Gornij Milanovac in 2020 before attracting the attention of TSC where he spent the past 2.5 years.

Lazetic should arrive in Tel Aviv in the next few days and will be joined at Maccabi by Drazen Bolic, Mutavdzic Dobrivoje who both worked with him at TSC as well as Bojan Leontijevic.

Photo: Courtesy of TSC Backa Topola ()

Nir Bitton signs new contract

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Nir Bitton will remain a Maccabi Tel Aviv for a third season after the 32-year-old defender signed a new one-year-deal with an option to extend by a further season.

Bitton, who made 19 appearances in all competitions last season and a total of 48 since joining Maccabi in the summer of 2022 – signed a contract until the end of the 2024/25 season with an option to extend.

Bitton, who has been recovering from a knee injury which sidelined him since December last year, told the Club’s official website: “After a challenging period I would like to thank the Club for supporting me during all this time and the medical and physical staff for everything they did during my rehabilitation. I can’t wait to return and work hard in training with my teammates so that I could return to do what I missed so much – playing in front of the fans at Bloomfield.”

Maccabi’s 2024/25 League Fixtures

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Maccabi then travel the short distance to Petah Tikva where they face the State Cup winners on MD2. After the September international break Maccabi will return to Bloomfield on MD3 to host Hapoel Be’ersheva.

A trip away to Ashdod on MD4 is followed by a visit of newly promoted side Hapoel Tiberias and a trip to Netanya to face local side Maccabi on MD6. Right after the October International break runners up Maccabi Haifa travel to Bloomfield for MD7. Maccabi then end their October fixtures with a trip to the capitol where they face Beitar Jerusalem before hosting newly promoted side Ironi Kiryat Shmona on MD9. Two tough trips back-to-back will see Maccabi travel to Doha and face Bnei Sakhnin on MD10 then travel to Um el Fahm and play Maccabi Bnei Reineh on MD11. Maccabi then finish the first round at home as they host Hapoel Hadera at Bloomfield on the first weekend of December.

Maccabi Tel Aviv 2024/25 fixtures: (dates are for the weekend of)  

MD1 Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Jerusalem (24.8.24)

MD2: Maccabi Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (31.8.24)

MD3: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Be’ersheva 14.9.24)

MD4: Ashdod SC vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (21.9.24)

MD5: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Ironi Tiberias (28.9.24)

MD6: Maccabi Netanya vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (5.10.24)

MD7: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Haifa (19.10.24)

MD8: Beitar Jerusalem vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (26.10.24)

MD9: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Kiryat Shmona (2.11.24)

MD10: Bnei Sakhnin vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (9.11.24)

MD11: Maccabi Bnei Reineh vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (30.11.24)

MD12: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoe Hadera (3.12.24)

MD13: Hapoel Haifa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (7.12.24)

MD14: Hapoel Jerusalem vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (14.12.24)

MD15: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Petah Tikva (21.12.24)

MD16: Hapoel Be’ersheva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (31.12.24)

MD17: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Ashdod SC (4.1.25)

MD18: Ironi Tiberias vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (11.1.25)

MD19: Maccabi Tel Avivvs Maccabi Netanya (18.1.25)

MD20: Maccabi Haifa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (25.1.25)

MD21: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Beitar Jerusalem (1.2.25)

MD22: Hapoel Kiryat Shmona vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (8.2.25)

MD23: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Sakhnin (15.2.25)

MD24: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Bnei Reineh (22.2.25)

MD25: Hapoel Hadera vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (1.2.25)

MD26: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Haifa (8.3.25)

* confirmed dates and kickoff times to be published at a later stage    

Playoff:

MD27 – (15.3.25)

MD28 – (29.3.25)

MD29 – (5.4.25)

MD30 – (13.4.25)

MD31 – (19.4.25)

MD32 – (26.4.25)

MD33 – (3.5.25)

MD34 – (10.5.25)

MD35 – (17.5.25)

MD36 – (24.5.25)

* confirmed dates and kickoff times to be published at a later stage    

Champions League: Maccabi face winner between Virtus and Bucharest

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Maccabi Tel Aviv begin their 2024/25 European campaign by facing the winner between San Marino Champions Virtus to FCSB of Romania following the Champions League 1st and 2nd qualifying draw which took place at UEFA’s Headquarters in Nyon Switzerland. Order matches as well as confirmed dates at kickoff times should be published at a later stage.

Maccabi will have to advance past two qualifying rounds and as well as a Playoff phase in order to book a place in the Champions League group stages. Any elimination could see Maccabi drop into the Europa League or Conference League, that as of this season, will all be played under the new format.