Category: First Team
Zahavi: “Maccabi is the club of my life”
Zahavi: “Maccabi is the club of my life”
At the end of the match which saw him bow out for the final time as a Maccabi player, Eran Zahavi didn’t hide his emotions and he shared: “I think I cried more than I smiled. I just couldn’t have helped it. This set of fans has shown me love throughout the years. So many emotional moments and crazy matches. They believed in me at every moment, even in a difficult year. Personally and mentally, this was the most challenging season of my career. I am happy to have ended it this way with the club. I will remember this forever.”
The 37-year-old veteran marksman who won his 5th league title at Maccabi was asked to explain his tears and whether he was on the brink of retirement, said in reply: “These are tears of emotion. I know it will be very difficult to recreate such a bond between a player and a club. It’s hard to retire in this form, but the most important thing now is to take some time off, reflect, clear my head – and eventually, the moment will come. Whether I will feel that strong urge to keep playing, or whether I will simply decide that’s it. It was important for me to finish this way and come full circle at Maccabi. I would like to thank the club, the fans, and my family. I was deeply moved, and I’m just happy and proud that it ended this way.”
When asked to pick a specific moment that remains etched in his memory, Zahavi replied: “The moment I arrived and from the moment I arrived my life has changed. Maccabi is the club of my life.”
Zahavi, who walked off the pitch in the 67th to a standing ovation and a guard of honor from all his teammates, tried reflecting on those special moments: “It was a very emotional moment. They showed me so much respect. It was amazing. I was blessed with such beautiful and emotional moments. I just want to say thank you to God and to my family. I’m truly happy.” Zahavi concluded with an emotional message: “I would like to tell every player who dreams of becoming a successful footballer – one has to surround yourself with good people. My agent constantly told me not to break down, and that I would be there at the business end of the season. I would like to thank him. Now, we shall take some time to be happy.”
Dor Peretz’s summary of the night
Dor Peretz’s goal, his 18th of the season, opened the floodgates on the way the 5-0 victory which sealed the championship. The 30-year-old midfielder who won his fifth championship at Maccabi began the post-match TV interview by addressing two issues close to his heart: “I thought a lot about this interview, about this moment, I imagined it. I didn’t know who would be interviewing me. I said I’d begin with two things I normally don’t get to speak about. One happened just this week. We went through a tough season; our country went through a tough year. We took part in two moving ceremonies with Gadi Moses and Romi Gonen. In addition, we have brothers and sisters still in Gaza. We’re waiting for them—our brothers Gali and Zivi Berman. The second thing, I said I would share a memory I have of Gadi Kinda. I played with him for the national team, what an incredible person. During the match in Andorra, I truly understood the kind of person he was: so full of heart and giving. May his soul be bound in the bond of life. This is bigger than words. The entire football world grieves this situation. So much love and strength to his family.”
Peretz, who was named by the Israel Professional Football Leagues as the Player of the 2024/25 Season, was asked whether he ever imagined he would be interviewed with this title next to his name, responded: “I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. What mattered to me was arriving as a Champion. You can ask my wife, I have medals at home, including last year’s Championship. I cleared a space on the shelf in advance. I had to prepare for this mentally. As for being named ‘Player of the season’ in my eyes, we’re all Players of the Season. It’s a team effort and achievement. That personal title doesn’t matter to me. What is important is that we won the Championship and proved we’re the greatest winners.”
Peretz, who captained Maccabi for large parts of the season spoke of his teammate Eran Zahavi who played his final match for the club: “What a man, what a personality. I only hope I can carry on his legacy, his winning mentality, his passion, that fire burning within him without compromise. I hope we can continue that as a club. He was a leader, sometimes quietly, sometimes loud. He knew exactly how to do it. Immense respect for him. He is a true role model.”
On the championship celebrations, Peretz said: “We are happy and thankful to the fans for an insane season. We will continue to stand together and be grateful to one another for this emotional season. Credit also goes to the coaching staff for managing such a challenging and difficult season. This is a club that carries immense pressure, and they handled it brilliantly. Huge respect to everyone.”
Lazetic: “It’s an amazing feeling”
Maccabi beat Beitar 5-0 to win Champinship
Preview
Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the final home match of the season against Beitar Jerusalem which ends the 2024/25 campaign. Leading the table by two points following the 3-0 victory away to Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi could secure a second league title in succession with a victory. Second placed Hapoel Be’ersheva that host Hapoel Haifa at Turner, will be hoping for Maccabi to slip but in front of club owner Mitch Goldhar and 30,000 fans at Bloomfield, no intends to let that happen. The fact this match will be the final outing in Yellow and Blue for Eran Zahavi and Joris van Overeem who both announced they are leaving at the end of the season – means that everything is set for the big occasion.
Lazetic was forced to make one change from the side that won at Sammy Ofer as Issouf Sissokh was sidelined with a one match touchline ban allowing Joris van Overeem to slot into the midfield.
Simon Sluga made his 19th start in Maccabi’s goal with Stav Lemkin and Nemanja Stojic as the two central defenders in front of him. Tyrese Asante made his 40th appearance on the right side of defense while Roy Revivo completed the defensive line at left back. Van Overeem made his 113th appearance in Maccabi’s midfield as he sat behind Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz. Weslley Patati who scored the opening goal at Haifa started on one wing while Osher Davida who scored the second at Haifa made his 90th appearance for Maccabi on the opposite flank. Upfront, on his 308th and final appearance for the club, Eran Zahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband hoping to add to his 13 goals this season to add to his total of 205 goals in Yellow and Blue.
On the bench, Lazetic named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Sagiv Jehezkel, Raz Shlomo, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada and Ido Shahar.
Prior to kickoff a minute of applauds was held in memory of Maccabi Haifa’s 31-year-old midfielder Gadi Kinda who passed away during the week.
First Half
A packed Bloomfield stadium supplied a stunning backdrop as a sea of Yellow and Blue with a wall of noise spilled onto the pitch. Beitar that didn’t have any travelling fans due to a ban, found themselves under pressure right from the off as Maccabi pinned in their own half. In second minute Roy Revivo cut inside from the right and on his weaker right foot released a shot from the edge of the area which didn’t trouble Beitar’s keeper Miguel Silva. Seven minutes later Maccabi were rewarded for their efforts as Gabi Kanichowsky received the ball down the right before floating a pinpoint cross towards the back post. Dor Peretz sent Bloomfield up in the air as he rose high and headed in from close range to put Maccabi infront. Maccabi continued to dominate and in the 18th minute doubled the lead in spectacular fashion as the 30,000 got what they wanted. Revivo charged down the left all the way to the touchline before cutting a powerful square in the direction of Eran Zahavi who flicked the ball home with one touch to score his 149th league goal in Yellow and Blue.
Beitar made an instant substitution as Zohar Zasno came on for the injured Gil Cohen. A minute after the half hour mark Zahavi received the ball on the edge of the area before sending a low drive that forced Silva to turn the ball for a corner. On the stroke of halftime Osher Davida burst down the right all the way to the touchline as he cut inside all the way to the goal post before flicking to Weslley Patati who failed to connect from the goal mouth.
Second Half
The second half began just like the first with Maccabi pressing forward as inside the first minute Peretz flashed a shot wide of the post. Patati who together with Revivo tormented Beitar’s defense down the left sent a square ball which Zahavi fired over two minutes later. Kanichowsky was sent clear through but Silva charged off his line to block with his feet. In the 53nd minute Davida charged forward and cut the ball back for Peretz who miscued his close range effort which rolled agonisingly wide. Peretz was fuming over another missed chance but four minutes later the 30-year-old midfielder celebrated Maccabi’s third. Davida won a tackle inside Maccabi’s half and carved Beitar’s defende to release Peretz whose attempt to find Zahavi was turned by Jean Marcelin into his own net. A Mexican wave swept around Bloomfield as the fans could feel the Champinship was moving a step closer and in the 61st minute as a spectacular move of some slick moves and passes resulted with Zahavi blasting in the fourth with his second on the night and 150th league goal.
In the 67th minute Bloomfield was on its feet as Zahavi’s number was raised for a substitution giving the 37-year-old a standing ovation for his final send off. Dor Turgrman took Zahavi’s place upfront while seven minutes later the 28,108 fans gave another standing ovation this time to Joris van Overeem who made his final appearance and was replaced by Ido Shahar. Davida also received a standing ovation for his performance as he was replaced by Sagiv Jehezkel. In the 79th minute Maccabi scored the fifth as Patati broke down the left and cut the ball for Turgeman who slotted in at the near post to join in the celebration.
Kanichowsky and Peretz both came off to a standing ovation as Idan Nachmias and Elad Madmon were introduced for the closing stages. Orel Grinfeelds full time whistle signalled the beginning of the celebrations as Maccabi secured the 26th league title.
Dor Peretz who scored the opening goal and and assisted another was voted as the IPFL player of the season and was handed an award at the end of the match.
A team effort: The numbers behind the Championship
This is Maccabi’s 26th league title – the highest number in Israel’s top-flight history. With this, Maccabi secured back-to-back Championships after winning the league title in 2023/24.
Maccabi scored 86 goals this season – the highest number of goals in the league.
Maccabi played 55 matches in all competitions and scored a total of 116 goals – ranking 5th in the all-time goals scored by a team in a single season (excluding the Toto Cup).
Maccabi played a total of 22 European matches this season which were all played outside of Israel. As a result, the 2024/25 champions hold the record for the most “away” games played by any Israeli club in a single European campaign.
Eran Zahavi and Dor Peretz each celebrated their 5th championship with Maccabi. Only Sheran Yeini has won more championships with the club (6).
Dor Turgeman, Weslley Petati, Dor Peretz, and Eran Zahavi each scored at least 10 league goals this season – a testament to a particularly team-oriented campaign, with many players contributing to the success.
How special is that stat? Historically, only two other teams achieved this record – Maccabi in the 1991/92 season and Maccabi Netanya in the 2000/01 campaign, with four different players reaching double figures in terms of goals.
Maccabi pulled off five comebacks to cancel an early lead and win league matches this season. Against Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hapoel Hadera, the team came back from a two-goal deficit.
Only seven teams in Israel’s history recorded more comebacks in a single season. The current leader remains Ironi Kiryat Shmona, with 8 comebacks during the 2007/08 season
You won everything with me. Watch the Championship clip
Zahavi’s scoring brilliance at Maccabi: The numbers behind a legendary career
Eran Zahavi bids farewell to Maccabi after a legendary seven-season long tenure, in which he scored 207 goals in 308 appearances in all competitions. In addition to the goals the iconic number 7, also registered 40 assists.
The 37-year-old won 5 League Championships, along with a State Cup, 3 Toto Cups, and the Israel Super Cup.
Israel’s all-time leading goal-scorer (438 career goals) won the league’s top scorer award four times with Maccabi: in the 13/14, 14/15, 15/16, and 23/24 seasons. He also leads the all-time scoring chart in the Israeli Ligat Ha’al era (since 99/2000) with 177 goals.
Zahavi boasts an average of 0.67 goals per match – the highest of any Maccabi player in history, excluding those who played before the State of Israel was established.
During the 15/16 season, Zahavi set the record for the highest number of goals scored in a single Israeli league campaign with 35 to his name. Additionally, between April and December 2014, he scored in 17 successive league matches – another league record.
With 207 goals for Maccabi, Zahavi ranks 2nd on the club’s all-time scoring chart (behind Avi Nimni with 220). In league matches alone, Zahavi scored 150 goals in Yellow and Blue, again second to Nimni (174).
Across his two stints at Maccabi, Zahavi scored one 4-goal haul (against Ironi Kiryat Shmona in 2015) and 6 hat-tricks, the latest this season during the 6–1 victory away to Maccabi Netanya.
His longest-range goal came from 28 meters out in 2014 – a free kick against Bnei Sakhnin.
Zahavi’s fastest goal was scored in the 2nd minute of the State Cup Semi final 3-0 victory over Ahi Nazareth in 2015.
Goal Breakdown:
125 from open play with his feet
21 headers
52 penalties
9 direct free kicks
When dividing matches into 15-minute segments, Zahavi’s most prolific period was between the 76th to the 90th minute scoring 52 goals scored.
His least prolific was between the 16th and 30th minute, with “only” 23 goals.
Over his seven years at Maccabi, Zahavi scored against 40 different opponents. The team he punished most: Bnei Sakhnin –19 goals.
Clubs Zahavi scored most against at Maccabi:
Bnei Sakhnin – 19 goals
Ironi Kiryat Shmona – 17
Maccabi Haifa – 15
Maccabi Netanya – 15
Beitar Jerusalem – 15
Hapoel Tel Aviv – 12
Hapoel Be’ersheva – 12
Maccabi Petah Tikva – 11
Hapoel Haifa – 10
Finally, here’s a breakdown of the stadiums where Zahavi scored most for Maccabi:
Bloomfield – 115 goals
Netanya – 22
Sammy Ofer – 10
Teddy Stadium – 10
Petah Tikva – 8
