Category: First Team
Yalla Maccabi, it’s derby time!
Sokler: “We’re coming to play our game in the derby”
Miller: “The players understand very well the meaning of the derby”
Andrade joins Sport Recife on loan
Maccabi Tel Aviv has reached an agreement for Kervin Andrade to join Brazilian side Sport Club do Recife on loan for the 2026/27 season.
The 21-year-old Venezuelan midfielder joined Maccabi from Brazilian side Fortaleza Esporte Clube in August 2025. He made 38 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and helping Maccabi lift the State Cup.
Andrade also made eight appearances during Maccabi’s Europa League campaigns last season and this season.
Maccabi wishes Kervin success during his loan spell with Sport Recife.
Good luck, Kervin.
Ben Harush: “I will play in any position I’m asked to”
Noam Ben Harush marked his 40th appearance for Maccabi in all competitions with a stern performance during the 4-1 victory away to Be’ersheva. Ben Harush, who joined Maccabi at the start of last last season from Hapoel Haifa, and normally operates as a right-back, played on the left side of defense in a match where Kenny Miller’s side steamrolled their opponents. Ben Harush was named by Miller as the replacement of Roy Revivo who was bought by Spanish side Elche while new signing James Tavernier stepped into the right-back role. When both teams met at Turner last season, Ben Harush featured as a central midfielder yet Maccabi ended up on the losing end. This time round, Maccabi convincingly beat Be’ersheva as Ben Harush reflected at the end: “4-1, that’s not something you take for granted. We feel great, we played really well. It’s so much fun to come back home and give the fans a good feeling, to drive home in the traffic with a good feeling. We’re ready for the derby.”
On his new position at Maccabi, Ben Harush said: “There have been a few other times when I’ve played in this position, including against Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer and in Europe. I’ve played in this role before. Whatever position Maccabi ask me to play, I’ll play. Last year at Turner I played as a defensive midfielder and had a good game. Whatever position they give me, I’ll play. I felt great.”
On the effect Revivo’s departure might have on paving his way into the starting lineup, Ben Harush said: “As I said, I’ll take every opportunity I’m given with both hands and give everything I have in every training session and every game, and prove to my coach that I should be playing.”
As well as conceding the right-back position to Tavernier, Ben Harush also handed the veteran Englishman his number 2 jersey while he switched to 22. But the young full-back is more than happy to be able to learn from the former Rangers captain, as he summed up: “Like everyone else, I think he’s a high-level player. I can take it in the best possible way and learn from him.
Miller: “We wanted to send a message, we should have scored more”
Maccabi beat Be’ersheva 4-1
Preview:
Six weeks after the 3-1 Super Cup victory, Maccabi returned to Turner stadium for the MD3 WINNER League match against Hapoel Be’ersheva. Kenny Miller’s State Cup holders that beat Be’ersheva in the Cup Final on the final day of the 25/26 campaign, returned to the venue where they conceded the league title back in May.
Miller who guided Maccabi to a 100% record of two victories from the opening two league matches will aim to continue his streak. Ofek Melika who missed last week’s victory over Maccabi Haifa following his dismissal against Hapoel Jerusalem, was back in goal after serving his one-match touchline ban.
Ali Camara and Raz Shlomo kept their places as the two central defenders at in front of Melika. New signing James Tavernier made his Maccabi debut at right-back while the departure of Roy Revivo to Spanish club Elche meant that Noam Ben Harosh completed the defense at left back. Issouf Sissokho continued in the anchorman role but he was joined in the engine by Gabi Kanichowsky who was making his first appearance since returning to the club after a year in Hungary with Ferencvaros. Dor Peretz led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the 31-year-old who scored five league goals and nine in all competitions will aim to continue his run of good form. Osher Davida who was the only player besides Peretz to score against Haifa, started on the wing with Helio Varela on the opposite flank. Ester Sokler led the line as the 27-year-old Slovenian striker who scored a goal in Europe, will seek to open his domestic account.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Miller named Tyrese Asante, Dan Glazer, Elad Madmon, Itamar Noy, Hisham Layous, Ido Shahar and Itai Ben Hamo.
First half:
Maccabi couldn’t have wished for a better start as they took the lead with less than a minute on the clock. A long ball out of defence was flicked on by Ester Sokler into the path of Osher Davida, who raced clear before squaring the ball back towards Sokler. The Slovenian striker cleverly let the ball run allowing it to reach Helio Varela. The Cape Verde winger didn’t need a touch to control the ball before blasting a right-footed thunderbolt that rocketed into the top corner to the delight of Maccabi’s travelling fans. Be’ersheva were forced to make an early change as Lucas Ventura limped off before being replaced by Zahi Ahmed. Issouf Sissokho and Gabi Kanichowsky dominated the midfield placing the hosts under pressure and forcing Be’ersheva’s players to make mistakes. This pressure gifted Dor Peretz the ball inside the box but Maccabi’s captain sent his half volley over the crossbar. In the 13th minute Maccabi had the ball in the back of the net for the second time as Kanichowsky’s clever through ball reached Ester Sokler who flicked it in past Ofir Marciano but the referee assistant raised his flag for offside denying the Slovenian his debut league goal.
A minute after the half-hour mark, a lethal Maccabi counter-attack saw Kanichowsk receive the ball inside the center circle. The 29-year-old midfielder released Sokler with a perfectly weighted through ball. Sokler raced clear through on goal, skipped past Marciano and was tripped by the keeper. The ball reached Peretz who followed up to drill the loose ball home but referee Yigal Frid, blew his whistle and for pointed to the spot. Sokler stepped up, kept his calm and buried the penalty in the bottom corner to double Maccabi’s lead with his debut league goal.
In the 44th minute Davida tried his luck with an effort from outside the box which sailed over the crossbar. Be’ersheva’s Eliel Peretz was booked by Frid for dissent and seconds later was shown a red card leaving his team with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Maccabi almost exploited the numerical advantage as a Kanichowsky cross was hooked away from the goalmouth before Sokler could nod the ball home. Inside injury time however Maccabi’s defense was caught napping as Pedro Amador skipped over the ball leaving it for Amir Ganah who curled a low shot beyond the reach of Ofek Melika to cut the deficit and bring Be’ersheva back into the game.
Second half:
Maccabi started the second half just as they had the first, with Davida looking dangerous down the right. A minute after the restart David cut inside before firing a shot that failed to trouble Marciano, who collected comfortably.
At the opposite end, Melika punched away an Ahmed effort to clear the danger. Minutes later, Raz Shlomo picked up the ball in the centre of the park, chested it down and drove forward before trying his luck with a rare shot from distance, but his effort sailed wide of the post. In the 59th minute Varela skipped past two Be’ersheva players and cut inside teeing up Sissokho whose powerful drive cleared the crossbar. A minute later James Tavernier carved Be’ersheva’s defense open with a perfect through ball to Davida whose square ball reached Varela. The skipped past Ahmed who tripped him as Frid awarded Maccabi another penalty. This time it was Peretz who stepped up to take the spot kick but Maccabi’s captain was denied by a Marciano save. Four minutes after the hour mark, Maccabi continued to press forward with Varela dancing inside the box only to be denied by Amador’s clearance off his line.
In the 67th minute nothing could deny Maccabi from extending their lead. Varela once again was the instigator as his perfectly timed square ball allowed Sokler to sweep the ball home and score his second of the game. Sokler and Tavernier walked off to a standing ovation from the traveling fans as they were both replaced by Elad Madmon and Tyrese Asante in the 69th minute.
In the 79th minute Kanichowsky and Davida combined once again as the winger was sent racing down the right flank. Davida had his initial shot saved by Marciano who also managed to palm the rebound as well, but Peretz slotted the ball home to make it 4-1 with his sixth league goal this season. Peretz and Sissokho bowed out to a standing ovation as Miller introduced Ido Shahar and Dan Glazer for the closing stages shortly before Ilay Ben Simon replaced Davida. Shahar came close to score the fifth as he headed Varela’s cross but Marciano managed to save. Ben Simon had a chance inside injury time but Marciano managed to save as Frid’s full time whistle ended the contest as attention now turns to next week’s Tel Aviv derby.
Tavernier joins Maccabi
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC completed the signing of James Tavernier, as the 34-year-old right-back and former Rangers captain joining the club on a 1-year deal, with an option to extend by a further season.
Tavernier arrives at Maccabi after 11 seasons at Rangers, where he made 565 appearances in all competitions, scoring 144 goals and providing 148 assists. In his final season at Ibrox (25/26), he made 52 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists.
After successfully completing his medical and signing his contract, Tavernier, who will wear the number 2 at Maccabi told the official website: “It’s a real honour to join a club with such a rich history as Maccabi Tel Aviv. Coming to a new country and experiencing a different environment is something I’ve always wanted to do in my career, so there’s a real excitement about the opportunity and the challenge ahead. I’ve heard a lot about the club from Kenny Miller, especially the ambitions, the desire to compete for trophies and, of course, the Maccabi fans and the atmosphere they create. Having played for a big club for so many years, I know how important the fans are and how much they can drive a team on. Maccabi is a club that wants to win and compete for trophies, and that’s exactly what you want as a player. The aim is to give everything for the club, and I can’t wait to get started.”
A product of the Leeds and Newcastle’s youth academies, Tavernier joined Rangers from Wigan Athletic in 2015. He was appointed club captain in 2018 and went on to lead Rangers to three trophies in Scotland, winning the Championship (20/21), the Scottish Cup (21/22) and the League Cup (23/24).
Tavernier also developed a notable goalscoring record from right-back, scoring at least 15 goals in five of his 10 most recent seasons with Rangers. His 21/22 campaign was particularly productive, as he scored seven goals in the Europa League to finish as the competition’s top scorer and helped Rangers reach the final, where they were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.
His 21 goals in European competitions for Rangers saw him equal the club record held by Ally McCoist, while his 152 career goals make him the highest-scoring defender in British football history.
Tavernier will now continue his career at Maccabi, where he will reunite with Head Coach Kenny Miller. The pair worked together at Rangers before Miller took charge at Maccabi.
Good luck Tav.
Porat rejoins Hapoel Haifa on loan
Anis Porat rejoins Hapoel Haifa after an agreement was reached between the two clubs for a season-long loan deal of the 21-year-old winger.
Porat returns to Hapoel Haifa where he played during last season and the second part of the 2024/25 campaign and scored 2 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions. The winger who joined Maccabi from Bnei Sakhnin in January 2025, represented the Israel U21 squad for which he made 3 appearances and has also 7 appearances and 2 goals for the U19’s young national side.
Porat will continue his development in the 2026/27 season with Hapoel Haifa.
Good luck Anis.
