Category: News
Watch: Press Conference ahead of Maccabi Haifa
Sluga joins Maccabi
Simon Sluga, (191cm) joined Maccabi Tel Aviv after the former Ludogorets, Luton Town Croatian international keeper successfully completed a medical and signed his contract.
Sluga, who will wear the number 23 jersey told the club’s official website: “I am very happy and honored to join and be part of this big club, the biggest in Israel. My aim now is to work hard and help the team reach its goals.”
After making his first footballing footsteps at Jadran Porec, Sluga, switched to the youth academy of his boyhood town Rijeka. Sluga moved to Italy for two loan spells with Juventus and Verona before returning to his country and featuring for Pomorac, Lokomotiva Zagreb and Rijeka. He made 86 appearances in all competitions for Rijeka winning the Croatian Cup in the 18/19 season. Newly promoted championship side Luton Town bought Sluga in 2019 before he made a total of 94 appearances in all competitions at the Bedfordshire club.
In January 2022, Sluga joined Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria where he made a total of 39 appearances and was part of the side that won 3 league titles, 1 Cup and 1 Super Cup.
Sluga has 3 appearances for the senior Croatian national side, and made an additional 27 international appearances at U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21 level.
Sluga set to join Maccabi
Simon Sluga, (191cm) will join Maccabi Tel Aviv after an agreement was reached with the former Ludogorets, Luton Town Croatian international keeper.
After making his first footballing footsteps at Jadran Porec, Sluga, switched to the youth academy of his boyhood town Rijeka. Sluga moved to Italy for two loan spells with Juventus and Verona before returning to his country and featuring for Pomorac, Lokomotiva Zagreb and Rijeka. He made 86 appearances in all competitions for Rijeka winning the Croatian Cup in the 18/19 season. Newly promoted championship side Luton Town bought Sluga in 2019 before he made a total of 94 appearances in all competitions at the Bedfordshire club.
In January 2022, Sluga joined Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria where he made a total of 39 appearances and was part of the side that won 3 league titles, 1 Cup and 1 Super Cup.
Sluga, has 3 appearances for the senior Croatian national side, and made an additional 27 international appearances at U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21 level.
Super Striker- Eli Drikes
History in short
Eli Drikes was born on October 13, 1964 in Petach Tikva and joined Maccabi Tel Aviv’s youth department at a very early age. At 17 years of age, the striker began training with the First Team under the watchful eye of coach Yaakov Grundman and just a year later he made his debut against Bnei Yehuda in a goalless draw.
In 1983 Drikes scored his first goal in a 2:1 victory over Maccabi Netanya and over the course of the 1980’s he was also loaned to Maccabi Netanya and Maccabi Yavne. His first title with the Yellow & Blue came in the 1986/87 season when he scored a brace plus a bicycle kick goal in the 113th minute of overtime in one of the all-time great State Cup Finals. In 1991/92, he returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv from his loan to Maccabi Netanya and began his golden age wearing the Yellow & Blue under coach Avram Grant and won two league championships, the State Cup and a Toto Cup title to go along with the Double with coach Dror Kashtan.
After 514 appearances across all competitions and 159 goals, Drikes left the Club and played his final season with Maccabi Herzliya. He also served as interim coach in 2005 with Maccabi. The striker also played 27 matches with the Israel National Team and scored four goals.
Top Moment
Of the 113 league goals that Eli Drikes scored with Maccabi Tel Aviv, he’ll never forget the Derby that took place on October 10, 1992 when he recorded a hat-trick in a 4:0 win over Hapoel.
Career Highlights & Awards
Championships: 1991/92,1994/95, 1995/96
State Cup: 1986/87, 1987/88, 1993/94, 1995/96
Toto Cup: 1992/93, 1998/99
Watch: Goals that made our month
Friendly: Maccabi held to 1-1 by Petah Tikva
Maccabi Tel Aviv exploited the international break to hold a 70-minute-long practice match against Maccabi Petah Tikva at Kiryat Shalom that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Israel national team players Dor Peretz, Gabi Kanichowsky, Raz Shlomo, Idan Nachmias, Stav Lemkin and Elad Madmon were absent as they are in the squad that faces France (10.10) and Italy (14/10). Tyrese Asante is with the Dutch U21 team that plays Mexico U23 for a friendly (10.10) and Sweden U21 for a European qualifier (14.10).
With Roy Revivo and Ofir Davidzada still recovering from their injuries, Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, named Idan Weinberg who was an unused substitute against Maccabi Netanya on Sunday at left-back. Weinberg lined-up alongside Nemanja Stojic, Nir Bitton and Avishay Cohen in Maccabi’s defense in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Ido Shahar who recovered from his knee injury joined Joris van Overeem in Maccabi’s engine room with Yonas Malede completing the midfield trio. Wesley Patati and Henry Addo were assigned to both wings with Eran Zahavi leading the attack.
Petah Tikva took an early lead as Idan Vered’s strike on 21 beat Mishpati from the edge of the area. Malede was denied by the crossbar with Tomer Litvinov blocking his second attempt.
After the break, Lazetic made his first change as Issouf Sissokho replaced Stovic for the restart. Fifteen minutes into the second half, Hisham Layous and Osher Davida replaced Malede and Addo. Three minutes later, Sahahar was tripped by an opponent inside Petah Tikva’s penalty area as referee Gal Levy awarded a penalty which was successfully converted by Zahavi.
In the 67th minute Lazetic introduced Yoav Honyo and Yehonatan Aviv allowing the young duo who have been training with the squad recently a few minutes of first team football.
Maccabi: Roi Mishpati, Avishay Cohen, Nemanja Stojic (Issouf Sissokho 36), Nir Bitton, Idan Weinberg, Joris van Overeem, Ido Shahar (Yoav Honyo 67), Yonas Malede (Osher Davida 51), Wesley Patati (Yehonatan Aviv 67), Henry Addo (Hisham Layous 51), Eran Zahavi.
Turgeman voted as KOPELL GROUP Player Of The Month
After a fine start to the 2024/25 campaign, two goals and one spectacular solo effort against Hapoel Be’ersheva at Bloomfield, you voted for Dor Turgeman as the KOPELL Group sponsored Maccabi Player of the Month of September.
The 20-year-old Israeli international, who added to his tally this season which so far stands on 5 goals in all competitions, received most of your votes. Turgeman was facing tough competition from Osher Davida and Nemanja Stojic who came in second and third.
Voted for Turgeman? Now comes the part you have been waiting for
Whoever voted for Turgeman should receive a text message containing the prize question by 17:00 today (Tuesday). The first person to send a correct answer will receive a signed shirt by Maccabi’s Player of the Month, Dor Turgeman, as well as an official Maccabi scarf.
A wall in memory
A wall in memory of the 108 fans who were murdered or killed on and since October 7th.
Everyone of these fans has a story, but we will never get to see them in the stands, however we will dedicate every moment, goal and title to their memory. Here are their names
Madmon after his dramatic winning goal
Elad Madmon couldn’t have wished for a better day as he scored his debut league goal for Maccabi with a dramatic late penalty and then was called up to the national team for the first time. The 19-year-old who celebrated by pointing at his pulse to signal he was unphased by the pressure, remained with his feet firm on the ground. “The feeling is subdued as exactly a year ago we all experienced one of the worst atrocities this country ever had. I wish for all the hostages to return as we haven’t forgotten them, with our thoughts with all the families who lost their loved ones. I am happy with the call up but the circumstances don’t allow me to be completely happy.”
Madmon, who only last year was scoring goals at this stadium for Hapoel Hadera, added: “I was excited by the call up as this is every kid’s dream. To be part of the national team and represent the country. I just hope that we manage to play well and get good results.”
On his debut league goal for Maccabi, Madmon said: “I feel as if I needed that goal. I received y chances here and feel like I owe the club as this is why I came here for – to score and help the team win the championship”.
As for his goal celebration: “I just wanted to show that I don’t have a pulse and I am calm in such situations”.
