Amit Kredi (17) who featured 16 times this season in all competitions for Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shahar’ U19’s team at left back signed a three-year-deal.Kredi represented Israel’s young national sides at U16’s and U17’s levels on 13 international matches.
Category: News
The opponent we expect: Introducing Olympiacos
Maccabi’s historic run in the Conference League reaches a new peak on Thursday (19:45) as Robbie Keane’s side face Greek giants Olympiacos for the first leg of the Round of 16. Shortly before Maccabi take on Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, we take a close look into the Greek giants.
This is the second time Maccabi face Olympiacos in the EUROPA League 3rd qualifying round of the 2010/11 season. Roberto Colauti headed the winner at Bloomfield as Maccabi won the first leg 1-0 before Haris Medunjanin scored a consolation penalty in Greece which proved enough to secure a 2-2 draw and qualification to the Playoffs on the away goals rule.
A positive momentum before Maccabi?
Olympiacos reached the Round of 16 after spending most of their European season in then EUROPA League and finished third in a group that included West Ham, Freiburg and Backa Topola. After dropping into the Conference League Playoff phase, Olympiacos beat Hungarian side Ferencvaros 2-0 on aggregate playing one of their best matches in the past two years to restore some confidence.
Olympiacos’ recent good form is in complete contrast to last season’s big disappointment when their hopes of reaching the Champions League were ended by Maccabi Haifa in the qualifying stage. Last season’s disappointment led to the playing squad undergoing a massive overhaul.
In terms of their domestic league campaign, on the eve of the match against Maccabi, Olympiacos are currently ranked third in the Greek table. Olympiacos trail leaders Paok Thessaloniki by three points and are two points adrift of champions AEK Athens.
Olympiacos host Maccabi at the 33,334 capacity Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium which is set to be full – a star contract to Maccabi’s previous visit 14 years ago as the match was staged behind closed doors.
A EUROPA League winner on the touchlines
The role of the Head Coach at Olympiacos hasn’t been the most stable recently as Jose Luis Mendilibar was appointed last month. The 62-year-old Spaniard who managed for over 15 years in La Liga at Athletic Bilbao, Valladolid, Osasuna, Levante, Eibar, Alaves and Sevilla replaced Carlos Carbahal who was dismissed after three months only. Diego Martinez began the 2023/24 campaign but he was also dismissed in December due to a poor start to the season.
It seems however that despite the managerial changes, Olympiacos are enjoying a positive momentum under Mendilibar who won the EUROPA League with Sevila last season.
Olympiacos’ big name squad
The squad of Olympiacos features a host of quality players as the leading name is 28-year-old Portuguese winger Daniel Podence who is on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Olympiacos’ captain and Greek playmaker Kostas Fortunounis and winger Georgios Masouras. Moroccan international striker Ayoub El Kaabi leads the attack with 15-league goals this season as he edged out fellow countryman and vice-captain Youssef El Arabi. 28-year-old Portuguese midfielder Chiquinnho arrived from Benfica is also a big name, but the player with the most prolific career is 34-year-old Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetic. The former Partizan Belgrade, Fiorentina, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Sevila, Monaco and Hertha striker will challenge Maccabi’s defense as he normally makes an appearance from the substitutes bench.
Olympiacos’ back-line is not short of quality either and includes Panagiotis Retsos and David Carmo who arrived from Porto on loan. Brazilian full back Rodinei causes a threat from his wide position while Israeli international Doron Leidner recently recovered from a long-term knee injury and will not face Maccabi after not being registered to play.
Gadi Brumer appointed as Academy Director
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is pleased to announce the appointment of Gadi Brumer as Academy Director. The 50-year-old former Maccabi player will leave his role at the IFA and return to the Academy he graduated from and the Club he made 373 appearances for between 1991-2004.
In the past 15 years Brumer has been working at the Israel Football Association coaching Israel’s young national sides at U16, U17 and U18 levels, guiding the U17’s to the European finals in 2017 for the first time after 13 years.
Brumer, spent his entire playing career at Maccabi winning 10 trophies: 4 league titles (91/92, 94/95, 95/96, 02/03), 4 State Cups (93/94, 95/96, 00/01, 01/02) and 2 Toto Cups: (92/93, 98/99) is ranked 11th in the all-time appearance chart.
Brumer, who represented Israel’s national team 26 times, also took charge of the senior national side as caretaker for two friendly matches.
The Club welcomes Gadi back to Maccabi and wishes him success in his new role.
Adir Cordoba signed a new contract
Adir Cordoba, who plays as a central defender for the U-19’s Youth Team will continue at Maccabi Tel Aviv after signing a new contract until the end of the 2025/26 season. Cordoba featured 17 times this season in all competitions for Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shahar’. He has been a member of the young Israel national teams since the age of 16 and has a total of 11 appearances for the U16’s, U18’s and U19’s.After signing his new contract, Cordoba, told the club’s official website: “I am delighted to have signed my new professional contract and grateful for the Club in the faith shown in me. This is my 12th season at Maccabi and I know there is plenty of work to be done in order to develop and repay this trust.”
YELLOW NOSTALGIA: THE CEREMONY FOR THE CLASS OF 1986/87
Dor Peretz: “A fabulous night which will give us a lift for the future”
Dor Peretz enjoyed a perfect night as the 28-year-old midfielder saw his father Ya’acov, honored prior to kick off together with the class of 1986/87 before scoring his 13th goal in all competitions this season. Peretz, who also had a goal disallowed for offside, said at the end of the match: “It was a fabulous night. It began with a great honor to the legends of the past and was followed to my delight by a great victory which would give us a lift for the future A brilliant night overall.”
On Maccabi’s victory, Peretz, added: “We arrived with intensity and aggressiveness at a peak and that was followed up by plenty of goals and a good attacking form by everyone involved.”
Peretz, who lost his place in the starting line-up recently, but returned and looked very refreshed, added: “I think it was an amzing team effort by all the players which led to us winning 4-0. I wouldn’t like to define it as a spell, but I look at things on a game by game basis and from training session to a training session. The coach takes his decisons which is excellent, I had a little breather, which helped me a lot especially for the future and I am delighted”.
Keane: “Our aim is to win matches”
Maccabi beat Petah Tikva 4-0
Three days after securing their place in the Quarter Final of the State Cup, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD24 ONE Zero match against Maccabi Petah Tikva. Robbie Keane’s side that beat Hapoel Be’erseva 1-0 last week to take their point tally to 52, will aim to record a fourth successive victory in all competitions. Maccabi face an improved Maccabi Petah Tikva side that are unbeaten in their last six league matches and currently 7th with 29 points.
Keane made several changes from the side that beat Maccabi Jaffa 3-1 in the Cup, Prior to kickoff, the club held a ceremony in honor of the class of 1986/87 Maccabi side that won the State Cup that year as the entire team, staff and management staff were paraded onto the pitch wearing the shirts of that season. In traditional manner, the first team also wore the special retro set for the match against Maccabi Petah Tikva. Roi Mishpati returned to goal with Idan Nachmias and Matan Baltaxa lining up as the two central defenders in front of him. Ido Shahar slotted into the right-back role with Roy Revivo completing the back four on the left.
Joris van Overeem was named in the anchorman role as he was joined by Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz in the midfield engine room. Osher Davida on the right wing and Feicio Milson on the left supplied the width to Keane’s formation with Eran Zahavi leading the line aiming to feed off the brace he scored in the Cup to return to his scoring form.
On the bench Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Enric Saborit, Dor Turgeman, Dan Biton, Yonatan Cohen, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Kiko Bondoso and Eden Karzev.
First Half
Maccabi started the match on the front foot testing Petah Tikva’s defence with Felicio Mikson’s pace. In the opening five minutes the Angolan winger was caught offside twice, yet his threat caused but as the visitors were on the back foot Marco Wolf was penalised for picking up Abdrea Karo’s back pass. Eran Zahavi’s indirect free kick from the area was blocked and reached Ido Shahar whose half volley was deflected in by Roy Revivo. Maccabi’s celebrations were shortlived as the young left back was offside and the goal chalked off. In the 10th minute however, Osher Davida raced down the opposite flank for a counter before sending a square ball to Zahavi who slotted home from point blank range to open the score and end his goal drought in the league. Maccabi had the ball in the back of the net shortly after as Milson raced through and unselfishly teed up Dor Peretz for an easy tap in, but once again the flag was raised for offside and the one goal lead remained.
Peretz got his goal and Maccabi doubled their lead in the 27th minute at the end of a spectacular team effort. Idan Nachmias picked Ido Shahar in the middle as the diminutive midfielder released Zahavi who timed his run well to beat Petah Tikva’s high defensive line. Zahavi turned provider and claimed the assist as well as his center to Peretz was slotted home to make it 2-0.
While Keane’s gameplan was working like clockwork, his opposite number, Ran Kuzukh, made an early change near the halfhour mark as Ibrahim Jaaber replaced Mohamad Hindi. In the 35th minute Maccabi were denied a third and Zahavi his second after Davida was marginally offside before passing the ball to Zahavi. Seven minutes later, Petah Tikva’s high defensive line was caught flat as Milson raced through and released Davida but while the flag was kept down, VAR chalked off yet another goal.
On the stroke of halftime Shahar came close to send Maccabi to the dressing room with a three goal lead but his right foot drive was pushed by Wolf for a corner.
Second Half
Maccabi kept dominating the second period but were let down by the final pass which didn’t find a yellow shirt in the box. Keane made his first change in the 67th minute as Davida came off to a standing ovation as he was replaced by Dan Biton. A minute later Revivo picked Peretz with a clever pass before the midfielder left it for Zahavi whose snap shot went wide. Biton almost made an immediate impact as his accurate cross found Zahavi’s but the veteran marksmanship header was directed straight at the keeper. Maccabi continued to push forward as Wolf denied Shahar once again following a clever pass by Kanichowsky on 72.
Keane made a double change in the 76th minute as Eden Karzev and Dor Turgeman came on for Joris van Overeem who got their standing ovation. Within a Turgeman came close to get his name on the score sheet after he was released by an Idan Nachmias pass that carved Petah Tikva’s defence open. Turgeman rounded the keeper and fired his shot which struck the post, but Milson pounced on the rebound and fired home to make it 3-0. This was the final contribution of both Nachmias and Milson and Nachmias as the duo were replaced in the 80th minute by Ofir Davidzada and Kiko Bondoso.
Kanichowsky joined in the celebration as he was put through by Biton on 84 before his clinical finish beat Wolf for Maccabi’s fourth. Peretz had another goal disallowed for offside in the 86th minute as Maccabi kept trying to improve their goal record by scoring the fifth.
