Wednesday, January 3^rd Ashdod SC vs Macabi Tel Aviv, Hayud Alef stadium at 20:00.

Maccabi kickoff 2024 with a trip to Ashdod SC for a match which will be held behind closed doors. After recording their ninth successive league victory to open an eight-point-lead at the top, Maccabi face Ashdod that lost its’ last four games and are currently bottom. Since the 4-1 victory over Ashdod on the opening day of the season, Maccabi began a run that saw them open an eight-point lead at the top.

Sunday, January 7^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Hadera, Bloomfield stadium at 20:00.

Maccabi return to Bloomfield stadium to host Hapoel Hadera on MD15 aiming to emulate the 3-0 victory recorded when both sides met at Netanya earlier this season.

Wednesday, January 10^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Haifa, Bloomfield stadium at 20:30

Bloomfield stadium will host the first top of the table clash of the season for a MD7 rescheduled fixture against Maccabi Haifa. This will be the first of three matches between the bitter rivals I the space of a month, two of which in January.

Sunday, January 14^th Maccabi Bnei Reineh vs Maccabi Tel Aviv, Green stadium at 20:00.  

Robbie Keane’s charges travel to Green stadium at Nof Hagalil to face Sharon Mimmer’s side that were the only team to deny Maccabi victory following the 1-1 draw at Bloomfield in September.

Wednesday, January 17^th Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Tel Aviv, Bloomfield stadium at 20:30.

MD17 will see Maccabi host the second Tel Aviv derby of the season having won the previous one 5-0.

Sunday, January 21^st Hapoel Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hamoshava stadium at 20:00

Four days after the Derby, Maccabi travel to Hamoshava stadium for a match against newly promoted side Hapoel Petah Tikva. A week after Maccabi beat Petah Tikva 2-0 at Bloomfield, the War began a fact which caused the league to a 64-day stand still.

Wednesday, January 24^th Maccabi Haifa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv, Toto Cup Final, Netanya stadium at 20:00

A fortnight after facing each other in the league, the Netanya stadium will host the second encounter between Maccabi and Haifa – this time in the Final of the Toto Cup. Maccabi reached the final having beaten Hapoel Be’ersheva (6-1) and Bnei Sakhnin (5-1) in the earlier stages. Maccabi will try win the Toto Cup for the 8^th time in the club’s history as Maccabi beat Haifa twice at this stage of the competition (2014/15 and 2018/19) winning both finals by the same result 2-1.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Jerusalem, Bloomfield stadium (TBA)

Maccabi will end a demanding January as they host Hapoel Jerusalem on MD19 with the date and kickoff time to be confirmed at a later stage.

Ido Shahar will continue at Maccabi Tel Aviv for at least the next 2.5 years after signing a new contract until the end of the 2025/26 season with an option to extend by one more year.

The 22-year-old midfielder who joined Maccabi’s Youth Academy at the age of 11 told the club’s official website after his signing: “I am delighted to have made the journey from the U11’s to the senior side. My dream was always to play for Maccabi’s first team and by signing this new contract I am on course to fulfil even bigger dreams. Hard work and persistence always guided me throughout my career and will keep on characterizing my game in the future. I will keep doing everything for the team and this club to ensure we keep on charging forward to win titles and make our fans happy”.

Maccabi’s CEO, Ben Mansford, added: “We are all delighted that Ido is staying with Maccabi for the long term. This is an important signing. Ido epitomizes what is Maccabi. He is a very talented player with a remarkable work ethic combined with a desire to become the best he can be while wanting to win as part of a team. We are all excited to watch Ido continue his journey at Maccabi. #100%Maccabi”.

Shahar made his senior Maccabi debut two days after his 19th birthday in the Toto Cup final against Bnei Sakhnin. He played a total of 22 appearances for Maccabi in all competitions, 11 of which in European competitions and had loan spells with Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam, Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi Petah Tikva and Apollon Limassol.

Shahar represented the young Israel national teams 26 times at U17, U19 and U21 levels.

Sheran Yeini reached another amazing landmark in his illustrious Maccabi Tel Aviv career. Our veteran captain made a late second half substitute appearance in the 1-0 victory over Hapoel Haifa at Sammy Ofer and made his 550^th career appearance in Yellow and Blue. At the end of the match, the 37-year-old Yeini, who is ranked 2^nd in Maccabi’s all-time appearance chart with only Miko Belo ahead of him.

“I am just delighted” Yeini said at the end of the match as he faced the media. “I never thought this is something I will ever achieve and was never my target as a little child. I wanted to play football, I wanted to play in Europe. I never thought I will make so many appearances and reach second place of the appearance chart in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s history. This is amazing and I am just going with the flow – the more the merrier. I am still enjoying myself, to arrive every day in training, even when I am not playing to do the compensatory sessions with Yossi Zigdon. To sprint. I am really enjoying my football.”

Yeini rejected any thoughts he might be considering to hang-up his boots, as he replied: “I have no such intention, unless Maccabi would like me to retire, but I am enjoying my football and not even thinking of retirement. Physically I am feeling great, I do suffer from pain, but it is just like any other player because there is no player who doesn’t suffer from pain.”

Yeini, whose second half appearance against Haifa was his fifth of appearance this season, added: “Even players who are not playing, we always want to prove ourselves and the fact I am enjoying myself is what matters. I have no intention to play for any other club. If Maccabi will not want me to continue as a player, then I will retire.”

On Maccabi’s amazing season so far, Yeini said: “Our coaching staff keeps driving us to victory. It doesn’t make a difference whether that is a training session or a drill, you don’t want to finish last. We never want to lose as they always push us forward which becomes [art of our nature. This is massively important. Even when we are not playing our best football, we still win matches. It is important to look at those moments when we are not at our best, or at moments when we don’t score. We need to work on it and kill off games much earlier.”

Maccabi recorded their 11th successive victory as Robbie Keane’s charges beat Hapoel Haifa 1-0 at Sammy Ofer thanks to an Idan Nachmias injury time header in the second half. The 26-year-old central defender who lost his boyhood friend Shai Termin who was killed in Gaza last week, said: “One of my closest friends, Shai Termin, died in Gaza and I dedicated that goal to him as well as all the soldiers looking after us and ensuring we are able to live our normal lives. I wish for their speedy and safe return. Shai was a very close friend of mine, I was a regular at his home and he was at mine. We were very close”.

Nachmias, who replaced the injured Nir Bitton last week and kept his place tonight, said of his performance: “Every game I am given a chance I will go and give everything on the pitch. Wherever I can I will give this team everything and today as well with the goal and the clean sheet”.

Nachmias, who had another goal disallowed earlier on, added: “Well, I hope this goal is not the last one. I should have two goals but it is ok. One is good enough”.

On the tributes his coach paid him, Nachmias summed up: “Robbie’s expectations are very high and so are ours. We would have wished to make these matches a lot easier, but it is just as important to reach chances yet manage to keep a clean sheet. I am delighted we took the three points tonight as this is the only thing we are dealing with.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Sammy Ofer stadium to face third place Hapoel Haifa for the MD13 ONE ZERO LEAGUE match which will be their final match of 2023.

While Maccabi are unbeaten in 11 league matches, they still have to play second place Maccabi Haifa for their rescheduled match on January 10th in order to complete what could be an almost perfect round.

After a good start to the season, Hapoel Haifa suffered a dip in form suffering two of the three defeats they conceded this season in the last four matches: 3-0 to Maccabi Haifa and 4-0 to Hapoel Be’ersheva last week.

Maccabi’s Head Coach Robbie Keane made four changes from the side that beat Beitar Jerusalem last week. With Nir Bitton suffering from a cruciate ligament against Beitar that is set to sideline him for the rest of the season, Idan Nachmias who came on in the first half, kept his place alongside Derrick Luckassen. Avishai Cohen returned to the starting line-up at right back while Roy Revivo, moved back to his regular position on the left. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role with Dor Peretz to his right, were joined by Dan Biton who returned from injury to complete the midfield trio. Yoanatan Cohen, scorer of the late winning goal against Beitar started on one wing with Felicio Milson on the opposite flank. Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out with the captain’s armband as the veteran marksman will be aiming to return to his goal scoring form after not scoring for one match.

On the bench, Keane, named Roi Mishpati, Dor Turgeman, Gabi Kanichowsky, Sheran Yeini, Ofir Davidzada, Yehuda Belay, Ido Shahar, Kiko Bondoso and Osher Davida.

First Half

Less than a minute from the start Felicio Milson remained on the ground requiring medical treatment but the Angolan winger who will travel after the game to join his national squad for the African Cup of Nations, returned to the playing field shortly after. The hosts came close to draw first blood as early as the 10th minute after Mohamad Kamara and Tomer Yosefi combined well to break through from the left. But Yosefi’s shot came cross forcing Orlando Mosquera to pull his first save of the game before the danger was cleared.

A delicate Dan Biton chip released Eran Zahavi through in the 16th minute but the 36-year-old striker couldn’t get a shot on target as Haifa’s defense blocked for a corner. The resulting corner fell to Derrick Luckassen who sent it back into the danger zone before Idan Nachmias rose high and headed home. But Maccabi’s celebrations were short-lived as for some bizarre reason the referee disallowed the goal. In the 24th minute a Milson cross reached Zahavi whose close range header rattled the crossbar before a Biton shot was also blocked on the goalmouth.

Keane was forced to make his first change in the 39th minute as Luckassen limped off and was replaced by Ofir Davidzada. Mosquera pulled another save on 43 as the Panamanian custodian was at full stretch to keep out Filipe Santos’ low drive from the edge of the area.

On the stroke of halftime nothing could deny Nachmias from scoring the opener as a well taken corner which began with Joris van Overeem, allowed Biton to whip in a cross before the tall central defender rose high and headed in the opener.

Second Half

With no changes at halftime both teams emerged for the second half which could have seen Maccabi double their lead almost instantly but Dor Peretz sent a weak shot that was easily collected by Niv Antman. In the 51st minute Haifa’s keeper pulled a stunning save to deny Milson and Yonatan Cohen three minutes later.

Keane made a double substitution in the 70th minute as Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Turgeman came on for Biton and Zahavi.

Seven minutes after his introduction, Kanichowsky, Yonatan Cohen and Peretz combined well down the right but once again the midfielder’s shot wasn’t powerful enough.

Keane made another double change as Avishai Cohen and Yonatan Cohen both bowed out and were replaced by Kiko Bondoso and Sheran Yeini in the 87th minute. The veteran club captain making his 550th appearance, reached another landmark to move a step closer towards Maccabi’s all time record holder Miko Belo who has 604.

Nir Bitton underwent a scan last night at Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), where it was confirmed, he is suffering from an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Nir is set to undergo surgery in the next few days and begin his rehabilitation program at the club. We all wish Nir a speedy recovery.